What do I Fill it With?

[Angelmouse]

Hi Lovely Peeps

I'm brand new to the Grapevine but I've been dabbling for a few years. I recently subscribed to the magazine as well but I need some basic hints if you wouldn't mind.

We've dug four 1m sq and one 1x2m sq beds in our garden out of soil reminiscent of a builders yard. It seems predominantly grey clay peppered with hardcore and house bricks complete with mortar. We bought some edging boards to go round to create raised beds but by then the Sun had come out and the ground was too hard to break it up and fork it over, let alone banging in stakes for boards.

Anyway, with a few more days of rain we should be in good order and once the boards are in we'll have a nice little void to fill but I'm really not sure what with! Should we go with 100% multipurpose compost or Topsoil? Or perhaps a mix? Mushroom compost and Manure or...well the list goes on I guess. I'm looking for a Medium that's going to be a good starting basis that isn't dependent on the crop being sown, I'll worry about that in later years.

Any advice/sympathy would be greatly appreciated

X

[Hazel at the Hill]

Should we go with 100% multipurpose compost or Topsoil? Or perhaps a mix? Mushroom compost and Manure or...well the list goes on I guess. I'm looking for a Medium that's going to be a good starting basis that isn't dependent on the crop being sown, I'll worry about that in later years.

Any advice/sympathy would be greatly appreciated

X

See what the others think, but I'd be inclined go for top soil, as it will be loads cheaper than MPC, and you will be able to supplement it with your own compost and/or horse manure in due course.

[ddiogyn]

Sorry, can't answer your question, but i've read that multipurpose compost alone would not be good as it doesn't retain moisture as well as a mixture containing manure...

[taff]

sympathy...awwww....it sounds hideous...[that wasn't sarcasm either]
topsoil mainly, because keeping multipurpose damp will be a job and a half by itself.

add manure/compost on the top of anything you're not growing in over winter. it'll encourage worms.

and good luck

[chris]

Isn't top soil just sterile though? I'm sure I've seen the bags you can get from B&Q etc that just says sterile top soil...

Anyway, I bought some soil/compost mix from a local suppliet - it was terrible, so I went the expensive way of buying MPC bags, and top soil bags and soil improver. I'd dug similar size beds, but also ~4ft down into the ground too (used to be all stone/slate chippings) - so it cost me a lot. How deep are you doing, or are you planning on raising up and mixing in thay way? If you're giong with say 6 inch boards wide (so 6 inches up) you'll fine that when you start to fork you'll increase the volume of the current soil/clay you have anyway, soy ou may well be able to get away with some soil improver (like vitax), and some MPC mixed in - and depending on what you're planning to grow manure too...
Otherwise, you can order a cubic meter bag for around 73 quid from a rolawn supplier such as travis perkins (that was the cost for delivery to me - of their "blended loam").... but that may be far too much for you if you just want to bulk out and improve your clay soil now? There's a calculator on rolawns site that can help you work out the qualitity you need... Turf, Topsoil, Bark, Compost, Soil Improver & Topdressing Calculator and How to Measure your Lawn - I used that then went to a cheaper supplier which was a bad choice.

[rustylady]

I'd go for topsoil. Don't worry about the "sterile" - it doesn't mean it won't grow anything, just that it has been treated to destroy weed seeds and bugs.

[oldie]

I don't like being negative but the topsoil we bought in brought white rot with it.

[salilah]

I use "Denise's Delight" from Madingley Mulch, which is a mix of black fen soil and well-rotted (in theory) horse manure - I just top up the beds with this each year... There might be something similar near you? Don't underestimate how much is used by a raised bed, though!
S

[Angelmouse]

Wow. Thankyou all so much for your advice.

I'm now thinking that a Topsoil/Compost Mix might be a good way to go but if the Topsoil has been 'Treated' does that mean that it's not Organic? I'd love to stay organic if possible (maybe should've mentioned that. Sorry.)

Thanks again for your help.

X

[gojiberry]

Sterile topsoil will only have been heat treated to kill seeds weeds and pests and diseases, so still falls under being organic (I think).

Ian

[radioactive]

I am going to try out this mix in my green house which is a hard bottomed lean to (Ie on the drive) South facing type I have built a raised long box area about 7 inch high 12 feet long by 2 feet wide I intend to fill this with:-

1 part top soil 1 part old horse manure made with shavings not straw type and, 1 part cheap grow bag medium

I will in the event of time let you know how well it does I am thinking of grow Tomato Cucumber, and Chilly and maybe catch crop some lettuces radishes in there too
unless any-one knows why I should not use this schedule