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Square Foot Gardening: How to Get Started for $50

SQUARE FOOT GARDENING How to Get Started for $50 Square foot gardening is the perfect introduction to growing a successful vegetable garden. In a square-foot garden, plants thrive in raised boxes that are sectioned and filled with nutrient-rich soils. Aside from the easy setup and maintenance, square foot gardens are Cheap! Compact! Productive! Follow these instructions and this summer you can start enjoying organic vegetables from your own backyard: Here is what you will need: $4.72 $2.36 SMALL PACK OF $5.00 1 ORGANIC VEGGIE $17.00 EIGHT #8 X 3IN. EIGHT #6 X 1IN. WOOD SCREWS WOOD SCREWS TWISTED NYLON LINE GARDEN SEED KIT $6.00 FOUR UNTREATED BOARDS AT 4 FEET LONG, 10 INCHES WIDE, AND 2 INCHES THICK "Hardware stores sell 8 foot long boards which they can cut in half for you. $3.97 1 CUBIC FT. OF $3.97 $6.00 1 CUBIC FT. OF 1 CUBIC FT. OF BLENDED COMPOST PEAT MOSS COARSE VERMICULITE Total Cost: $49.02 STEP 1 Build the Square MAKE A 4'X4' SQUARE. Drill the four 4 ft boards together with two 3 in. screws at each corner, making a square frame. Pick a sunny, flat spot to place the box. Lay down some cardboard or weed-blocking fabric and place the frame on top of it. *For easier access, you can also elevate the box on a table or platform. STEP 2 Mix the Soil A recipe for great and simple soil: SOME SOIL NOTES: Homemade compost yields the most nutrient-rich soil. Peat moss can be substituted with coconut fiber. While coarse vermiculite is the best, other grades of vermiculite are fine. O1/3 blended compost 1/3 peat moss E 1/3 coarse vermiculite Fill the box with the MIX THE SOILS soil mixture and UNTIL COMPLETELY COMBINED. smooth the surface. STEP 3 String the Grid Using the nylon string, lay a 4x4 square grid over the box. (In total, there will be 16 square foot segments) Once the grid is down, fasten it along the edges of the box with the 1 in. screws. STEP 4 Sow the Seeds Plant seeds according to IN EACH SQUARE OF THE GRID YOU CAN HAVE EITHER: packet instructions within the square segments. 1 large Plant 4 Medium Plants 9 Smaller Plants 16 Really Small Plants The grid is designed to prevent overplanting and crowding. Having a balance of different sized plants next to each other won't sap the soil of its nutrients. CHOOSING PLANTS Grow your own organics ORGANICS These supermarket fruits and veggies tout the highest pesticide residues: LARGE PLANTS: MEDIUM PLANTS: SMALLER PLANTS: • Tomatoes • lettuce • Spinach • Kale • Eggplant • Sweet Bell Peppers • Strawberries • Celery • Blueberries Avoid plants that take over gardens, like: Studies show people who eat mostly organic produce reduce Horseradish 95% of the pesticides in their Blackberries bodies within 2 weeks. Raspberries GARDEN MAINTENANCE WATERING Water Carefully! • Water daily or according to seed packet instructions • Use a measuring cup or watering can instead of a hose • With new sprouts, use warm water and pour directly on the base of each plant to insure healthy roots. HARVESTING • Within 40-60 days most vegetables will be ready to harvest • After harvesting, root up the plant and replace the used soil with a new batch of the soil recipe. Replant seeds or new growths in the vegetable's place. Once your first square foot garden is up and running, you'll be well on your way to a kitchen full of delicious backyard produce. As any good gardener can attest, nothing tastes better than your own harvest. Enjoy! Brought to you by FRUGAL DAD Sources: http://www.homedepot.com/ http://www.amazon.com/Ferry-Morse-Organic-Vegetable-Garden/dp/BO071J95BI/ref=pd_sim_lg_1 http://www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-make-a-square-foot-garden/ http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-01/health/dirty.dozen.produce.pesticide_1_pesticide-residue-pestic ide-tests-fruits-and-vegetables?_s=PM:HEALTH http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyld=90914182

Square Foot Gardening: How to Get Started for $50

shared by kthorspear on Apr 30
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Frugal Dad breaks down the steps on how to start a space-efficient and easy-to-maintain square foot garden.

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Frugal Dad

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How To
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