Inspired - Show me your allotments / gardens for raised bed ideas

[RossAllan]

Going to be making raised beds at some point and want to see what everyone else uses for them

Thanks

[sparrow100]

I've put a post with plot pics here: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1332432

My first plot's on a slope, with poor drainage, and the raised (insert definition of raised here) beds have been brilliant to help terrace it and to get it workable earlier.

My second plot is also on a slope, but a much more gentle one. I am not doing raised beds here, other than for the saffron which will both be in a raised bed and grown on a ridge within it.

This thread's really good for looking through other people's plots: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...dar_83084.html I love looking through it.

[RossAllan]

thank you will go have a look just now

[Kristen]

Originally "Lazy raised beds" for vegetables, with no retaining sides.



Then I posh'd them up



I also have a raised bed, with railway sleepers, next to my pond. Lined at the bottom it was designed to allow me to plant under some trees without their roots drying everything out and nicking all the nutrients!

[Kristen]

Before:



It started out like this in Apr 2010



Raised Sleeper Beds built and planted up in July 2013



Growing in May 2014



and this in August 2014 - I think I may have overdone it with the Tetrapanex Rex along the front!!

Some more photos on my blog

[RossAllan]

Oh wow! your garden is HUGE! I like the railway sleepers ! I have 2 in the garden must be about 3 metres long but have been soaked in tar/ oil so don't want to use them. Guessing it takes a lot of maintaining ?

Thanks for a look!

[RossAllan]

Does anyone recommend these ? Anyone had any good / bad experiences with them?

[Kristen]

Tunnel Cloches like that are useful. They will warm the soil a bit before planting, and then keep the wind and weather off the plants for a while after planting. Maybe keep them a bit warmer too - but I wouldn't trust them to keep the frost off something tender. (Could chuck some fleece over the top of the cloche on cold nights though, if need be)

[Scarlet]

Yes, I use them too. I usually have early lettuce growing and I often use them to Molly coddle a early few beans. Also if I've planted out any plants that need netting and I haven't got time left that day, I'll use those cos they are quick to put up, then net the following day. If the pigeons don't eat it the trample all over them regardless.

[Jungle Jane]

Those tunnel cloches are really useful,last year I balanced one over my line of potato bags with bushy growth (8 or 9 bags) held in place with string tucked under the bag & over the cloche,as a protection from the cold,I know it worked well because some of the outer unprotected potato leaves went black,but only about 3 leaves,nothing major. I suppose because there were air gaps the leaves were'nt pressed against the plastic,it didn't damage anything

[Dev]

Great Share ♥

Thanks for sharing this useful post & the comments are even helpful ♥

[Jungle Jane]

Hello Dev There's another good raised bed thread here~
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ase_84359.html