Square Foot Garden 2014

In 90 minutes you can get a few steps done before it official to late for a procrastinator to accomplish additional work without supplemental lighting.  I was able to build one box, remove the sod, turn the soils, breakup the clumps of dirt, level the box and smooth the soil out.

I should mention this project is a new journey which I'm sharing.  There are many things I intend to do with this blog that I have considerable knowledge of.  This particular facet (gardening) is new to me.

Please post helpful comments and suggestions I will view them all and implement those I feel will work best in my situation.

I have a small family a baby bunnies I'm suspecting I'm going to have to fend off.....

Supplies

Loaded by Subaru truck down with (4) bundles pete moss 3cubic feet each, (6) bags organic gardening soil 1.5 cubic feet each, (4) 2x6x10's, (6) plants, bag of seed starter pots and various seeds. Total cost today was $157.00.

layout box (my is 7'x3')

I choose 7'x3' so the garden would be kid friendly.  I used several resources from the internet and many of them mentioned a narrower garden if your child would be helping you.

Screw of choice

I like this particular screw it uses a T-25 Torx bit (star bit) that holds well and slips less than Phillips

Pre-drill your holes so you do not split the wood

remove the sod

turn the soil

I turn one full shovel depth after removing the sod.  This got me down 10-12 inches below the ground.  Turning the soil allows the roots and easier path to find water and also allows water to soak in better.

break up the clumpy soil.  I used a metal rack.  Could not find my hoe.

Getting pretty dark at this point.  I leveled the box in the soil and spread it would evenly.

I'm fairly happy with my progress.  Tuesday I will spread the pete moss and gardening soil.  Vermiculite was suggested in the article I was reading but the person at the garden supply center suggested additional pete moss rather than vermiculite.  Tomorrow I will be working on the starter seeds.  Going to read to see if a mini green house and grow light might help this procrastinator catch up on some lost time....  you know March, April, and May......  on my seed purchase I paid attention the the date ranges.  I pick plants that were under 90 days so that I could make sure I had plenty of time to harvest and possible plant a second crop 2-3 weeks after the first.  I'm thinking about leaving space in each "square foot" to allow for multiple harvest.

Tools used today were: compound sliding miter saw, electric drill with 3/32 drill bit, cordless drill with T-25 bit, round nose shovel, metal garden rake, pencil, tape measure, 2' level, and wheel barrow.

Resources I found useful were general search of square foot gardening, density planting charts that should how many of a particular plant you could put in 1 square foot. I found that Google image search gave me the best selection and easiest viewing