Comments on: Raisin’ the Beds http://garden.katzke.net/2009/05/raisin-the-beds/ A Carpetbagging Yankee Tries To Grow Things in South Central Texas Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:40:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Fiona http://garden.katzke.net/2009/05/raisin-the-beds/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Fiona Sun, 03 May 2009 03:02:11 +0000 http://garden.katzke.net/?p=518#comment-177 Breakin' all the rules! Actually, I just found out about SFG a month ago (got the book out of the library, and everything), but I didn't put any grids on my raised bed. It seemed to me that I already had the basic idea and that gridding would be extra work for no purpose. I might put in a grid next year, or I might not. As for peat, I didn't mix any into the bed, but before I read your last post's link I'd already bought a big bale to use in planting various things. The local extension's website said to use peat as an amendment when planting blueberries, for instance. So now I have all this peat and what to do? I'm using the bale as a doorstop in the short term. Works great. Breakin’ all the rules! Actually, I just found out about SFG a month ago (got the book out of the library, and everything), but I didn’t put any grids on my raised bed. It seemed to me that I already had the basic idea and that gridding would be extra work for no purpose. I might put in a grid next year, or I might not.

As for peat, I didn’t mix any into the bed, but before I read your last post’s link I’d already bought a big bale to use in planting various things. The local extension’s website said to use peat as an amendment when planting blueberries, for instance. So now I have all this peat and what to do? I’m using the bale as a doorstop in the short term. Works great.

]]> By: David http://garden.katzke.net/2009/05/raisin-the-beds/comment-page-1/#comment-176 David Sun, 03 May 2009 02:39:41 +0000 http://garden.katzke.net/?p=518#comment-176 Yeah, I'm with you on the peat issue. I have used the Al mix for two years now and I really like it so I am still trying to figure out what to replace the peat with in the mix. Coir may not supply the acidity that peat did so I may have to supplement whatever I choose with coffee grounds from Starbucks. Also, I am growing all the stuff on my beds on just 6 inches of dirt, even carrots, short varieties of course (Nantes and Mignon). Al says, and I have found to be true, that if you give the plant enough nutrients, the root will not need that much dirt. I grew two HUGE tomato plants on 9 inches of dirt in a different bed. I line my beds with garden fabric and have yet to see a root break through. This has been my experience here in Kansas. I cannot vouch for this under different a climate. Yeah, I’m with you on the peat issue. I have used the Al mix for two years now and I really like it so I am still trying to figure out what to replace the peat with in the mix. Coir may not supply the acidity that peat did so I may have to supplement whatever I choose with coffee grounds from Starbucks. Also, I am growing all the stuff on my beds on just 6 inches of dirt, even carrots, short varieties of course (Nantes and Mignon). Al says, and I have found to be true, that if you give the plant enough nutrients, the root will not need that much dirt. I grew two HUGE tomato plants on 9 inches of dirt in a different bed. I line my beds with garden fabric and have yet to see a root break through. This has been my experience here in Kansas. I cannot vouch for this under different a climate.

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