Square Foot _ Raised Bed

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Comment by Ann G. on March 2, 2009 at 9:57pm

Hey all -- I have to put together some new raised beds very soon. New wood is so expensive and recycled planks/ties are tainted. I am considering cinder block raised beds. They are cheap. Plus I was thinking of planting marigolds, chives, etc. in the holes. Also, you can stain the outside of them. I want to set them two blocks high, so the beds will be 16 in deep.

What do you think? Any experience with it? Any issues?

Comment by Joy Williams on March 2, 2009 at 6:17pm

Much of the Tomato growing advice I learned at the Love Apple Farm course, which I heartily endorse!

Comment by Joy Williams on March 2, 2009 at 6:05pm

The picture of the tomato planted there is from Love Apple Farms on her Tomato raising page....
I forgot to credit her pic.

Comment by Joy Williams on February 5, 2009 at 4:05pm

Sounds good, Dead. Compost is the number one thing, of course. If you can find it, you might want to put sustane fertilizer in there , which is a good all around fertilizer with a good balance of N-P-K, Nitrogen-Phosphate-Potassium, and works on most veggies and fruits. I am also starting a practice of putting eggshells in and worm castings and a couple of aspirin at the bottom of plants - aspirin has been found to help a plants immune system.

You can also make a worm casting tea and crush up a couple of aspirin in the tea in your sprayer and make it into a foliant spray... just about any kind of plant loves that.

Comment by Dead Weed on February 5, 2009 at 12:12pm

I've planted Strawberries.
Does anyone have advice on planting and growing them?
I've used planter boxes with compost and mulch, on a drip system.

Comment by Paula on February 3, 2009 at 12:03pm

Hi all, am fierce excited about getting into SFG this year. Had some "eh" success last year with a raised bed. I guess I could have watered it more! (shame on me). Best, Paula

Comment by Joy Williams on January 26, 2009 at 12:26pm

Glad that was helpful Pema. I've made a ton of mistakes growing tomatoes over the years, including planting them before the last frost, planting them when they are too small, and planting them in beds too shallow. Hopefully, I've finally learned from MY OWN mistakes. :)

Comment by Pema on January 26, 2009 at 12:17pm

Joy, thanks for the tomato photo and advise. A pic is worth a thousand words.

Comment by Joy Williams on January 26, 2009 at 2:02am

oh one things that ALL plants benefit from (I almost forgot) is aspirin. Yes, aspirin. The salicylic acid has been found to help their immune systems, so crushing up two aspirins and mixing that in with your worm casting spray is a good idea, as well as putting a couple of aspirin at the bottom of each plant when you are planting.

Comment by Joy Williams on January 26, 2009 at 2:01am

Hi McPete, The Sustane fertilizer is a really good one, if not a trifle expensive. You might also look into using some bone meal. Unfortunately, there's not one "mix" that has everything that's optimal for your plants. These things are also predicated by your climate and what you can get in your area. Compost, worm castings and that fertilizer balance are probably the most important elements though.

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