primary-image, l
(book, Mel Bartholomew)
primary-image, l
h4. From the publisher Anyone, anywhere can enjoy a square-foot garden — children, adults with limited mobility, even complete novices can achieve spectacular results. But there are 10 improvements in this updated edition of the book: # Location: Move your garden closer to your house by eliminating single-row gardening. A square-foot garden needs just 20 percent of the space of a traditional garden. # Direction: Locate your garden on top of existing soil. Forget about pH soil tests, double-digging (who enjoys that?), or never-ending soil improvements. # Soil: The new "Mel's Mix" is the perfect growing mix. Why, we even give you the recipe. Best of all, you can even buy the different types of compost needed. # Depth: You only need to prepare a SFG box to a depth of 6 inches! It's true — the majority of plants develop just fine when grown at this depth. # No fertilizer: The all-new SFG does not need any fertilizer — ever! If you start with the perfect soil mix, then you don't need to add fertilizer. # Boxes: The new method uses bottomless boxes placed aboveground. We show you how to build your own, with step-by-step photos. # Aisles: The ideal gardening aisle width is about three to four feet. That makes it even easier to kneel, work, and harvest. # Grids: Prominent and permanent grids added to your SFG box help you visualize the planting squares and know how to space for maximum harvest. # Seed-saving: The old-fashioned way advocates planting many seeds and then thinning the extras (that means pulling them up). The new method means planting a pinch — literally two or three seeds — per planting hole. # Tabletop gardens: The new boxes are so much smaller and lighter (only 6 inches of soil, remember?) that you can add a plywood bottom to make them portable. Of course, that's not all. We've also included simple, easy-to-follow instructions using lots of photos and illustrations. You're going to love it!