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4 Responses to Is anyone using the Mel Bartholomew’s Square Foot Gardening technique in the past or 1st time this year?

1. no I havn’t but I do have a copy of his book copyright 1981
   good book

   

   pescador
   October 12, 2011 at 4:10 am
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2. We have. The soil preparation is really important. He gives that mix of peat, soil and compost and you need to keep amending it between crops. The plants do benefit from the added care they get and the germination rate is very high on seeds these days, so there is no reason to use the old “spread it and then it” method – just put two seeds per hole for smaller seeds. You will need to trellis your cukes, melons, squash, etc if you use this method – you can use women’s hose or onion bags to make the slings for the melons and larger squash or eggplants. Alternately, you can let those vining plants trail off the edge and out over your yard – just keep them headed away from the greens and the smaller plants. Use good compost and good topsoil. Add the lime they recommend, too. Good soil and careful attention can do wonders!

   

   Amy R
   October 12, 2011 at 4:33 am
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3. Like this one NO!
   http://www.squarefootgardening.com/
   Raised bed gardening similar to this YES!
   http://www.gardendesk.com/2007/02/black-widow-and-square-foot-gardening.html

   

   grannygrunt28391
   October 12, 2011 at 4:49 am
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4. i have in the past. his whole outlook seems to be this; plant close together. get smaller yields, but you have more plants, so total yield is up. giving plants a little more space just works better for me. interesting book though.

   

   Martha Z
   October 12, 2011 at 4:56 am
   Reply