Produced by
Patti Moreno
Contributor to:
Frequently Asked Square Foot Gardening Questions – Part 2
I’m back again with Mel Bartholomew and this time he is answering the burning question…drum roll please…
1) Is 6” really deep enough to grow a vegetable garden?
The answer is yes! As Mel explains the benefit of 6” instead of 12” is that it is just more efficient all the way around. It saves waters, saves seeds and it produces the same quality of vegetables that a more deeply planted garden would. But we understand the question. We have all been taught that for a garden to grow you must dig deep, and till and toil in the garden for hours a day. But Mel learned a most important lesson on a visit to a commercial grain house. He saw a table with 6” boxes on it and healthy plants like peppers, eggplants, tomatoes and beautiful flowers. When he asked how it was possible, they said it’s the “perfect soil,” which got Mel thinking…and the way that Mel’s mix was born. Once again, Mel’s Mix is 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite and 1/3 compost. It works!
Although some “experts” suggest that it’s not possible, Mel and I know that it is! We have been doing it for years. If you are a naysayer, we have just one thing to say to you…Try it. You’ll see. Happy 6” gardening.
Mel’s only tip: It’s all about the soil!
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