Allotment advice

[JohnnyWilde]

Hi I'm new to the good life, staring to set out an allotment, having to use raised beds because the soil is full of stones, I am struggling to work out the best way the lay the beds, please see attached photo, the land gets full sun so do run the beds from north to south or east to west can anyone advise me please

[Bigmallly]

Hi Johnny & welcome to the Jungle. I personally don't think it makes much difference which way your beds go, it's the planting that is more important, you need to grow tall plants at the North end of the beds so they don't cast a shadow on low growing crops. Just a quick teezer for you, which way would you put the beds if they were square?....................

[Bigmallly]

Just an added thought. Looking at those trees, they may affect afternoon sun so bearing that in mind, I would put any structures on the tree side, ie shed, compost bins.

[JohnnyWilde]

Just an added thought. Looking at those trees, they may affect afternoon sun so bearing that in mind, I would put any structures on the tree side, ie shed, compost bins.

That's great thanks and nice to talk...

[KevinM67]

Sorry Johnny - but I'm curious...

Is that your garden, allotment - or have you just started to do a bit of 'guerrilla gardening' next to the local cricket field ?

It looks fab btw.

[jonny the plant pot]

I reckon you should point them in a southwesterly north each direction

[anton002]

i would build them left to right longways and as pointed out sheds ,greenhouse etc should all be on the tree side

[Nicos]

Hi there- and welcome to the Vine!

I agree with the others- tall stuff to the left , near the trees.
Personally I'd follow the line of the grassed area and plant rows parallel to that with maybe fruit shrubs like gooseberries, rhubarb, currants over to the left in the more shaded area.

[Nicos]

You do realise that you are going to get 100 different answers from 100 different gardeners don't you???

[lolie]

Build keyhole beds and then it won't matter.

[JohnnyWilde]

Sorry Johnny - but I'm curious...

Is that your garden, allotment - or have you just started to do a bit of 'guerrilla gardening' next to the local cricket field ?

It looks fab btw.

He he this part of our field is out of site of the house, I just killed the grass mid last year, not really knowing what Im doing, to the left I've put up a frame with support wire and planted Autumn raspberries, (these will be my next question to the forum) also you can see a compost square that I plan on extending to the side as required.

Hoping this forum will help me though. 👍 👍 HaPpY Days

[Bigmallly]

Post your pic here & watch your plot evolve over the season:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...dar_87848.html

[Paulieb]

Hi I'm new to the good life, staring to set out an allotment, having to use raised beds because the soil is full of stones, I am struggling to work out the best way the lay the beds, please see attached photo, the land gets full sun so do run the beds from north to south or east to west can anyone advise me please[ATTACH=CONFIG]62666[/ATTACH]

Have you considered erecting a perimeter fence to rabbit proof the area? Looks an exciting project though.

[MarkPelican]

I don't think it matters for vegetables and most fruit. Only a few things are tall enough to shade anything else and if there are paths between your raised beds, they won't shade the things in the next bed.

If you're putting in trees, I would put the at the north end of the plot and remember to give them enough space.

How big are you planning your raised beds to be? Don't make them too long or you'll walk across them. Don't make them too wide or you'll not be able to reach into the middle. Don't make them too small or you'll be wasting the space around them.

(Mine are 20ft by 4-6ft because my plot is 20ft wide).