First Raised Bed - What to fill it with?

[blakemj]

Its my first year doing the whole GYO thing, and I bought the two-tier link-a-bord raised bed.

All straight forward but as a newbie to this, I had failed to think about what soil/compost/manure should I fill it up with.

The measurements are 105cm x 108cm x 15cm and 105cm x 108cm x 30cm.

The intention is to grow a combination of broad beans, courgettes, leeks and brussel sprouts in them.

Welcome your thoughts on this.

Thanks

[jaykay]

Hello
Welcome to the site - you will pick up lots of useful info here - I have!

Re filling your raised bed - I've used a mixture of soil from the plot, well rotted manure, compost from the heap (all free of charge) and compost from the shop (cost). My plants are growing quite healthily. My neighbour has filled her raised beds with imported top soil (bigger cost) and her plants are all growing well too.
So I suppose it depends on what you have available that's free/how much you want to spend. From your list I would guess that the first three would grow in compost, but the sprouts may need a heavier soil. I'm sure a more experienced grower will advise soon.
Best wishes and good luck
Julie.

[SueA]

Hi Blakemj & welcome.
We filled our raised beds with bought in top soil & compost & just a bit of pelleted chicken manure when we first built them & they did O.K. but I'm sure any combination of homemade/bought compost & any kind of manure would be alright. Like Julie though I'm not sure about growing sprouts in them, I've tried in my raised veg. patch in the past & not had much success but if you firm the ground well & support the sprout stems you might get away with it. Good luck with your growing.

[chrissie the chippy]

erm, silly question, but do raised beds have a solid base or can they go straight onto top soil?

I was going to make one for my daughter and for my partner to have a herb bed

[leona]

i dont knwo that sprouts need heavyer soil but they like it compact and not too rich

[Flummery]

You usually put a raised bed onto soil Chrissie, then plants can root down even further - helps in drought situations.