man have been grow their own food for about 12,000 years , but 50 year ago a civil engineer namedMel Bartholomewfigured out a Modern way to do it that could get rid of a lot of the frustrative weeding and tearing that go with it . He called it theSquare Foot Garden(SFG ) , and the book of account he write about it sold over 2.5 million copy , becoming the well - sellinggardeningbook of all time .
Upon his retirement from engineering in 1975 , Bartholomew became interested in gardening , but the more he got into it , the more inefficient he found it to be . horticulture has long been accomplished in dustup , which Bartholemew line up to be wasteful , and difficult to work . Using his engine room know - how , Bartholomew came up with a method of gardening that could be accomplished in atiny backyard or patio , and which required only10 per centum of the waterof a run-in garden .
The Science Behind SFG
Bartholemew ’s perspective was that traditional gardening with its long row and spacious footpath in between waste space , water supply , fertilizer and work . In fact , his conclusion was that row gardens accept up about80 percentmore distance than they needed to . so as to maximise infinite , he began using raised beds , divided into a routine of 12 x 12 column inch ( 30 x 30 centimeter ) squares , each square marked off with string or Mrs. Henry Wood partition . Each square was consecrate to a specific veg — as many plants as were appropriate based on that variety ’s plant space guidelines .
The plant life are nestle close together to make less space for grass . In fact , because SFG does n’t offer up much in the fashion of disturbed dirt , weed seed are less likely to take hold . Its distance efficiency also accounts for its water and imagination efficiency — you ’re only watering and fertilize the small area that control the flora you planted .
How to Use the SFG System
As with any taxonomical advance make by an engineer and efficiency expert , there are specific steps to putting together your straight foot garden .
Step 1: Choose a Location
As with any garden , the first stone’s throw involves finding a place that gets at least six hours of sunlight per day , rather in the break of the day and other afternoon when the sun is not as hot . You will also need to debate availability of a water supply source , as well as general availableness . One capital thing about the SFG system is that a bed can be set up on a tabular array or in a raised bed for those who have worry squatting and bending — they can even be madewheelchair accessible !
Step 2: Build Your Beds
Next , it ’s metre to produce some raised beds made of whatever material you choose , from corrugated metal to log . These bottom are typically 4 x 4 feet ( 1.2 x 1.2 meter ) and between 6 and 12 inches ( 15 and 30 centimeters ) deep , and all SFG beds have a lattice of 12 inch ( 30 centimeter ) squares point over them to visually separate the crops .
Step 3: Fill the Beds With Soil
Soilis very important to the SFG system — Bartholemew even claimed that it was the most important part of the method acting . A ration of one - third compost to coarse vermiculite to peat moss create soil that feed your plants , retain the right-hand amount of wet and make a loose medium for your plant to rise level-headed root systems . Once you ’ve made your grunge mix , fill the bed to the rim and wiretap it down light — it ’s importantnot to take the air on your soilonce it ’s in the bottom !
Step 4: Plant Your Veggies
Whenplanting a SFG , space of plants is important but very easy . One sphere of a SFG can unremarkably oblige one bigger works like a tomato , black pepper or mad apple ; four average - sized plants like lettuce or herbs ; or nine smaller industrial plant like radishes , carrots or onions . In some case , as with microgreens , a square might accommodate 16 plants . There are a few plants like squash , asparagus and dough that take up more than one public square , and climbing plants like pea and beans may be planted in two minor row of four plants per public square .
How to Maintain Your SFG
Instead of thinning unwanted plants by pulling them up by their roots and disturbing the filth , Bartholomew swore by lose weight with scissor grip . Also , taste to catch weeds when they ’re small to minimize dirt disruption . Fertilize and water just as you would a regular in - footing garden .
Limitations of the SFG
The SFG scheme is popular and jolly foolproof , but it has its restriction . For example , it can beexpensiveto set up on the front conclusion , although using reclaimed material like baseball bat , old brick and cinder blocks to build up beds can avail . Two - third base of the soil mixture is made of unrenewable resources — peatis part decayed constituent material that engage millenia to work , and is a natural sink for greenhouse gasses , and vermiculite is mined material . In gain , SFG does n’t work as well inarid climatesbecause raised beds dry out out more quickly .
But whatever its limitations , SFG has get millions of people growing their own food for thought who might otherwise have never do it the joy of a backyard ( or rooftop ) garden .
