Comments on: Plant a compact vegetable garden

By: Sabrina

Sabrina — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:28:54 +0000

What’s the best direction to face this garden. Should the vines face south so they don’t block the sun?

By: Just Done

Just Done — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:32:44 +0000

Our local lumber yard suggested using cyprus for this. We did and it turned out great, light weight too. If we decide to move it to another spot in the yard we can before we fill it with dirt and seeds.

By: abcd

abcd — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:02:01 +0000

4 foot square.

By: megz

megz — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 04:45:30 +0000

16 cubic feet 16 1 cubic foot sections

By: Sammy

Sammy — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:24:17 +0000

Maybe a dumb question, but what are the measurements of this box?

By: Robie

Robie — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:14:34 +0000

This can also be put on sawhorses for wheelchair gardeners. There is a book by Mel Bartholomew called Square Foot Gardening that teaches you this method and it is great. I got all my wood from construction sites garbage piles, and old litte league bleachers.

By: marvlus

marvlus — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:31:07 +0000

Yellawood is a pressure treated lumber that will not hurt your plants. You can get Yellawood at Home Depot.

By: Gardengal

Gardengal — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 01:06:41 +0000

I just got all the supplies and it was $50.
Super cheap and can’t wait to build it.

By: GrandmaMarilyn

GrandmaMarilyn — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 21:17:53 +0000

This sounds great. Will have to have my hubby build one of these for me on the saw horses.

By: Southern Gardener

Southern Gardener — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:32:55 +0000

Yes, you can do it in the ground if you have good dirt. Most types of in-ground dirt is either too wet (clay) or too dry (sand). You have to know your dirt. Using good, loose, fertile, well-drained, near neutral dirt that has a lot of decayed organic matter will yield you a good start to a great harvest.

By: Robinson

Robinson — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:31:05 +0000

If you use pressure treated wood can you use a weed liner around the box so that it doesn’t make direct contact or will that still hurt the veggies?

By: KJohns

KJohns — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 17:40:22 +0000

Can this type of planter be used on a deck or cement patio?

By: MrsJimmer

MrsJimmer — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:32:28 +0000

This is such a great idea. One tip; putting lots of mulch around the plants will help keep the moisture in as well as help keep the weeds at bay.

By: Em

Em — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:23:00 +0000

What would you say the average cost for the building materials is?

By: Ang

Ang — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:10:07 +0000

Can lattice be used instead of wire, I’m not very hands on with building.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:26:24 +0000

You start planting after the last frost. We usually start in about a week or so.

By: Green Thumb

Green Thumb — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:07:51 +0000

This is great! We have a built up small garden spot at our new home. It’s built up on the ground with bricks. I was wondering how to best plant the veggies this year and this is just the ticket!

By: jman

jman — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:58:23 +0000

I have 16 veggies in my room. what about fruit?

By: Ash

Ash — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:32:11 +0000

What time of year do you need to start planting veggies?

By: Just me

Just me — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:46:30 +0000

@ Metallica, please give more details. Sounds like a great idea!

By: Gardener wannabee

Gardener wannabee — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:33:33 +0000

Please give more details. Are existing apple, pear, and peach trees growing close together and branches are tied together while still on the trees or what? Thanks! Sounds like a great idea!

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:01:27 +0000

Can you plant it in the ground but use the same design for the square?

By: Marcos

Marcos — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:40:59 +0000

Pine or spruce construction lumber will last a couple of years before the rot becomes significant. White oak lumber will last a lot longer although it is more expensive. Do not use pressure treated lumber with vetetables.

By: barlinade

barlinade — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:24:52 +0000

If you wanted to substitute cantaloupe or watermelon, where would you put them? We would have a larger garden but I like the layout of yours.

By: Mel

Mel — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:02:44 +0000

I have a table garden like this. Something to keep in mind is that you need to be sure to water frequently– more frequently than if the garden was sitting on the ground. The soil does not retain as much of the moisture as it would if it could leach moisture from the surrounding area.

By: may

may — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:19:23 +0000

this is a square foot garden – check out the book called All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. Brilliant ideas! promise success if you use his recipe for filling the container – 1part vermiculite, 1part compost (mixed from different sources) and 1part peat moss. Makes for a light, fluffy fill that roots love and plants thrive in – plants grow like you can’t imagine! so worth it!!!

By: braxman84

braxman84 — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:40:27 +0000

Will be trying this!

By: Boys' Life

Boys' Life — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:48:43 +0000

Good catch. The supply list has been fixed.

By: csociable

csociable — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:16:34 +0000

We’ve got 4 beds via Square Foot Gardening. Look it up. the soil composition is phenomenal. My son can’t get enough and I love that he’s learning to self-provide.

By: lettuce eater

lettuce eater — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Any ideas for small apartment living spaces I have house plants and they always seem to get a pesticide. If I can grow indoors or in a hallway area with lots of light,I will try it!

By: seaoatz

seaoatz — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:51:34 +0000

Pressure treated wood used for gardening will leach arsenic into soil & plants. Arsenic is used to pressure treat wood. There are other choices like cypress & redwood for example.

By: Mommy

Mommy — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:02:31 +0000

Why does it say 2×10 in the directions but not the supply list

By: Kat

Kat — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:22:23 +0000

Pressure treated redwood will last for years and will withstand termites too! Redwood alone is great too:)

By: silly nilly

silly nilly — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:58:10 +0000

Been waiting for this. This is great.

By: Georgia Gardener

Georgia Gardener — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:04:17 +0000

We used marine treated wood for our raised beds. We also lined the bottoms with 1/2″ mesh stapled to the inside bottom of the boxes to keep moles and voles out.

By: BananaBread

BananaBread — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 23:17:22 +0000

Hmmm…Any recommendations for type of lumber that won’t rot after one season? Maybe composite or something? I’ve seen some reaised bed kits made of composite/resin but they’re pretty expensive. Would love to built one myself but I want to be sure I’m building something that will last. Thanks!

By: kitten06579

kitten06579 — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:59:57 +0000

Awesome idea! I think there may be a typo in the supply list? It say 4 – 2×4′s but in your instructions it says 2×10′s.

By: TTC Camper

TTC Camper — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:52:40 +0000

The compost and compost tea from the compost barrel works great as the soil for this garden.

By: TTC Camper

TTC Camper — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:50:25 +0000

You can make this garden smaller in size if you combine it with hydroponic gardening. I used a system like that to get my FFA State Farmer Award Philadelphia.

By: Den Robin

Den Robin — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:18:36 +0000

We actually board raised beds last spring, but didn’t know “what next.” So, good timing for this info, and now we’re ahead of the game. Thank you so very much!!!

By: uuuu

uuuu — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 22:27:58 +0000

rad

By: dtlux

dtlux — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:54:10 +0000

I am not a fan of vegies but I might try home grown ones

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:53:58 +0000

Awesome info! Glad I found this!

By: cindy

cindy — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:08:26 +0000

amazing small space with lots of possibilities

By: cobblerman

cobblerman — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:21:58 +0000

This reminds me of the Square Foot Gardening method. If you look up that book, go for the revised version called “The All New Square Foot Garden”…or somtihng like that.

By: thewrestler

thewrestler — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:11:34 +0000

awsome i will try this

By: snakeboy

snakeboy — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:17:35 +0000

I’m going to try this.

By: Q

Tue, 26 May 2009 22:09:46 +0000

Awsome

By: jake

jake — Tue, 26 May 2009 20:37:06 +0000

i think its a good idea

By: 216DnDer

216DnDer — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:15:57 +0000

Thanks metallica! That’s a realy cool idea, I am going to try that with an apply and orange tree.

By: blfan

blfan — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:18:23 +0000

Go Green!! This thing is awesome!

By: grandma

grandma — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:09:01 +0000

I will try this!! Do I need to have drainage holes in the bottom of it? I will put it on sawhorses or legs.

By: Countryboy96

Countryboy96 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:41:10 +0000

This also works really well in a larger area if you have one

By: SailorDude

SailorDude — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:13:28 +0000

For a larger scale of this principle check out the book “How to Grow More Vegetables Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine” from your local Library. If you want to start a VERY productive produce garden in a relatively small area, this is the book to have!!!

By: rabbit dude

rabbit dude — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:00:25 +0000

I will try this

By: spyscout123

spyscout123 — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:13:24 +0000

great it will help prepare for the garden.

By: metallica

metallica — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:30:12 +0000

another good way to get a bunch of fruit in one area is makeing a tree with branches that produce diffrent fruit. Its done by tieing the end of branches together for a few months and they will all make one tree. My Uncle Planted one of these and it produced apples, pears, and peaches. Real Cool

By: klove

klove — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:08:29 +0000

you can also hang window box flowerpots on the sides with marigolds in them to keep out rabbits and other small critters.

By: Archeopteryx

Archeopteryx — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 02:32:02 +0000

Cool!!!