Just built some raised beds...

[blue411]

Ive just finished these today, they arent particularly big but a decent size for a newbie, will i be okay filing these with multipurpose compost or does it need to be topsoil? should i chuck in a bit of horse manure if i can get hold of some.... questions questions....im just ready to take the next step up from grow bags and buckets!

Can anyone help me with some answers.....

[Novice Gardener]

I asked exactly the same question last week I filled mine with multipurpose compost

[blue411]

Excellent, i saw some today at wyvale for £1.50 for a 75l bag, looks like a return visit is in order!

Thanks for the help

[coomber]

filled mine with half top soil, half compost.

[Grovsey]

I filled mine with half and half and then my own compost....however one I filled only with multi-purpose compost and unfortunatley the local cats loved it as did the foxes who buried all their food in it! When I went to turn it in feb I found a complete raw turkey leg!

[Stacey Steve]

Multi purpose compost is fine but if you want it a bit more free draining, then mix sharp sand with it at about 3 parts compost to 1 part sand. If you want to start growing in it straight away, don't use horse manure unless it is well rotted, try and get a tub of chicken manure pellets and add some of that.

It's quite cheap in at Instore or B&Q and goes quite a long way.

[blue411]

Thanks for that guys, as usual very helpful advice!

[grasser]

hi ive just filled mine with cow manure on its own will it be ok

[Demeter]

how old / well-rotted was the cow manure?
If good and old I'm sure it will be fine (although you might have problems with things like carrots which don't like the soil too rich)
If it's less well rotted then it mightn't be so great - although by spring it should have rotted down some more!

[markinessex]

We have just built some raised beds, and we filled it with Top soil and Rotted Farmyard manure with some peat thrown in to.