Pretty well, actually. Especially since I started ignoring all the bloodthirsty warnings about overwatering. It’s the desert. Jeez.
Above you can see the vine-support frame I added to the SFG this afternoon. It’s made of two five-foot lengths of half-inch steel conduit for uprights, connected by a four-foot piece and a couple elbow joints held with set screws (the pair of which cost me more than any other SFG component, oddly.) The design, rock-simple as it is, comes straight outta SFG guru Mel Bartholomew’s All New Square Foot Gardening.
While the basic design calls for using pieces of rebar sunk in the ground as support bases for the uprights, apparently that can require the addition of guy lines as the plants grow up the nylon netting (which, you’ve no doubt noted, since you’re quick that way, I’ve yet to install) to keep the wind from knocking the whole assembly ass over teakettle. Not wanting to screw around with extra stakes and lines, I went with the nuclear option Mel offered as an alternate: three steel foot T-post fenceposts, clamped to the conduit with hose clamps. I know our Albuquerque winds.
Tomorrow, barring my old Nemesis, the Unforeseen (not to be confused with The Unnamable, a not very good 1988 H.P. Lovecraft adaptation somewhat redeemed by gratuitous nudity), I should put up the netting and try to persuade my tomatoes to grow thereup.
On other fronts … I’ve been bad about blogging. I need to keep posting regularly to maintain the interest of all eight or so of my Faithful Readers (thanks, Faithful Readers!) I know, I know.
I’ve been … distracted. I might almost say, afflicted. Computer woes, predominantly, have been eating up way too much of my time and energy. Not to mention annoying Hell out of me.
Soon I shall give an abbreviated account of my travails. Also I will, as threatened promised deliver cute so intense it’ll set the roots of Saraphina’s hair afire!




Hey, Vic, I’m enjoying reading about your garden. My veggie patch is in a raised bed along the south side of my house, with probably about the same square footage. I’m impressed with the SFG design. So good work, and carry on!
Hi, Pati! Great to see you here.
Thanks for your comment. I’m glad you enjoy reading about my gardening adventures. Especially since you’re the expert and I’m the neophyte.
I’m looking for some forum or other online community for NM and particularly Albuquerque-area gardeners. The Albuquerque Master Gardenersn isn’t very, let’s say, interactive. The Duke City Fix group Urban Farmers has promise, but isn’t particularly large or active. Any suggestions, please?
Ok, my hair and a fire extinguisher are READY!
BRING IT ON!!!
Saraphina dear, if the ensuing post’s portrait of two loving and lovable cats doesn’t induce combustion, I got nothin’.