Compost query

[Emma_Elizabeth]

AS you can see have a raised bed which i intend to grow my own. i have two bags of 70ltr peat free compost and have vegetable feed ready to mixed.

Should i add topsoil? or anything else?

SORRY!! I am a complete novice at this,need you guys to point me in the right direction lol!!

[bevanbawb]

I'd go with a mix of half compost and half top soil, if you use just compost alone it will be leached of it's nutrients within a season.
Top soil will give the mixture more body and something for the plant roots to really get into and will also help retain nutrients over a longer period.
You'll also find that when newly filled to the top of the bed the soil will settle down quite a bit after a while, but this just allows you to keep topping up periodically with organic matter such as manure, etc.

[paula.berriman]

Agree with bevanbawb here. I use topsoil and dig in organic matter. Im a huge manure fan so i actually line my new beds with a layer before adding the soil on top and let the worms do the work :-)

[Two_Sheds]

If you're buying compost you should go for a heavier one like John Innes No.3

The MPC is usually too light & fluffy for growing veggies in. It's OK for seedlings though.

Also, add your own home-made garden compost every year, it's just right.

[Emma_Elizabeth]

yesterday i filled one of the raised beds with stones for drainage. then added the compost and then the manure, mixed them together and then raked topsoli on top. going to do the same with the other bed.

[zazen999]

Emma - are these on concrete or on soil?

[Emma_Elizabeth]

On concrete and now filled with stones, compost, manure and topsoil