The Grid Sets the Square Foot Garden Apart

Square Foot Gardening is done in raised beds. Ive found that many people assume they are gardening this way simply because they are using boxes or raised beds.  This is not the case! The grid is key to the method and gives organization and a uniqueness to the garden.  It is basically a planting guide that sits in the box on top of the soil. The grid promotes a new way of spacing the plants. Small vegetables like onions and carrots  are spaced with 16 of them per 12" square. Medium sized vegetables like beans and beets are spaced with 9 per 12" square.  Large varieties like lettuce and spinach are spaced 4 per square. Extra large plants like tomato and pepper are planted 1 per 12" square.This planting method with a grid is what Square Foot Gardening is all about. This is how you  can save 90% of the space over a traditional garden. In fact, if you do not use a grid, I guarantee you will revert to row gardening; I think its just in our genes handed down from generations of traditional farming.  We've been conditioned to think that our home gardens must mimic the acre plot on the farm with long rows and wide aisles. Unfortunately, this is overwhelming for many and creates hard work and endless weeding.  Remarkably,with Square Foot Gardening,this does not have to be the case, and there is no heavy digging, tilling or weeding!

Seed Starts in Makeshift Greenhouse Looking good!

Growing zucchini,spaghetti ,butternut & crookneck squashes, artichoke,onions, cucumbers and more

 I'm pretty happy about my seed starts this year.  I dd  a few things differently then in the past and I admit I am continually learning which is what life is all about,right? I germinated most of my seeds on a damp paper towel enclosed in a plastic ziploc bag.  This really worked well and fast. It also saves a lot of time because you can see if your seeds are even good from the start. I was testing out seeds I had stored in my freezer from 2009 and many of them sprouted fine.  I've watched the temperatures in my makeshift greenhouse and even put a fan in there to use on very warm days.  I just thought about how it feels when you walk into a commercial nursery greenhouse, moist, breezy and bright and tried to duplicate that in my own way. I've been more attentive to my seedlings, making sure they are moistened every day and keeping them carefully covered with a plastic lid until they grow too tall.  I'm starting to harden some of them off like the broccoli,cauliflower,cabbage and onions to plant in my SFG now as they like the cooler weather

Tomatoes...Valencia,Sweet 100,Brandy wine,yellow pear

Mel's Crash Course in Square Foot Gardening

Square Foot Gardening, in my opinion, is by far the easiest way to garden. It can easily be adapted by people with little space, by beginners, by the physically challenged, and by those tired of all the work of traditional row gardening. I train and certify people around the world to teach the Square Foot Gardening method. Mel Bartholomew, the creator of the method and my boss,called me last week and shared the thought that the more information we can give our instructors the better. He mentioned what he calls his "Crash Course" in Square Foot Gardening and thought it would be a great thing to use in our instructors course.  I decided why not  share it with you too!

 http://www.melbartholomew.com/what-is-square-foot-gardening/   

Makeshift Greenhouse

My house has some unique aspects to it and one of them is what we call the solar room attached to the south side. It works well as a type of greenhouse and I'm making good use of it this year. Right now its 30 degrees outside so Im appreciating the fact that I can keep my seedlings comfortable in there and  getting plenty of sunshine. On warmer days it will get too hot so I open the doors on either side and turn on a fan in there during the day.

My krenshaw melons and cucumbers are benefiting from the warming mat I placed under their tray.I've also planted sweet 100, yellow pear,valencia,and roma tomatoes,squashes,flowers and artichokes. I'll try to write updates on how they all do in my makeshift greenhouse. 

My favorite melon is the Krenshaw. Its so much juicier and sweeter than cantelope

I kept my geraniums and fern in the house all winter and now they are enjoying more sun in the solar room.

Pot Maker Session

Winter Garden Surprise

Call me a Master Gardener!

Last November I received my Master Gardener certificate with the Utah State University extension service. Almost every county has this program for regular people like you and me to take advantage of. The program is basically for people who love gardening, digging in the dirt,and even weeding. Its for those who know a lot about making things grow and enjoy sharing their knowledge with neighbors and community. It took about a full year for me to complete the process but can take a less or a longer amount of time. The work included attending several horticulture lecture sessions and labs as well as 40 hours of volunteer service. The instructors were experts in their fields and included the county AG agents. They and a student intern compiled a very nice thick binder of great information and reference for each student to keep. My favorite topic was of course vegetable gardens. I felt pretty confident in that area! My favorite lab was visiting the grounds at Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It takes a small army(and a lot of blue nitrogen) to keep the vast amount of living things healthy and beautiful there. One of the important things I have been taught through the program is how to research.My instructors warned me that my neighbors will think as a master gardener, I will know the answer to everything. That is a scary thought. Thankfully, I do know now where to find answers and hopefully can be of help to them and also have more knowledge to share with my Home Gardens To Go customers.(Photos are of Temple Square See more photos here)