My Raised Beds - Finshed at last!

[Duronal]

Ahhh after a hugely long weekend and some serious digging and lugging about of soil the beds are finally finished for the year.

I used 300 litres of compost as kindly donated by Fil from addlestone and then another 300 litres of topsoil as donated by joanna in Hampton wick.

Planting this year hasn't been very organised and i'm aware that i now have two brassica areas and that it all looks a little messy. My poor onions may never recover?! they look like they've been sat on by the local gang of cats.
-Incidently they've also found the bed......still i've shot a few with the hose and i think they're getting the idea.....

Pictures are below.....

[Duronal]

For what it's worth i'm also very happy with my toms this year..... oh and i forgot to post the sunflower picture.

[Hilary B]

I do hope that raised bed is thoroughly separated from the house wall.......... (can't help being assistant to FRICS, house condition is his business and damp caused by high ground levels outside is a very common subject of the reports I proof-read).

[Snadger]

Very good Duronal. It appears though that your biggest growing area is being wasted though............... the wall!
I know it's early days and you've only just finished it but it's worth noting for the future!

If it were me I'd have trellis or wires on it and make full use of it.

As Hilary says though I hope the beds are either below the damp course or there is some barrier between the soil and the wall and also that it isn't covering any air bricks!

[Stacey Steve]

Looking at the pictures, it appears you are about 4" below your damp course and you have done right in using a back board. If in doubt, before the soil settles too much. drive some wedges between the wall and your back board, to give about an inch or so space and check every couple of months to ensure you are not getting a build up of rubbish in the gap

[Duronal]

Stacey steve - i'll sort some wedges out right away!

I used the board as a precaution as i was worried about the damp but i'll make sure i use spacers to reduce the chance further.

with the longer board i've actually sloped the boards onto the wall so that there should be a continuous air gap but i'll wedge away just to make sure.

I will actually be trying to sort out a trellis for the wall but i'm planning on making it by hand using bamboo. I've always been good with string and design so it shouldn't be too hard...........you watch i'll be running to the nearest garden centre.