Raised Veg Bed... do i need a bottom?

[DIG4VICTORY]

Hey guys.. i'm hoping to put our Veg patch at the bottom of our small garden as it gets the most of the sun..

The thing is that the area is paved with large slabs like a small patio..

Would i need to bring these up and then make my Veg bed frame or can i have a veg bed on top of the slabs? Would i need a bottom on the Veg Bed like a large trough type thing??

[plotman]

You dont need anything on the bottom. I would lift the slaps if you can to aid drainage etc. If not then make sure its at least 9 inches deep or 12inches plus to grow root crops such as carrots , parsnips etc. keep the soil light by adding garden compost and grit sand to aid drainage. Dont add manure if yr growing root crops. Most important is experiment, enjoy and dont worry about mistakes. We all make them and never admit them lol Good luck

[DIG4VICTORY]

Thanks Plotman.. i was geting worried that it was not possible to have a patch and no one had the heart to tell me! ha ha

I will see if the slabs can be lifted... if not, a deep bed it is my friend!

Its all very exciting. I think i will need the luck!

[Sweepster]

Hey guys.. i'm hoping to put our Veg patch at the bottom of our small garden as it gets the most of the sun..

The thing is that the area is paved with large slabs like a small patio..

Same here! I've been yanking the slabs up, making mini-raised beds (2" by 4" and 12' deep), with a row of slabs left inbetween each one so that I've got a path to work from. Just forking over the ground, removing all sorts of rubble, and adding topsoil and manure etc.

Here's the first one in place (it was a proud moment)

[DIG4VICTORY]

Wow.. she's a beauty..
I cannot wait to get started...
Your plot looks simular to my planned set up..

Thanks for putting my mind at ease...

Looks like we are at the same sort of stage.. good luck.. what are you planting?

[plotman]

Theres no hard fast rules in gardening, as much as some like to pretend there is. Its about experimenting with what you have. Learning as you go depending on yr location, yr soil type, what you want to produce, etc etc. But it really is about enjoying and relaxing.

[Sweepster]

I've got some potatoes raring to go, and lots of seeds waiting to be sown (trying not to rush!): leeks, carrots, beetroot, spinach, sprouting brocolli, climbing and runner beans, courgettes, tomatoes... the toms and courgettes will probably have to go in pots though. What are you going to grow in yours?

[DIG4VICTORY]

Lovely! Its hard not to run away with yourself isn;t it!?
I have Mixed salad leaves on the go in pots and i have some potatoes to go in my bag.. so in the Veg Bed im still mulling over the options.. obviously things we like to eat.. so, carrots, reg onions,Cabbage maybe? also have some tumbling tomatoes in a hanging basket...
hmmmm brocolli might be interesting.. ooo or garlic?? See! this is what im like! Need to narrow it down. i dont want to over crowd the plot...

[plotman]

I have an allotment, with raised beds and conventional plot. Greenhouse so i grow a wide variety.Its still a little early for lot of veg but i have my potatoes, broadbeans, onion sets and parsnips in. Just make sure you cover at night if frost is likely. Dont be in to much hurry. Wont grow if soil is cold anyway and seed could rot in ground

[DIG4VICTORY]

So P is it best i work on the more hardy type of veg..?

I think i need to search the net for a crop calandar to help me make my mind up..

Thanks for all your help.. ;-)

[plotman]

No, within next 4 weeks most crops can go in. If you check seed pkts they give you good indication of plant sowing times. Library has great free books lol. Hope it all goes well, great feeling when they show there heads. Im 55 and still get a buzz lol

[Eyren]

As Plotman says, you can put a bed on any surface if it's deep enough - Charles Dowding did one on a gravel drive as an experiment and got plenty of salad from it! If you can at least remove one or two slabs, though, that will improve the drainage no end - or maybe drill some holes near the bottom of your bed sides if not?

Lovely! Its hard not to run away with yourself isn;t it!?
I have Mixed salad leaves on the go in pots and i have some potatoes to go in my bag.. so in the Veg Bed im still mulling over the options.. obviously things we like to eat.. so, carrots, reg onions,Cabbage maybe? also have some tumbling tomatoes in a hanging basket...
hmmmm brocolli might be interesting.. ooo or garlic?? See! this is what im like! Need to narrow it down. i dont want to over crowd the plot...

The nice thing about raised beds is that they stay warmer than the ground, which makes it easier to grow stuff all year round. It's a bit late now to plant garlic, so I would wait until November for that. Carrots are great in a raised bed, as they like the free root run and also don't take up much space, and of course they are lovely picked fresh and crunchy. Brassicas such as broccoli and cabbage take up a lot of space and are slow-growing, plus they need netting against butterflies in summer - but on the plus side sprouting broccoli is expensive in the shops and stands well over winter. In a small space, though, you might get more value from a tender kale variety such as Tuscan Black (aka cavalo nero) or Red Russian - they are so tasty compared to the dusty old curly kale you get in the shops - comparable to purple sprouting broccoli IMHO!

I wouldn't bother with maincrop onions if your space is limited; they are cheap in the shops and the flavour of home-grown isn't that different. A better option would be something that's expensive and/or best eaten really fresh - French or runner beans, for example - or a compact courgette or squash ("Uchiki Kuri" is small and tasty). Follow these late summer/early autumn crops with some spring greens and/or winter lettuce started off in modules in late summer, and perhaps some garlic as well.

Best of luck, and most importantly - have fun!

[DIG4VICTORY]

So much to take in.. but i am enjoying it at the moment.. getting everyting all ready..

Thanks for all the healthy advice... will do doubt keep you all posted with pic's once im all set up!

[Two_Sheds]

hmmmm brocolli might be interesting.. ooo or garlic??

You can plant garlic in the spring, it just won't be as big as autumn-sown garlic. Just stick a few supermarket cloves in, and see what happens. How to Grow the Garlic herb.

Broccoli is a huge plant - 2' wide by 3' tall at least. You also need to net it against pigeons and butterflies.

You can grow Calabrese, summer PSB, or winter PSB.

[Snadger]

Leeks and tatties are my families favourite! I grow a lot of leeks and tatties!