Square foot gardening is the practice of using boxes above ground to grow plants. Use a special blended soil, top it off with a grid, and you are ready to begin your gardening experience. The benefits of Square Foot Gardening include less work, less expense and efficient use of space. Anyone can participate in the garden from age 4 to 94.
Children can be given their own smaller box to work in such as 3’x3’ instead of 4’x4’. Having their own garden builds responsibility and gets them engaged with the outdoors. It encourages all participants to eat healthier while building a sense of confidence. Knowledge about gardening is expanded as past science and math learning is applied and new concepts are experienced. Even critical and analytical thinking is involved, but don’t tell anyone!
Gardening positively impacts mental and behavioral activity by decreasing stress, improving focus and memory, and creating better moods. The family that gardens together can create positive bonding experiences as good memories are made through shared experiences. So, here’s how to do it.
Here is one example. You will need:
• (4) 4-foot 2×6 untreated lumber
• (12) 4-inch wood screws
• (6) 4-foot lattice strips or cord/heavy twine and nails
• (9) Machine bolts
• Power drill
• Hammer
1. To create the box, use the 4” wood screws to fasten the 4-ft pieces of lumber together in a square. Put 3 screws per joint. It is recommended that you pre-drill a starting hole for each screw.
2. The second step involves mixing the soil. You will need 8 cubic feet of soil for the one box. One-third of it should be compost, 1/3 vermiculite and 1/3 peat moss. (*Note- try to use a couple of different types of compost.) Mix the compost blend with the vermiculite and peat moss and fill the box with the newly blended soil wetting the layers with a water hose as you fill it.
3. To complete the set up in preparation for plants, assemble a grid which will delineate each square foot plot of the garden. One way is to construct a lattice out of 4-ft wooden lathes. Even simpler is to stretch cord or heavy twine across the garden frame at 1-ft intervals horizontally and vertically and secure around a nail or screw on the garden box.
For answers to your gardening questions, please visit the Montgomery County Master Gardeners at
www.mcmga.com
or call
936-539-7824. Master Gardener members are available to help you on business days from 8:00-noon and from 1:00-5:00 at the Montgomery County A&M AgriLife Extension Offices located at 9020 Airport Road, Conroe, Texas 77301.