Hi! I'm glad to have found this group. I have done minor gardening in
the past. The few years, I had very small vegetable gardens. Since
moving, I have embarked on a large garden project. We just put up: a
small greenhouse (6' x 8'); three 4' x 10' raised beds, one is 10" deep,
two are 8" deep; two 4' x 8' raised beds 10" deep. I'm using the grid
method for Square Foot Gardening. The pathways are gravel as is in
front of the greenhouse. I have a small hardening off bed along the
outside wall of the greenhouse. I have three of the five beds partially
planted, one bed fully planted, and one to fill and plant. I still have
trellises to build.

I have a couple questions. The grid for the SFG method seemed to help
the planning and planting of the beds. However, I am wondering how
practical this grid will be when the vegetables are growing well. Has
anyone used this method? If so, would you mind posting a few tips? I
found an idea for cascading strawberries using three pots in a magazine.
The author indicated that slugs would not be a problem. I
transplanted my strawberries into one raised bed and half barrow. I'm
wondering if slugs will be a problem in the raised beds?

"nutNhoney" wrote in message
I
found an idea for cascading strawberries using three pots in a magazine.
The author indicated that slugs would not be a problem. I
transplanted my strawberries into one raised bed and half barrow. I'm
wondering if slugs will be a problem in the raised beds?

My slugs must not have read that particular magazine--they are always a
problem 8-0.

Seriously, you may have slugs, you may have earwigs, you may have any number
of other plagues. Just keep your eyes open, and identify any pests you get
so you can find out how best to deal with them. I find that striving
towards a balanced mini-eco system, encouraging birds and predatory insects,
goes a long way towards eliminating problems. But since I keep a permanent
mulch on my vegetable beds, I do get slugs. Since I have discovered
"Sluggo", http://www.pestproducts.com/sluggo.htm, (no affiliation) I can
keep the damage under control.

Your projects sound great, have fun,
Sue

--

Zone 6, South-central PA

SugarChile wrote:


"nutNhoney" wrote in message
I
found an idea for cascading strawberries using three pots in a magazine.
The author indicated that slugs would not be a problem. I
transplanted my strawberries into one raised bed and half barrow. I'm
wondering if slugs will be a problem in the raised beds?

My slugs must not have read that particular magazine--they are always a
problem 8-0.

Seriously, you may have slugs, you may have earwigs, you may have any
number
of other plagues. Just keep your eyes open, and identify any pests you
get
so you can find out how best to deal with them. I find that striving
towards a balanced mini-eco system, encouraging birds and predatory
insects,
goes a long way towards eliminating problems. But since I keep a
permanent
mulch on my vegetable beds, I do get slugs. Since I have discovered
"Sluggo", http://www.pestproducts.com/sluggo.htm, (no affiliation) I can
keep the damage under control.

Your projects sound great, have fun,
Sue

You can also use decollete snails (depending on where you live) or a liberal
application of uncooked coffee grounds when you begin to notice appreciable
amounts of damage.

Right about now someone always pops up to solemnly announce that coffee
grounds do not contain enough caffeine to do the trick.

Baloney. Try it. This method has worked for me for at least three years (and
there are usenet postings to prove it). At worst you'll be out a few
dollars but your garden will smell great for a few days. At best, your slug
problem will be gone for the season (the little buggers travel) and your
garden will smell great for a few days too!

Slugs and snails eat decaying vegetable matter ... and that is a good thing.
For one thing, their presence indicates that there is decaying vegetative
material to be had. And that is a good thing, too. However, they also eat
healthy vegetable matter such as strawberries and sweet pepper plants and
that is a bad thing.

Bill

In article ,
Bill wrote:

SugarChile wrote:


"nutNhoney" wrote in message
I
found an idea for cascading strawberries using three pots in a magazine.
The author indicated that slugs would not be a problem. I
transplanted my strawberries into one raised bed and half barrow. I'm
wondering if slugs will be a problem in the raised beds?

My slugs must not have read that particular magazine--they are always a
problem 8-0.

Seriously, you may have slugs, you may have earwigs, you may have any
number
of other plagues.

[stuff deleted]


You can also use decollete snails (depending on where you live) or a liberal
application of uncooked coffee grounds when you begin to notice appreciable
amounts of damage.

[stuff deleted]

Bill


My experience with decollete snails after 6-7 yrs is that they somewhat
control brown snails but not slugs (alas). I don't have to use snail
bait anymore but I do set beer traps for the slugs.

--
SteveO