Growing Vegetables in Raised Beds

[MarkHackwell]

Could anyone give me advice on growing vegetables in raised beds please? and can you recommend any varieties of vegetables that do well in raised beds and how you found them. The raised beds are on my allotment and filled with compost and are quite big with no bottom too them just soil. Many Thanks

[Kleftiwallah]

If it will grow in the ground, it will grow in a raised bed. No difference at all, just the weeding is easier. Go for it ! Cheers, Tony.

[veggiechicken]

Root veg seem the obvious thing to grow as you'll have a greater depth of soil - especially if your underlying soil is a bit stony.

[daylily]

If your plot was all raised beds, then by Klefti: anything.

If you had just a few, then by Veggie: roots are your No1.

[eospete]

You might want to investigate the principles of square foot gardening based on the ideas of Mel Bartholemew. Lots online to give you help. His book is well worth a read and is quite cheap if you get the Kindle version. P

[garyd]

i,ve raised beds and grow everything and use the no dig method,works for me

[Chocolate8me]

Tony I'm completely new to this & yesterday, finished making a 6x4' raised bed that I hope to grow carrots, parsnips, salad leaves, red onion, spring onion, baby corn, mangetout, cabbage & leeks.

I have a feeling I may not have enough room (especially if I want to have a continuous harvest throughout the season of the same vegatable), but I can try.

I have a greenhouse (when it's constructed) that I can use too.

Apparently choose where you plant your veg well if your beds are big as you may struggle to look after & harvest your crops.

Good luck )

[Potstubsdustbins]

Chocolate I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but no where near enough room.

Colin

[cazp]

I have 4 x 8 ft worth of raised bed space and am following square foot garden method mentioned. Apparently you can fit quite a bit in using that method ( I started a square foot gardening 2012 thread this week, and there have been threads for previous years).

To supplement my small raised bed space I will continue (as I have in the past) to grow potatoes in sacks and some vegetables in pots.

I am not expecting to produce all of our veg from that small amount of space, but my plan includes varieties of vegetables that would be expensive to buy, or slightly unusual varieties - I will just have to buy the rest!

[plymouthred]

I have got a 1m x 1m Link a Bord that needs assembly which I will be doing before the end of January with a bit of luck.

What actually are the advantages of 'square foot gardening' as I thought it would just be easier to plant in rows across the bed?

New to gardening so any tips, pointers or kick up the a*se appreciated

[cazp]

This is my first year growing using this method so can't speak from experience. Mel Bartholomews book is best source of info, however I found a good explanation on this link...

Square foot gardening

Beds are divided in to approx 1ft squares and you grow a different vegetable in each square. Vegetables are closer spaced than if using the row method - each type of vegetable has a recomended spacing. There is also supposed to be less weeding/watering due to the smaller area used.

[scarletrunner]

This is my first year growing using this method so can't speak from experience. Mel Bartholomews book is best source of info, however I found a good explanation on this link...

Square foot gardening

Beds are divided in to approx 1ft squares and you grow a different vegetable in each square. Vegetables are closer spaced than if using the row method - each type of vegetable has a recomended spacing. There is also supposed to be less weeding/watering due to the smaller area used.

Mel's method works fine in U.S.A.climate,but expect much poorer results in U/K.

[MarkHackwell]

Great Idea about the square foot gardening method I think as ive got enough raised beds and they will be big enough i will have a try at it

[cazp]

Thats what I thought, definately worth a go - especially as I really dont have much space to work with. If all else fails can always move to planting in rows! there are some comments on Square foot gardening 2012 worth considering too. I have been planning my squares and already have 5 planted with overwintering veg (red onions, garlic and broad beans.. all doing well but only tiny at the moment) - used bamboo canes tied together to mark out the grid.

[Chocolate8me]

Chocolate I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but no where near enough room.

Colin

After reading quite a bit in the last 24 hours & speaking to others, I have realised that.

Change of plan now, think I'm going to do my carrots in a bucket of sand. Just need to know how (thank god for tinternet)