Compost filled beds

[Newishgardener]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and reasonably new to having an allotment.

This is mine and my wife's second year on our plot we have a 100 square meter plot and have decided that this year we are going to put raised beds in this was mainly brought on by us going to gardeners world last year (I was mainly there for the food at the good food show) and them talking about 1square meter growing.

We have decided to try this method out as maintenance will be dramatically reduced and we can concentrate more on our growing space rather than all of our paths.

Anyway I am rambling on my question is can these beds be filled with just compost alone ? As from us looking around this seems to be the cheaper option to buying top soil I seem to remember something about not growing root veg such as carrots and parsnips in compost as they grow sideways instead of down is this true ? Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Justin.


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[veggiechicken]

Hello Justin and welcome to the Grapevine.
I'm not much help with your question about compost but if you have a few hours to spare, pull up a chair and have a read through this very popular thread http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_44388.html
You should find some answers in there

[Bigmallly]

Hi Justin & welcome to the vine. The cheapest way by far to fill beds is either with horse manure which you should be able to pick of free or if you prefer you can use your own made compost. Your comment regarding carrots & parsnip is if growing them in manure they "fork". They don't grow sideways but they can grow deformed or distorted.

[Newishgardener]

Hello Justin and welcome to the Grapevine.
I'm not much help with your question about compost but if you have a few hours to spare, pull up a chair and have a read through this very popular thread http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_44388.html
You should find some answers in there

Hi veggiechicken

My hanks for the response I will have a look at the Thera as soon as I get a chance :-)


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[Newishgardener]

Hi Justin & welcome to the vine. The cheapest way by far to fill beds is either with horse manure which you should be able to pick of free or if you prefer you can use your own made compost. Your comment regarding carrots & parsnip is if growing them in manure they "fork". They don't grow sideways but they can grow deformed or distorted.

Thanks billy great advice :-) I love this forum already :-)


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[Bigmallly]

Who's Hanks,Thera & Billy ?......................

[Tripmeup]

Who's Hanks,Thera & Billy ?......................

Those iphones have a lot to answer for

[Newishgardener]

Who's Hanks,Thera & Billy ?......................

Lol my apologies bigmally stupid auto correct 😬


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[Bigmallly]

No problem NG, just take owt I say wi a pinch o' salt............

[Dorothy rouse]

I'm also filling some new raised beds, and they do take a lot of filling. I've some very rough home made compost ( not really rotted), then some wood chips that we get free on our plots, and I'm now topping up with MPC,cheapest on offer, seems to be Asda, 3, 70 L for £10.00. Will also probably add some Blended Horse Manure, depending on what's being grown.

If you get horse manure free, you could use it as a base, and top up, not where you going to grow carrots.

[Bigmallly]

Be careful if you are mixing the chippings in your bed Dotty, it will rob the soil of nitrogen as it breaks down........use it as a top dressing instead.

[snakeshack]

When building the raised beds take soil from the paths in between to fill the beds as you are only going to be walking on this area after. This will mean the paths will drop and the beds will raise at the same time,2 for the price of 1.
Topsoil and mpc is very pricey try well rotted manure or home made compost or even "soil improver from your council.Top this with a deep straw mulch when your plants are established to give weed free( ish) raised beds.DIg the straw in at the end of the season to add bulk for next year and sow an overwintering green manure.


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[Bill HH]

Well heres a real Billy, my raised beds were filled with (starting from the bottom, Cardboard, newspaper, half made compost, better compost, and finaly Multi purpose compost. My carrots grew straight and true but some damage from root fly, so this year they will be netted. I felt the whole lot was a bit light and spongey so this year I might top up with a bit of top soil too.

[Dorothy rouse]

Be careful if you are mixing the chippings in your bed Dotty, it will rob the soil of nitrogen as it breaks down........use it as a top dressing instead.

Oh No, have I ruined it? Only put a layer, it already fairly rotted, if you know what I mean, thought it was a good idea.

[Sheneval]

Dotty,

Just add some extra nitrogen to compensate - woodchip should do your soil good in the longer term