Link a bord raised beds

[Wendie]

Hi there.

This year has been very successful with my plastic greenhouse and tubs - being the first year that I tried to grow tomatoes, chillies, runner beans and coriander. So I thought I would try a raised bed in the garden, not having the luxury of a 'lottie'. Has anyone got a linkabord raised bed? They are by far cheaper than the wooden beds and seem that they won't rot either.

Wondered if anyone had them and used them OK

Wendie

[selfraising]

Hi
Yes, I have 3 of them at double height i.e. 12 inches. They are now in their 3rd year and are still holding strong. On a negative, they do dry out quicker but the positive is that the soil temperature tends to be a bit warmer plus I do tend to plant things closer together in them so squeeze more in!

[Wendie]

As i've got a slanted patch of garden I was going to have them on top of the existing soil so that I could level it out and any rain or water wouldn't wash away from it. So I guess it wouldn't just be composty soil but garden soil as well

[piskieinboots]

I've used them for many years cos my style of gardening is moving around with the military, so I need quick to assemble/disemble - nothing but praise for them from me - although as SR says they dry out a bit quicker - but you get used to that and adjust accordingly

[T8Ter]

Thumbs up from me too. I've used them for about three seasons and get great results, I have two beds, 2m x 1m with the "back 1m double height. I use lots of manure dug into the beds each winter to help with the drying out issue. I think I can plant out at least a couple of weeks early in the spring, compared to the normal garden beds, and get plants off to a great start.

[chris]

Thumbs up from me too. I've used them for about three seasons and get great results, I have two beds, 2m x 1m with the "back 1m double height. I use lots of manure dug into the beds each winter to help with the drying out issue. I think I can plant out at least a couple of weeks early in the spring, compared to the normal garden beds, and get plants off to a great start.

How come the back edge is double height, T8Ter? Is your garden on a slope, and you level the medium inside from back to front that way? </curious>

[T8Ter]

No Chris, it's just double height (a complete square to hold the soil in) to allow the planting of deeper rooted crops, potatoes, parsnips etc.

Edit: sorry, I should have said, the raised beds are on landscape quality weed suppressant, hence the reason for needing the depth, I don't grow anything, in these beds, into the garden soil per say.

[Rabidbun]

Good review here too - I have three 1m x 1m 30cm high ones and a 1.5m x 0.5m 30cm high one. Mine are on clay and I initially filled them up with a mix of compost and topsoil, which did dry out a fair bit. Now, however, the clay has mixed through it three years later and they are doing really well for growing in.

I have found that they dry out less at the edges if you compact the soil more there. Also had good results this year from using upended pop bottles to keep them moist in hotter weather and will be trying out a hose attachment for watering them (loop of hose with holes to attach to a hosepipe) next year.

As far as them being warmer, I had very good success planting cooler weather salad veggies at the start of March (under very loose fleece) in them.

[chris]

Ah - I read it incorrectly Haven't used them myself, I did look at them before I went t'timber merchant near me.. Could be an idea for when I redo the garden though!

[Florence Fennel]

I've had two "double" beds for four seasons now and they are still going strong. I can highly recommend them - I am planning on another 2 for next year.

[Wendie]

Sounds as if everyone is really pleased with them then. I'll give 'em a go and see how I go on with them.

Thank you

[Paulkentuk]

Consider Flooring for your Link a Bord !

Hi,

I put in 4 double 'planked' (12" high) 1 metre square Link a Bord raised beds, back in Spring 2009. They went straight onto grass & were filled with a mixture of unused Grow Bag contents, John Innes loam & homemade compost.

In hindsight not considering the 'flooring' was a mistake, & crop sizes really dwindled this year. Investigation revealed I have couch grass; & small similar size roots from nearby Pine trees, infesting the beds !

I'm going to plastic Tarpaulin the area off under the Link a Bord's, & then line each of the Link a Bord raised beds with a single Tarpaulin sheet, (these will have some drainage holes) before refilling with fresh soil.

I fitted to our outside tap, a Hozelock water timer & ran a Hozelock irrigation system up to the centre of each Link a Bord. With the Timer set at 10 minutes an evening, a lot of the 'drying out' these Link a Bords are prone to was overcome.

I've had success with Courgettes, (one plant in each Link a Bord raised bed is ample) Beetroot, Broccoli, Peas & Broad Beans. A Pumpkin also did exceedingly well last year, although only the roots ended up in the Link a Bord, the plant itself spilled out & took off up the garden !

I have failed to have any success with Carrots, Parsnip, & Leeks, so will be looking to use less Grow Bag material this time around when I fill the Link a Bord raised beds.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Praise from me to. I have had one set on concrete for several years and think its great.

Colin

[susieq100]

I have 3 of these each 2m x 1m and double height and they have been going strong for 5 years now. I moved one of them to the allotment 2 years ago to make room for my greenhouse. I wish that I had put down better 'flooring' under the one nearest the fence as I too have some roots from the neighbour's leylandii! Arrghhh! When I started I filled mine with a mixture of home-made compost, bought in compost and mole hill soil. My partner and I would put a couple of spades and some compost sacks in the boot of the car and go 'scrumping' around the local byroads. Passers-by must have thought we were mad, but it worked really well! I just top up with manure, compost etc now. As everyone has said you need to water a bit more often in dry weather, but I definitely recommend them.

[oldie]

I had one and found that the ants love them. They get in at the corners and live between the twin walls.Not exactly a major problem just irritating.