Raised bed question

[esrikandan]

OK - I know that ultimately I am going to have some raised beds in my plot. It is worth having a raised bed for spuds? Or am I just better of leaving an area, say 1/3, of the total plot for veggies to be planted in rows?

The raised beds will be 8x3 and will be put in two or four at a time as i work my way along getting rid of the weeds and stones.

Thanks,

Eric

[pigletwillie]

I have lots of raised beds but prefer to plant spuds into the ground. If its a dry year the ground tends to be damper than raised beds and its easier to ridge the ground than raised beds.

The main reason however that I plant spuds in the ground though is that the beds are far better utilised for other crops, be it salads or any other thing that takes your fancy.

[Nicos]

Mine too are planted directly into the ground rather than the raised beds for exactly the same reason Piglet!
You also don't need to weed in the same way as with other crops, so I prefer to leave the 4 ft wide raised beds for crops with weeds I can easily reach from either side.

[SarzWix]

Isn't it difficult to rotate your crops though, if you're leaving a flat bit just for spuds?

[pigletwillie]

Jou can plant other stuff in it as well, I plant my brassicas in it as they prefer firm ground as well as my sweetcorn. Also I suppose I dont get all bent out of shape over rotation.

[Nicos]

I have an area esp for 3 rotations- spuds, brassicas and courgettes- they all take up the same area.
Works well with the raised beds as I use toms in the bed rotation instead of spuds.
Bit like having 2 x 1/2 plots - one traditionally laid out and the other raised beds.

[esrikandan]

That's the answer then. As I've dug the southern end and it's looking fairly decent and free of stones and as much of the weed roots as I can get up, I'll do traditional rows there. I'll put raised beds in at the northern end as the crops that will go in there have plenty of time before needing to be planted out.

Although I've only dug less than a 1/4 of the plot in 4 weeks I'd better get a move on!

[Norm]

I used to grow spuds in the ground, then I went on to using halved blue plastic water butts. As I got twice the crop in the butts as I got from the same number of seeds, I've kept on using the butts.

[Nicos]

What about watering the butts Norm? I have a lottie with no water on site- but double the crop sounds good!

[Norm]

Ah, now there's the rub. Because they're above normal ground level, they're more free draining so need extra attention, particularly with watering. Bit stingy not having water on site, but there again, CCC were always mean. I used to live in the Port 30 years ago.
Sorry Nicos, no idea what to suggest.

[chuffa]

I will be growing my spuds on raised beds, that will fit in with my crop rotation, but the beds for spuds will be the only ones that i attempt on a no dig system. I put a 3 inch layer of well rotted manure down first, i plant the spuds onto this, then i cover them with straw, then another layer of compost then another layer of straw. This will reduce over the season. When the plants come through, just cover them with straw to protect from frost and greening of the tubers.My raised beds are of similar size to yours.