Top soil supplier

[Albo42]

Hi,

as I'm about to build several new raised beds to replace my old ones: can anyone recommend where to buy good top soil for veg? Bought the last lot from a farm that did smell of manure and not I'm not sure if that was a good choice or not. ALso, if I built 3 8'x 5' beds, how much soil would I need?

Thanks
Alan

[alldigging]

Yellow pages has quite a few listed for us locally.
Two people have bought different lots recently for an arm and a leg. Its nice stuff though but more than I'd want to pay.
I bought cheap stuff that turned out to be fairly sandy but the parsnips did well it in.

[rustylady]

Not sure what you mean about replacing your old raised beds.

Is the wood rotten, do you want to make extra raised beds, or what?

Also you haven't said where you are, so it's a bit difficult to recommend suppliers.

[bearded bloke]

Quantity required needs a third dimension bud (depth) basically the math is length x width x depth then multiply by the number of beds

If we assume a depth of 6",express that as a decimal of a foot =0.5'

So you have 8' x5' x 0.5' = 20 x 3 beds is a total of 60 cubic feet,which is 1.699 cubic metres.

[Nicos]

One of my thoughts is that do you really want 5' wide beds? Unless you are very tall and have long arms you'll find you'll need to stand in the middle to weed them- defeating one of the reasons for having a raised bed.
4' is a more manageable width

[Albo42]

Hi, thanks for your quick and helpful responses. I will stick with 4' wide beds. Was only trying to make use of space. 4' is better. Thanks

I'm replacing old beds as the wood is rotten, overhanging trees and not in good area of garden. Want better site in full sun. No trees. I'm in East Yorkshire, so if anyone knows good top soil supplier near Driffield / Hull, please let me know. Thanks again.

[bearded bloke]

Good point there Nicos ^^,I am 5'11' with "overlength" arms,my beds are 4' wide deffo would struggle to plant/harvest the middle area of anything wider.

[Nicos]

I see you are thinking of an asparagus bed?
You could put 2 rows of asparagus in a 5ft bed!

Sorry- I don't know your area at all so can't help you with a supplier- but could you pop your rough location in your profile?
It just helps again in the future with any more accurate answers/questions

[bearded bloke]

When constructing your beds remember to leave enough space between them to fit a wheelbarrow I didn't think about it so have to carry material to the middle area in a trug

[Nicos]

I found 2ft was the minimum I could cope with. If you like to kneel down to weed you may want a little bit more

[bearded bloke]

Nicos,as it goes my project for this week is to build a full length (12') half width (2') bed 1' deep for rhubarb,strawberries & "cutting flowers"

[Nicos]

Nice depth to be able to step over too


Cut flowers???....lucky Mrs eh???

[bearded bloke]

Going for Gladioli this year,& to save weeding I thought some edibles (nasturtium,viola,etc) in the gaps
we both like a vase of flowers on the dining table,plus there will be the inevitable sweet peas for the mantleshelf & dressing table

*It's Sarz fault (mixing fruit & veg & flowers) she told me to read a book

[green fingered]

Hello albo42 try Topsoil supplier, topsoil, compost, landscape bark & playground bark from TruGrow bulk bags of top sol from £59.45 including delivery

[Albo42]

Green fingered: Thanks. Had a look and will possibly use them.

Thanks for all your suggestions. Cheers.