Raised bed questions

[Iain]

Hi all

Just after some advice relating to raised beds... I understand that in raised beds I can plant things closer together than if I were to grow in the ground... I am struggling to find out how much closer..

Is there a simple rule, i.e. reduce planting distances by 50% etc... or is it a case of trial and error...


Thanks

[WilliamD]

I'm not 100% sure that's the case Iain. If, for example, beetroot need to be 10cm apart to grow to their full size, that'll be the case no matter what ground they're planted in. Then again if I'm missing a trick I'll welcome being corrected by another grape shortly..

[veggiechicken]

Doesn't sound right to me either Raised beds don't need paths - can't see any other difference.
Square foot beds have different plant spacings per square.

[Iain]

Thanks for the replies, I'm a complete novice at growing and will stand corrected. In Alan Titchmarsh's book - The Kitchen Gardener he says

"The idea is to make rectangular beds of very deep, rich and fertile soil and plant crops at closer spacing's than usual. This approach works because the roots can grow down deeply instead of spreading out widely just below the surface, as they do on more compacted earth".

I have also read the same thing on several websites and a couple of other books. Can anyone offer advice please..

[veggiechicken]

What does AT mean by "very deep"?

[Iain]

He does not specify what he means by deep.... but in the instructions to build raised beds in the book there is a picture 3 scaffold boards high (on their sides)... scaffold boards are usually around 30cm high, so I am guessing around 90cm deep...

[veggiechicken]

Does he give any spacings?
A carrot is going to need the same amount of room to grow however deep the soil.

[Iain]

thanks veggiechicken, but no he doesn't... this be my problem... cheers..

[Nicos]

We tend to plant in domino fashion in our raised beds

ie, staggering planting like on a no 5 domino
( I did try to type it here to give a better demonstration but it got 'corrected' when the post came up

Because it is block planting there is no soil wasted between rows, so you don't lose that bit of growing space....and also, being domino planted the rows can be closer together .
How close?
Well I just imagine the size of the top growth of the plant when mature and make sure there will be enough room to develop....and get in to hoe or hand weed in the case of smaller crops.

Do be aware that closer planted crops are more likely to suffer from disease, espesh mould due to reduced air circulation.
I'm not aware of any specific % reduction in planting distances I just bear in mind what they would usually be and then think of the mature plant size and the potential ability to get in and weed .

[Two_Sheds]

how much closer

I stick to the recommended planting distances, but then fill the gaps with something else. It's amazing how much you can cram in

[Bill HH]

It is my experience that space is as important as nutrients and water. Cram to much in and you force plants to compete with each other, create a haven for pests (slugs) and make weeding very difficult. better to have 6 plants do well than 8 plants fighting for light, air and food. The only exception to this is hanging flower baskets where I cram in a lot, the completion in that case causes them to flower more.

Alan Titmarsh is in my opinion a bit of a dipstick.

[Bill HH]

Further to that 90cm is a very deep bed and quite over the top unless you intend growing very long carrots or parsnips, or you have problems bending down or kneeling. You would need a tremendous amount of compost/ soil to fill them. 30cm is quite adequate, many people would consider that deep.

[Glutton4...]

Unlike Bill, I rather like Mr. Titchmarsh, and his approach to gardening. Although, I don't think the quick 'makeover' shows did his credibility much good. I would say that the closeness of planting in a raised bed may have as much to do with increased ease of work, as you don't have to get down so far.

Like Nickers, I plant staggered rows; ie an 'additional' row in the 'gaps' in the way one would plant a hedgerow. It works for me too. I love your plushly filled garden TS - looks fab.

[Bill HH]

I'm afraid its a case of do as I say, not as I do. I am working on a very small patch and find it hard to resist squeezing in that extra plant. But I know I shouldn't.

[Two_Sheds]

Cram to much in and you...make weeding very difficult

au contraire ... weeding is much reduced and also much easier with very close planting, because the weeds get crowded/shaded out by taller foliage.
My mulch of chopped weeds also helps keep the weeds down a lot, plus I don't pull the weeds anyway until they're about to flower. Letting them get big means they shade out the smaller ones, so you get fewer weeds overall.