Medway Towns gardener

[Pyrus]

Hello,
I have just moved to the Medway Towns, North Kent after a 2 1/2 year stay in Egypt. Before I went I had a lovely garden that I am hoping to start anew.
I am partially disabled now and intend to put in raised beds of about 45 cm high. This on a grass base covered with weed barrier, any advice on the mix that I should fill the beds with ? i.e. top soil, compost, sharp sand, etc etc. I have the use of a cement mixer to make it an even mix. I want to grow vedge, fruit etc. It seems virtually impossible to get an allotment around here, I think the next one I'll get will be the grave yard.
I am also a keen brewer, brewing in the traditional real ale manner from grain and hops etc, looking to form a club arround the area to teach others and have a new social life.

[rustylady]

Welcome to the Vine, Pyrus. A mix of topsoil and compost should be OK. You'll only need sand if the soil is clay.

[zazen999]

Welcome Pyrus

I spent many a happy year in the Medway towns; I used to live under the Secondhand shop in Maidstone Road, Rochester........amongst many other places in Gillingham and [*spit] Chatham. Also spent more happy years wandering amongst the hop fields around Sissinghurst [not sure if they are still growing hops down there] - but we loved just ambling around during the pre-teen years. Heaven.

If I remember correctly, you should be on London Clay there, so have a dig round and as RL says - you only need sand if it is extremely clayey - i remember having the discussion about sharp sand with my old hairdresser as he wanted to sort his garden out and the ground was really clayey and he wanted to get better drainage so I recommended sharp sand - about 23 years ago. Some things never change....

[NOG]

Hi welcome to the Vine...I would just fill the beds with good quality top soil.

[OllieMartin]

Welcome to the vine.

I made you a Whale-Millipede-Scorpion to welcome you, I hope the two of you get on.

[Pyrus]

I dont get the implication of the sketch.

[OllieMartin]

No implcation, purely a unique welcome gift and something to keep me entertained if no-one else!

If you don't like him just say, I'll have him put down.

[NOG]

I like that one.....its all a bit Spike Milligan

[zazen999]

I dont get the implication of the sketch.

Ollie is our resident random poet/artist.....he is very giving.

[basketcase]

Ollie is our resident random poet/artist.....he is very giving.

Ah... Giving... Yes...

Welcome to the Vine, Pyrus. You're plainly one of the favoured few. I didn't get a drawing. Or a poem.

[OllieMartin]

Ah... Giving... Yes...

Welcome to the Vine, Pyrus. You're plainly one of the favoured few. I didn't get a drawing. Or a poem.

If you name me three creatures I'll draw you one, I don't want anyone feeling ignored.

[NOG]

Pangolin - butterfly - hammerhead shark

[Pyrus]

Hi Ollie,
Please forgive my distrust, as I said we have lived in Egypt for two and half years and it was hell on earth.
Here is one for you to draw, Egyptian, magpie, cookoo, my money.
All the best and roots down, tops up
Roger

[OllieMartin]

Pangolin - butterfly - hammerhead shark

Nice one, I had no idea what a pangolin was so had to look it up, sadly that influenced my drawing of its tail which would have been better straight out.

Enjoy.

[NOG]

ROTFL....thanks that is great....a bit mad but great.