Our Work
Who We Are
Guatemala
Vía 4, 01-00, Zona 4
Edificio Campus Tecnológico
Torre 2, Oficina 1102
Guatemala, Guatemala 01004
USA
Semilla Nueva
P.O. BOX 8643
Boise, ID 83707
Why Rooftop Gardens?
Little Soil, Lots of Plants
Materials:
Maximum Weight Calculation: This weight calculation is for completely saturated sand (the heaviest soil), so depend on the garden actually weighing much less. (Note: All measurements must be in meters.)
Volume (V) = Height x Width x Length
V is in cubic meters
Equation: (V x 1.7) + (0.358 x V) = weight in kilograms (kg)
Direct Seeding vs. Transplanting:
Direct seeding is planting seeds directly into the garden bed. It is dependent on having a top layer of soil or compost, but is better for crops like peas, beans, cumbers, and zucchini, and more or less necessary for crops like radishes, carrots, beets, and other root vegetables.
Transplanting is starting seeds in pots or trays indoors and later transferring the plants to the garden. It is necessary for longer season crops like tomatoes and peppers to be started because they have zero frost resistance, and their life spans are too long to fit into the growing season. Transplants also do not require a complete covering of soil or compost on the garden, which can be beneficial if weight is an issue. However, transplanted seedlings often do not have as extensive of root systems as direct seeded plants, so direct seeding is preferable when it is possible.
Next Week: How to use local materials to create a layered soil for your garden, and how to turn an old tire into a productive planter!
Happy planting!
~Otto
For more information, check out:
http://echonet.org/content/urbanGardening
Price, Dr. Martin L. Rooftop and Urban Gardening. Echo, 2010. Web. 1 Jan. 2011.