Raised Beds - Advice

[veggiemad]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie here and also my first time growing veg which so far I'm really enjoying

I'm keen to purchase some raised beds for the garden but not sure where the best place to buy them from is. I've seen some in my local garden centre but the wood was split and there wasn't much selection.

If anyone can recommend a supplier or point me in the right direction it would be grately appreciated.

Thanks

[Bigmallly]

Welcome to the vine veggiemad, are they for your garden or allotment. many folks used scaffold boards, decking, bricks, blocks, bottles, anything that your imagination will allow.......good luck.

[rustylady]

Hi Veggiemad. Welcome to the Vine. Whereabouts are you? If you add your location to your profile it will show up on your posts (you will see that I'm in Lowestoft)

As to raised beds, why not make your own. I'm sure it will work out cheaper. Lots of people recommend decking board which can be bought relatively cheaply from places like B & Q. Alternatively see if you can scrounge some scaffolding deals from local builders.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Veggiemad and welcome from a mad Veggie! My raised beds have been cobbled together with old planks. Ready made things never seem to quite fit the spaces I have available.

[veggiemad]

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for your speedy replies and warm welcome.

That's what I love about this site, everyone has so many ideas which often does not involve spending much money and things which I would not have thought of myself

Sorry the raised bed are for the garden, should have mentioned. I will also update my location which is Surrey.

Just one more question. I'm planning to install the raised beds at the end of the garden as this area has the most sun. However the previous owner seemed to have quite a few trees at one point as there seems to be a network of roots which the chickens are exposing through all their scratching. Would the veggies still do OK or should I possibly look at moving the location of the raised beds?

[Bigmallly]

Depends on how deep you want to make your beds, the trees will have taken most of the neutrients from the soil but if you make your beds 18"+ deep you should be ok..........I may be corrected on that point so just hold fire.

[veggiemad]

Yes that's my fear that the soil isn't very good. The only bonus is that the chickens have been living at the bottom of the garden for a year so hoping their poop has helped.

[Bigmallly]

It certainly will not have armed. Have you tried digging the area, the roots might be thin enough to pull out.

[veggiemad]

Going to be doing that this week. Have been planning to dig over the last two weekends but it's rained constantly and I read somewhere that you shouldn't walk on the soil if it's wet. Not sure if this is true or not.

[Bigmallly]

It's best to stand on a board if you have one so you don't compact the soil.

[SimonSez]

Hi Veggiemad,

I use the raised beds from potty innovations which have been great for us. I grow at my mums as I am currently in a flat and actually have these on the patio. The great thing about these is that, when they are empty, they can be easily packed up and moved to a new place so when I move I will have no problems.

Hope this helps.

Si

[Bren In Pots]

Have a look at the Link-a-board, I've not used them but have seen them mentioned here on the vine:-

http://www.linkabord.co.uk/

[alldigging]

80x120 cm ready made boxes available as pallet collars from your nearest pallet yard.
Go and ask. They're about 5-6 quid.
They're hinged and fold flat in half so will fit in a car.

[Sanjo]

Hello veggiemad. I have the linkabord system and have had since 2008. They are still going strong.
The only thing I would say about them is that I bought the hoops to make a frame for a fleece cover and although they haven't broken they always seem very unsubstantial.
I also have home made raised beds further down the garden, right by the fruit trees in fact.
The beds were great for the first couple of years but last year and this I have been finding more and more fine roots. I am assuming they come from the fruit trees.
Raised beds dry out much quicker than garden beds in any case and this bed with the roots is very difficult to keep moist.
Welcome to the vine by the way.

[Peas'n'Kews]

Welcome to the Vine! The OH made our rasied bed from timber from the local timber merchants - you need a DIY-er to do it this way!

However, on the matter of standing on the soil, I invested in some fold up path stuff, which is just fab and can be made up in different lenghts depending how much you buy and how long you need it. Look here Instant Garden Roll Out Path - Chevron - 3 Metres - Single Width £16.95

Enjoy!