Square Foot _ Raised Bed

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Comment by Muhammad Nadeem Iqbal on December 20, 2008 at 3:54am

Hi Saba, Square foot raised bed technique is practically done and displayed at our research farm. soon we will be displaying it on DIY page and also teach during upcoming workshops.

Comment by Salma Kamal on December 20, 2008 at 1:45am

I am interested in this technique.Can any one tell me the advantage of square foot raised beds?

Comment by Annie C on December 19, 2008 at 8:20pm

Maya, I like your idea of using string and thumb tacks! I'm going to try that next year. My "squares" don't stay very square, and since I am a fan of symmetry in moderation, it might be nice to have some definition. It also helps to truly maximize the use of the space, I know, so it's more than just aesthetics :)
I was lazy and bought my beautiful mortise and tenon cedar raised beds from a wonderful Western Mass couple. You actually speak to them when you call to order and they promptly replaced, via Fed Ex, two planks that got damaged in shipment. I swear I don't get a cut when they get an order, but I have been so happy with these beds--and they're beautiful! I'm going to get a third one this year. Here's their website: http://gardenraisedbeds.com/index.html
I also use Mel Bartholomew's book (I'm not certain it's still being published) called Square Foot Gardening. He has a website which is helpful: http://www.squarefootgardening.com/
Happy Holidays, everyone!
Annie

Comment by James T. McBride on September 4, 2008 at 6:18pm

I have used the raised bed gardening method with both vegitables and flowers for a number of years. I seldom get too concerned about the size or shape of the box, if I use one) in my flower beds.In the garden the raised beds vary from 2' wide to 4' wide. These beds are never walked on once they are tilled in the spring,or fall if I am lucky. I grow a lot of stuff vertically on fence panels. In these beds my planting and seeding is intensive. I leave a sunken 1' walkway between each bed and fill it with compostable materials grass clippings,pulled weeds, leaves, spent veggies, ect. By fall this is ready to be tilled and tossed into regular beds. I have a chipper shredder but with this methoid I very seldom ever use it.
Flower bed frames for raised beds.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308/jmc7104/Garden/_IGP4265.jpg
Spring garden with a few beds planted.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q308/jmc7104/Garden/_IGP4260.jpg
Bed next to fence left side had 32 pea vines along fence, 100 texas sweet onion sets first half of bed and 100 sweet red sets in second half plus 3 ace cabbage plants, 2 milk-weeds and two volinteer Roma tomatoes. This is one foot wide and 28' long. Second bed is 3' wide 28' long 15 turnips 30 carrots 50+ radishes 12"x36" bed of lettuce and 22 potato plants. Fence panel in middle had 5 pole beans + 2 cucumber vines and 2 Roma tomatoes fastened to it and to finish out this bed was
8 tomato plants spaced 1' apart two wide. Rest of garden hadn't been planted at this time. jim

Comment by Jacquie on July 25, 2008 at 12:58pm

This is the way that I plan to try my thumb at growing vegetables (next year). I look forward to learning from all of you as I make my plans and build my beds.

Comment by Maya on July 25, 2008 at 8:58am

Or even easier and less permanent: use thumbtacks/pushpins and string. It will last for one season, and you can reconfigure later on without a lot of waste to dispose of.

Comment by Ernie W. on July 22, 2008 at 12:42am

Hi Misti, the way it works is to build a 4 foot by 4 foot box or raised bed and divide it into 16 one foot squares. The books says to use thin plastic like old venetian blinds to mark the squares, but I use plastic coated clothesline wire. It's easier to get and does the job. Cut up and bend old wire coat hangers to anchor the line on the ends. If you have a short reach or work with children, build your box 3X3.

Comment by Misti Anslin Delaney Smith on July 5, 2008 at 9:30am

I'm very interested in learning more about this technique! (So far I am mainly a container gardener since I'm not sure how to construct the Square foot boxes...)

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