Re: Square Foot Gardening

I have been using Bartholomew's square foot gardening method for years and with two 4'x8' raised beds have grown enough vegetables to feed a family of four all spring, summer and fall.  Now that we are down to two, I have to give veggies away.  This year I am still harvesting carrots and beets. 

The raised beds really help because here I have solid clay soil with layers of shale that are impossible to dig through.  Over the years I have built up about 10 inches of good arable soil in the raised beds.  I can grow almost anything I want although carrots have to be half nantes, and potatoes and corn are pretty much out.  Still we get all the tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, peas, carrots, beets, lettuce, spinach, and herbs we can use.  I don't grow broccali, cauliflower or cabbage  because we go from freezing weather to 80+ degrees too fast and they usually just bolt.