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- LAYOUT. Always think in squares: lay out 4 foot by 4 foot
planting areas with wide walkways between them.
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- BOXES. Build garden box frames no wider than 4 feet, and 6
to 8 inches deep. The length is not as important, but a recommended
size for your first time is one frame 4 foot by 4 foot. You
can, of course, go smaller. A 2 foot by 2 foot works great on patios
and 3 foot by 3 foot box is ideal for kids. Frames can be made from
almost any material except treated wood, which has toxic chemicals
that might leach into the soil. 1 by 6 or 2 by 6 lumber is ideal,
and comes in 8-foot lengths. Most lumber yards will cut it in half
at little or no cost. Exact dimensions are not critical. Deck screws
work best to fasten the boards together. Rotate or alternate corners
to end up with a square inside.
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- AISLES. If you plan to have more than one garden box, separate
them by 2 or 3 feet to form walkways.
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- SOIL. Fill frame with Mel's Mix, a mixture of 1/3 compost,
1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 coarse vermiculite (no dirt needed). A blended
compost made from many ingredients provides all the nutrients the
plants require (no chemical fertilizers needed). Peat moss and vermiculite
help hold moisture and keep the soil loose. It's best to
make your own compost from many ingredients but if you have to buy
it, make sure it is truly compost. Some stores sell mulch or humus
and other ground covers but call it compost. Most commercial compost
is made from one or two ingredients so to be safe, don't buy
all of one kind but one of each kind until you have enough for your
garden.
It's
really best to make your own compost, then you know what goes in
it. When buying vermiculite, be sure to get the coarse grade, and
get the more economical 4 cubic foot size bags.
If
placing frames over grass you can dig out the grass or cover it
with cardboard or landscape cloth to discourage grass and weeds
from coming up through your new garden soil.
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- GRID. On top of each frame place a permanent grid that divides
the box into one foot squares. The grid is the unique feature that
makes the whole system work so well. To show you why the grid is
so important, do this little demonstration: Look at your 4 foot
by 4 foot box with the grid on and imagine up to 16 different crops.
What you see before you is a neat and attractive, well organized
garden, that will be easy to manage.
Now
remove the grid. Could you organize and manage this space without
dividing it up into squares? Besides, without the grid you will
be tempted to plant in rows, which is a poor use of space.
Grids
can be made from nearly any material; wood, plastic strips, old
venetian blinds, etc. Use screws or rivets to attach them where
they cross. On a 4 foot by 4 foot frame, the grid divides the frame
into 16 easy-to-manage spaces, for up to 16 different crops. Leave
the grid in place all season. The grid can be cut long enough to
fit across the top of the box or cut shorter to lay on the soil
inside the box.
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- CARE. Since you will NEVER walk on or depress the growing
soil, don't make the frames any wider than 4 feet (2 feet, if only
one side is accessible). Any wider makes it too difficult to reach
in to tend the plants.
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- SELECT. Depending on the mature size of the plant, grow 1,
4, 9, or 16 equally spaced plants per square foot. If the seed packet
recommends plant spacing be 12 inches apart, plant one plant per
square foot. If 6 inch spacing; 4 per square foot. If 4 inch spacing;
9 per square foot. If 3 inch spacing; 16 per square foot.
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- PLANT. Plant one or two seeds in each spot by making a shallow
hole with your finger. Cover, but do not pack the soil. Thinning
is all but eliminated. Seeds are not wasted. Extra seeds can be
stored cool and dry in your refrigerator.
Don't
over-plant. Plant only as much of any one crop as you will use.
This 4 foot by 4 foot box will grow more than a conventional garden
that is 8 foot by 10 foot.
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- WATER. Water only as much as each plant needs. Water often,
especially at first, and on very hot dry days, If possible, water
by hand ( uses a lot less water )with a cup from a sun-warmed bucket
of water. Warm water helps the soil warm up in early and late season.
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- HARVEST. Harvest continually and when a crop in one square
is gone, add some new compost and plant a new different crop in
that square.
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