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Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Maximize Your Yield With Square Foot Gardening
Do you own a small backyard and dream of growing enough food for your whole family? Square Foot Gardening (SFG) might be your best friend. It is a method of dividing your garden into small, manageable squares, allowing you to pack in more plants without the chaos. Experts say that home gardens using this method can produce significantly more food than traditional row planting in the same space. While the exact increase in produce depends on your crops, climate, and maintenance, a 20-30% increase per square foot compared to row gardening is a realistic ballpark estimate. Mel Bartholomew first introduced square foot gardening, which has changed how people think about growing vegetables. Because this method is incredibly low-effort and requires less space, you can easily do it even as a beginner with a small yard. You don't need to dig long rows, bend over for hours pulling weeds, or haul heavy tools around. The raised beds and defined grid make everything easier on your back and knees. Here are 14 expert tips to maximize your produce with SFG. 1. Plan Your Layout Before planting, it's important to sketch out your garden like a puzzle. Square foot gardening divides your raised bed into 1x1-foot squares, and each of those little boxes has a specific purpose. Planning your layout (and which plants will do best) helps you avoid overcrowding and makes sure every plant gets the space, sunlight, and airflow it needs. Think about what you love to eat, what grows well in your area, and how tall each plant gets. When everything is spaced just right, your plants grow better, and you can fit more in a small area. 2. Use Raised Beds for Better Results To make Square Foot Gardening work effectively, opt for a raised bed. These square-shaped plots are usually 4'x4' and 6-12 inches deep and give you control over the soil, drainage, and spacing. Raised beds can produce 2–4 times more produce than in-ground beds due to improved soil quality and drainage. They also make it easier to reach your plants without stepping on the soil, which keeps it fluffy and full of oxygen. Additionally, raised beds warm up faster in the spring, allowing you to start planting earlier and extend your growing season. 3. Stick to the 'Mel's Mix' Soil Formula Mel Bartholomew recommended a mix of 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 compost, called 'Mel's Mix.' This combo is lightweight, holds moisture well, and is packed with nutrients. This blend boosts plant growth as compared to regular garden soil. This mix also reduces the need for constant fertilizing. It's easy to work with and helps plants grow strong roots, which means more fruits and vegetables from each square. Refresh your soil each season by adding compost to maintain fertility and avoid heavy clay or sandy soils, as they either drown roots or dry out too quickly. 4. Follow Proper Plant Spacing Guidelines Overcrowding leads to competition for nutrients, resulting in stunted growth. Stick to Mel Bartholomew's classic square foot spacing, for example, one plant per square (tomatoes), four plants (lettuce), or 16 plants of radishes. Correct spacing can increase productivity and lower the risk of plant diseases caused by poor airflow. Neat spacing also makes harvesting easier and keeps the garden looking tidy and healthy. 5. Rotate Crops Each Season Just like in big farms, rotating crops helps prevent soil exhaustion and pest buildup. When you plant the same veggie in the same spot every season, it uses up the same nutrients and attracts the same bugs. Rotate plant families—like moving tomatoes after planting leafy greens. Crop rotation can reduce soil-borne diseases and increase long-term production. It's an easy habit that makes a big difference. 6. Water Deep, Not Often Watering deeply encourages strong root growth, whereas frequent shallow watering can weaken plants. Watering when the top inch of soil feels dry and soaking it to at least 6 inches deep is usually recommended. Use a watering can or drip system to keep the water near the base of each plant. Early morning watering helps avoid mold and mildew while saving water by reducing evaporation. This way, you'll grow plants that are more resilient, productive, and efficient with water, which is crucial for maximizing yields in your square-foot garden. 7. Add a Trellis to Maximize Vertical Space Trellises are perfect for square-foot gardens because they allow you to grow plants like peas, melons, or squash upward. This method saves ground space for shorter crops and improves airflow, which helps prevent disease. Use strong materials like metal mesh, bamboo, or wooden stakes. Trellising reduces fungal infections and enhances air circulation, promoting healthier plants and higher yields. 8. Companion Plant to Boost Growth Some plants grow better when paired with the right neighbors. For example, planting basil near tomatoes can enhance flavor and reduce pest infestations. Marigolds also repel insects when planted alongside veggies. This is called companion planting. Companion planting improved yields by 15–30% in certain combinations. It's a smart way to keep your garden healthy without chemicals. 9. Use Mulch to Lock In Moisture A thin layer of mulch—such as straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves — keeps the soil cool and moist. It also stops weeds from growing. Mulching can reduce water loss significantly. This is especially crucial in square foot gardening, where soil can dry out quickly in tightly planted beds. Mulch also helps prevent soil from getting onto leaves, which can spread disease. Just make sure it's not packed too tightly around stems, so air can still circulate. For container square foot gardens, cocoa hulls or pine needles are lightweight options that won't compact over time. 10. Start from Seed When Possible Seeds are cheaper, offer more variety, and give plants a stronger root system from the start. Seedlings grown directly in the garden adapt better to their environment than store-bought transplants. You can start early indoors or sow seeds directly into your garden. Direct seeding reduces transplant shock and saves a large amount of costs compared to buying nursery plants. 11. Harvest Often to Encourage More Growth The more you harvest, the more your plants will keep producing, especially for crops like lettuce, beans, and cucumbers. Letting food over-ripen on the plant tells it to stop growing. Keep a harvest basket handy whenever you visit your garden - you'll be amazed how much more food you'll gather with this simple habit. In square foot gardening, frequent harvesting is a crucial technique to maximize every inch of your space. 12. Track What Works (and What Doesn't) Keep a small garden journal or use a garden app to record what you planted, how much it produced, and any challenges that arose. This info helps you make better choices next season. Keep a simple garden journal noting which varieties performed best, germination rates, and planting dates. Over seasons, you'll develop a customized planting guide perfectly suited to your microclimate and gardening style. With practice, seed starting becomes one of the most rewarding and economical skills in the Square Foot Gardener's toolkit. 13. Extend the Season with Row Covers & Cold Frames Row covers and cold frames are great tools to stretch your growing season, especially in cooler climates. They protect plants from frost, wind, and sudden temperature drops, giving you extra weeks of growing time in spring and fall. Row covers are lightweight fabric sheets you drape over your plants, while cold frames are like mini greenhouses made of glass or plastic. Both trap heat and create a warmer microclimate for your crops. This means you can plant earlier, harvest later, and even grow cold-loving veggies like spinach, kale, and lettuce all winter long in many zones 14. Feed Your Soil, Not Just Your Plants Healthy soil is the secret behind every thriving square foot garden. Instead of just adding fertilizers, focus on improving the soil by regularly mixing in compost. It provides essential nutrients, supports beneficial microbes, and enhances water retention. You don't need fancy store-bought compost—kitchen scraps, dry leaves, and garden clippings work just fine. When you enrich the soil each season, your plants will grow stronger, resist pests more effectively, and yield a more abundant harvest with less effort. Solve the daily Crossword
Washington Post
15 hours ago
- Washington Post
Weeds are taking over the cracks in my driveway. What can I do?
Q: Our concrete driveway was poured with wooden spacers between the sections. Now the wood has rotted and weeds have taken over. How can I get rid of them? A: Whether you have a driveway, patio or garden path paved with concrete, bricks or flagstones, you're almost certain to be doing battle with weeds at some point. Although the narrow spaces between pieces of the paving don't seem like an ideal place to grow, weeds seem to find what they need there. Yanking them out isn't always easy. And they're sure to come back. There are effective ways to keep the paving looking tidy, but the best solution really depends on the situation.
CNET
2 days ago
- CNET
This Simple Bed Frame Took Me Less Than 5 Minutes to Put Together. Yes, I Timed It
CNET's key takeaways The Helix Madison bed frame, available in natural wood or white, is $929 for a queen before sales. It's straightforward to put together and requires no tools. That said, the frame is a little expensive and incompatible with headboards. My beautiful, four-poster bed frame broke a few months ago. Immediately afterward, as I was lying there, slowly sliding to the corner of my mattress that had plummeted to the ground (from a decent height, I might add), I cursed that antique frame. It was creaky to the point it would wake me up, and it was higher off the floor than frames are nowadays. Part of me was happy to be rid of it. As my boyfriend and I yanked the wooden side rails apart from the headboard, I realized I wasn't ready to start looking for a new bed frame. They're expensive, and many are so low-quality that they break while you're assembling them or after just a few months. Through the years, I've seen plenty of sleep products not live up to the hype, and I was unwilling to lug another one up the stairs to my bedroom. However, after a few days of floor sleeping, I was neck deep in research for my next bed frame. I've tested plenty of bed frames and mattresses during my career, but even I was a little overwhelmed by the many options. All I knew was that I was done with complicated bed frames. I wanted something simple. Then I started testing the Helix Madison bed frame, and I haven't looked back. My experience with the Helix Madison bed frame The Helix Madison is the perfect choice for people (like me) who don't want to deal with a bunch of screws and sacrifice time deciphering the illustrations in the instructions packet. It's hands down the easiest piece of furniture I've put together. I should mention that I'm not the best at that -- the desk I put together in college shook if you put any weight on it. The Madison bed frame is foolproof. It has a brilliant interlocking design that doesn't require any tools. Taylor Leamey/CNET The outer frame consists of four corner pieces and four pieces of wood that fit together without screws or dowels. The outside wood pieces are notched so you can tell how they interlock with the legs. Then, you add the center support beam and the slats, and you're done. I timed the setup, and it took less than 5 minutes. Um, 5 minutes! It took us at least 30 minutes to get our old bed frame apart, and we had to break it to do so. The old pieces were heavy and difficult to move out of the bedroom. The Helix Madison bed frame was a breeze to move. My partner and I could easily pick up the box and carry it upstairs. I can't imagine the average person would have a difficult time lifting the bed frame in the box or once it's put together. It took longer to take the Helix bed frame out of the box than it did to put it together. It was pretty snuggly packaged, so unpacking took a little longer than 5 minutes, but once it was out and I had the pieces sorted, putting it together was simple. Taylor Leamey/CNET As easy as it was to put together, I was a little worried about the quality and stability of the bed, mainly because it has no screws. But I've been sleeping on this bed frame for a few months now, and it's a night-and-day difference compared with my vintage four-poster. I no longer wake up from the creaks that echo around my room when my partner rolls over. The specs: Besides being easy to put together, this bed has a few other key features you should know about. 30-night sleep trial Free shipping and five-year limited warranty Available in natural (what I have) or white Tool-free assembly Bedrails: 100% Appalachian hardwood; slats: 100% southern yellow pine; legs: 100% Appalachian maple Available in twin, twin XL, full, queen, king and California king Not compatible with headboards CNET's buying advice The Helix Madison bed frame is a no-brainer if you don't want a fancy bed frame but want something slightly more elevated than a bare metal one. It's a little on the expensive side for how simple it is to put together, but with sales, I've seen the price of a queen drop from $930 to around $695. Helix often runs sitewide sales around big holidays like Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day. The discount will vary by holiday, though in my experience, Helix averages around 25% off. I can't ignore that even with sales, it's still a big investment, especially if you compare it with a basic metal frame that costs only $60 on Amazon. However, I can vouch for the quality of this bed frame. The novelty of being able to put it together in 5 minutes may also make it more appealing, if you can afford it. I've had plenty of heavy frames that were a pain to put together, and sometimes worse to take apart. The Helix Madison bed frame was a breath of fresh air, every step of the way. I've only noticed a little chip in the protective coating around the wood side rail, but nothing that's worried me about the stability. Overall, it's a solid bed frame that I'd recommend to anyone. The only thing that bums me out about this product is that it's not compatible with headboards. But if you don't care about that or want a simple frame for your guest bed, you'll like the Helix Madison bed frame.
