Space advice

[piskieinboots]

LOL - No really - I did

*pictures Piskie on hands and knees with scissors trimming paths!

[Alison]

As others have said some of your beds are a bit wide. I'm a lot taller than you and find that my best beds are the 10' by 4' beds although I have quite a lot of 6' by 4' ones too. I'd have a think around your rotation and think how many beds you need ie if you're on a 4 year plan then go with mulitples of 4 etc. Personally in a plot that size I'd simply put a path up the middle and then beds out from that keeping them all the same size so easy to move things on from year to year but you might want something more random. Also, do you want a shed, greenhouse, fruit bushes etc or is it just veggies?

[Bigmallly]

When I was planning mine, I think it was Snadger who suggested a comb design which I eventually used with a little modification.

[piskieinboots]

...if you're on a 4 year plan .....Also, do you want a shed, greenhouse, fruit bushes etc or is it just veggies?

Rotation isn't my main concern as we will only be here until Dec 2015

I will use my greenhouse at home (plot is 5 mins walk from home) and there will be a communal shed - I will be using fruit

[piskieinboots]

...a comb design.

What's a comb design?

[Nicos]

What's a comb design?

One long narrow bed with beds coming off it at rightangles- like the teeth on a comb.
Worked very well for us on our previous plot.

[Alison]

Rotation isn't my main concern as we will only be here until Dec 2015

Fair point . Think that's one of the things I'd find hardest, all the moving about and not having a settled base. I like to travel but I love coming home, have had currently house about 15 or 16 years and fully expect to still be here in 30 years time so never think of things like that in a temporary way.

[piskieinboots]

One long narrow bed with beds coming off it at rightangles

Hum, I understand the concept of a comb, but am struggling to visualise that one...I shall google

[Scarlet]

Here a link to Big Mallys layout - very impressive! I always find it easier looking at pics
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...de-beds-4.html

[piskieinboots]

Thanks Scarlet - that's helpful

[Bigmallly]

Hum, I understand the concept of a comb, but am struggling to visualise that one...I shall google

Draw a comb on a piece of paper only make the teeth wider.........Like this

[ladylottie]

Nonesuch on my Excel
*sobs

On the subject of paths - what would you use for a quick version?

I use scaffolding boards as moveable paths - it tests your sense of balance when kneeling down to weed/plant though

[piskieinboots]

I'm favouring grass paths - it makes sense as the grass is already there

[zazen999]

For 3 and a half ish seasons - I'd just de turf and grow in the ground with no sides - you can kneel on the grass that way and if it's already there. Get a hand mower to keep it trimmed. Use the pallets for compost bins or a table - come - insect hotel.

[BarleySugar]

I've sown grass for my narrower paths, my guinea pigs are going to do the mowing. I'm making a custom built run which I will move around and Riff and Raff will come to the lottie with me in a pet carrier.
I laid out my beds 1.2m wide by 3m or 4m long for all the veg growing part of my plot, north/south (no raised beds, just no dig gardening), but I found I've had to rotate a couple due to the prevailing wind being from SW. I had to put guy ropes on the runner beans last year, so I'm now putting in some E/W ones to present a smaller target to the wind
I'm glad I hadn't put in raised beds, because it would have been a lot more work to change things around.