No, the physical seperation i think you're referring to with the grids is for looks, and an aid in planting each square. If you don't like using the grids, don't use them.

You may also have been confused by mention of "landscape fabric" on the bottom of the box. This is not to effect the roots of the plants in the boxes, but to keep grass and weeds from invading the box from below.

Your plants will sort the root space issue out fine themselves. Part of the beauty of the SFG method is that you will be growing plants in a near optimum soil mix, so they won't have to grope desperately for nutrients with their roots. Just look at the pictures of folks SFGs in various threads on this forum and elsewhere, and you will see that the method works well!

Thanks to both of you.
To Timewind, well what i was meaning it is real phisical separation as it seems they are doing here.
I see the point of what you are saying, but these guys here seem to separate phisically the soil and thats what confused me...funny enough they call themself experts

Take a look to the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETmHlbdhiZM

thanks anyway

Javi

Ok, I'm new to this, but that video was silly, bordering on stupid. Flatlander is right. The grids are to help you get 16 carrots per SF, or 9 bush beans or 4 lettuce plants. The roots should go where they want to. These folks may be experts, but I've done way more research than is recommended and never have come across this before.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's garden adventure!

the plants don't know where the grid is placed...the grid does make it look nice, but it also prevents you from planting in rows-where we have seen comments on this website of folks who are doing just that. You wont be planting in rows with a grid in place....

I think that instead of using lattice or strips of wood to lay on top of the soil and divide the box they are using these that are pushed into the soil.

Javi, I posed the same question on Ft2Garden.com and the general concensus of experienced SFGardeners and new folks alike was that these folks are full of it. There's no reason to stop plants roots from intertwining. What they do in the video is at best extra work for nothing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ft2Garden.com discussion...

I don't use any kind of physical grid. Instead, I just draw lines in the soil to keep myself straight. Also, you can measure off and mark every twelve inches all along the tops of the boxes. That helps too. I have a tendency to veer to the right so the marks help me. Maybe I have astigmatism.

Plant roots are just naturally going to intertwine. Basil, with tons of roots, is a natural companion to tomatoes, and those two will definitely intertwine. In fact, I doubt you could stop basil roots from intertwining with anything.

I think Sinfonian is getting ahead of himself calling anything stupid. Nowhere in that video do they claim to be trying to keep roots seperate. All she's doing is pressing a vinyl strip into the

soil instead of laying a grid on top. The stip isn't nearly as deep as the bed she's putting it in. Different techniques Sinfonian.

As the NFL guys say, after further review I'm with melonguy on this one. The lady says you can use many things for the grid, wood, lattice, etc, but she uses vinyl because it doesn't decompose. She isn't trying to keep the roots apart, she's just making another grid. i expect her grid will protrude a little above the bed. A little differnt, and a little more work that my staple and string routine, but if playing classical music to your plants was rumored to improve production, i'd give it a try.