Top soil dilemma!!

[bobbin]

MOH made me lovely raised beds last year and I had a very successful set of crops. But at the time I only added some bought compost and some home made stuff to each bed dug into what was the base soil. The level in each (12 though 4 are a bit smaller than the rest) is very low and I just can't decide what to do I don't have a great deal of home made compost. Top soil seems the obvious answer but SOOO expensive. I'm scared to use the soil sold by the council as I keep hearing horror stories of supposedly what's in it! Bagged compost not too dear but not enough body to it. Can anyone help point me in the right or best direction? I have a terrific book about compost by Nicky Scott and really recommend it but I'm looking at needing bulk stuff not just how to make compost. I realise manure may be part of the answer but it restricts what's I can grow unless I want to encourage forking of some veg. I have no areas I can transfer soil from..well other than next doors allotment which is superb and unoccupied and I think I'd get into trouble
I live in West Sussex just in case of any recommendations. Near Gatwick Airport.

[Kristen]

How "raised" are your beds?

[Bigmallly]

One option although hard work would be to dig out 9"-12" out of your beds, put some straw, paper, veg waste, horse/cow manure, leaves, basically anything you can lay your hands on then fill it back up with the soil you took out.

[bobbin]

The beds have 6" sides and I was going to add a second 6" this year but not feasible at present. I like the dig out / fill in option but it's an end of season job and I wouldn't be able to grow stuff if I did it now. What do you think of top soil option? Any experience of it ?

[Kristen]

I think 6" is enough for a raised bed e.g. for improved drainage on heavy clay soil (provided you don't have problems bending etc. and need them higher for that reason).

I dug out my paths and put the soil on the beds, that gave me about 6" "raise".

Dunno if that is an option for you though?

[Bigmallly]

I like the dig out / fill in option but it's an end of season job and I wouldn't be able to grow stuff if I did it now.

Why not?...........you only need around 6" to grow most veggies. Tatties don't need a "raised" bed so could just go into what you have got. Just plant them deep.

[Bill HH]

If it were me I would dig out the top 6 inches and add green or half made compost,grass cuttings newspapers, card board, leaves, manure and any other organic materials. It will continue to compost underneath.Then put your top layer back.In the meantime try the council soil on one bed it is most likely ok.

[donksey]

I often see top soil offered on freecycle.

[polc1410]

Genuinely well rotted manure is really posh compost. Not well rotted needs to rot so burying seems an option but bear in mind its brown which means it ribs nitrogen when breaking down.

The only veg to worry about forking are root veg. I grew carrots in a hot box last year through 2" if compost into neat raw horse muck. Yes there were lots that forked. I'd challenge you to spot them in your mince...

However given a choice you would leave your carrot beds this year. Add well rotted manure (black and looks like compost) to the beds. Be far better than top soil and may be free if you can find a local source.



If I couldn't get well rotted I'd try for fresh and rot it.

Do the root veg bed once harvested...