Raised beds on loose gravel?

[blue411]

Does anyone know if i can put home built rasied beds on gravel??
Im only going to be using them for salad leaves etc.... not for items like carrots or anything that needs depth to grow?? I have a sheltered area that gets a lot of sun but its been covered with loose gravel and there is black plastic underneath the gravel, seems such a shame to waste the area.

[Digger-07]

I would be interested for grapes views as I've just lifted paving stones and would like to know if the base can stay.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

I know you can buy liners for raised beds on paving/gravel - allows the water out but keeps the compost in. Hold on and I'll find the info.

Okay you can buy the liner for a raised bed from Suttons for £5.95. This is for a mini-raised bed. As an alternative what about weed control fabric? It will allow water out but keep the compost in. I got 5m x 1.5m roll from Poundland.

[blue411]

Thanks for that frostyfreckle.

[Dottie]

Does anyone know if i can put home built rasied beds on gravel??
Im only going to be using them for salad leaves etc.... not for items like carrots or anything that needs depth to grow?? I have a sheltered area that gets a lot of sun but its been covered with loose gravel and there is black plastic underneath the gravel, seems such a shame to waste the area.

Yes you can if you do the no dig method.

Have a look at No Dig Gardens are the quickest easiest method to get growing! which will take you to the home page, on the left is the menu, click Build Your Garden and it gives full instructions.

Unfortunately I didn't find this site until I'd dug all my beds, but I shall definitely bear it in mind for the future.

Best of luck.

Dottie about me lottie

[FionaH]

That site is really useful Dottie. Just need to source some chaep alalfa and straw now

[Dottie]

An added advantage of been on gravel, is it could help keep the slugs away!

[Alice]

Blue, if you only want to grow lettuce and salad stuff, 4" of compost will be fine so don't see a problem about the gravel. But lettuce really doesn't want to be in blazing sunshine and would do better in a shadier spot.
You could raise your beds a bit and that would give you lots of scope. Maybe you could make it a 2 or 3 year project - 4 " this year, 8" next year, 1 foot after that.
See how it goes for you.

[blue411]

All great advice, thanks guys.
Alice - maybe thats why all my lettuce last year went to seed, it was too hot for them, you live and learn.....