raised beds

[chilli_grower]

Hi all,

I hope everyone enjoyed Christmas????

I was planning on building a raised bed next month, but have since been looking around at what is available to purchase.

The bed, must have a base to it. I.E it will not be going directly on top of soil.

I am undecided whether to go for a single long bed, approx 2m, or maybe get 2 or 3 1 metre beds. What do you all think?

I also stumbled across this website:

Raised Vegetable Beds | Internet Gardener

Has anybody here ever used this company? And what do you all think of their raised beds?

Any thoughts welcomed....

Thanks

[rustylady]

If not on soil, what are you going to site your bed or beds on?

[chilli_grower]

I am thinking of maybe 2 of these on my patio:

Heritage Raised Vegetable Bed - 1.2m | Internet Gardener

[rustylady]

Very nice. Very expensive too. What do you intend to grow in them?

[veggiechicken]

CG, when you say "Raised" beds you really do mean "Raised"!! Whatever their height you still need to think about drainage and where the surplus water is going to go. Unless you need them that height why not construct something on your patio? You could line it with membrane and just knock up the surround with pieces of decking or similar.
Or you could ask RESEICLO - Qulaity Wood Recycling for Newport to make you up something.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Blinking Heck thats expensive.

Tape measure, screw driver, saw.

3 packs off 1800mm x 100mm x 19mm treated timber, few screws and a little time.

Something like this would cost less than £25.

Not as pretty but a lot more bang for your buck.

Potty

[chilli_grower]

Yes, expensive. And my preference is definitely to build.

VC - No that height is not essential, although whatever I build, will have to be 'highish' as I am suffering from a bit of a bad back. And am thinking of the future.....

Beds will mainly be for herbs.

I guess what I am really asking is, should I build 2 small beds, approx 1 metre, or maybe one 2 metre bed???? Advantages???? Disadvantages???

Drainage will not be a problem, as water on the slabs runs straight onto some chippings....

Cheers

[veggiechicken]

Why not grow your herbs in pots and keep the raised bed for salad things that tend to need more attention? Also many perennial herbs spread and can swamp the more delicate annual herbs - so they are better kept apart. Again it depends on which herbs you want to grow!

[chilli_grower]

it might also be used for small carrots and spring onions!!!!!!!

So many decisions to be made!!!!!

Basically , I have a space to fill alongside my garage, and a raised bed looks nicer than several pots...

And my Dad has volunteered his carpentry services to build me a bed or two.

One or two, that is the question?

I already have loads of membrane left over, from when I made a french drain during the summer, so I can use that for the lining....

Thanks

[Bren In Pots]

How about building something like these they would fit well against the garage :-

Forest Cascade Wooden Raised Vegetable Bed | Internet Gardener

Lean-To Ladder Vegetable Garden - Harrod Horticultural (UK)

[veggiechicken]

Right, we're getting there now I'd have 2 as they'd be easier to move, if you had too, and you could use shorter lengths of timber which may be cheaper. Also you could treat each differently if you needed to fertilise one crop, but not the other. Just my thoughts - other's will have comepletly different views

[Bren In Pots]

Just remembered here's an earlier thread about those raised vegtrugs, plus on their website there's videos and build instructions to look at.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ite_58521.html

[chilli_grower]

thank you all for the advice, I will have a think, and will report back once project complete.

Happy new year all....

[Potstubsdustbins]

Deffo go for two for the reasons stated above, if you look carefully you will see mine in the pic are divided.

However I would not use them for herbs or spring onions as I would see that as a waste of compost. Mine grow two crops of peas for SWMBO followed by spring cabbage.

Potty

[chilli_grower]

gotcha, ok thats great.

One more question:

I assume that tannalised timber will be ok to use? i.e the chemicals will not affect produce?

Thanks