Raised beds

[Katie&Seb]

Hi all

We have prepared the wood for our beds, using dry kilned scaffolding boards and then coated in wood treatment.

We're not sure about how to fill the beds, and after reading a lot of posts, have come to this conclusion:
1) Flatten out soil
2) Construct bed
3) Lay cardboard across the bottom of the bed
4) Add a mixture of shop bought compost (not had a chance to make our own!), soil from the pathways around the bed (weeds removed) and hopefully some manure if we can get it in already rotted

Will the fact that there are still weeds underneath the cardboard surface matter? It's couch grass mainly. Surely it is impossible to remove it ALL?

We plan to grow both directly into the ground as well as into the raised bed, (will be building more beds in the future). What do you suggest we grow in the beds, and what out of? We know the rules around crop rotation year after year. Does rotation apply to all crops apart from permanent crops?

Definitely hoping to grow the following:
White onions
Red onions
Spring onions
Potatoes (trying two varities)
Carrots
Cabbage
Broccoli
Green beans
Tomatoes
Peppers
Chillies
Cauliflower
Garlic
Salad (of any and all kinds!)
Fruit (of any and all kinds!)

Which items should we grow in the same beds or should all crops be in separate beds?
Do we use manure on both the raised beds and directly on the ground?

Any advice greatly received! We're new to this!

Thanks

Katie&Seb
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1108845

[Alison]

How deep are you making your raised beds? If you're not digging the ground beneath them then you'll only be able to grow root veg in there if there is sufficient soil depth there.

[hawthorns]

you will need to have at least 6 " of compost/manure/soil on top of the cardboard to stop couch grass coming back

[Katie&Seb]

How deep are you making your raised beds? If you're not digging the ground beneath them then you'll only be able to grow root veg in there if there is sufficient soil depth there.

The ground has been dug underneath as in the picture. The wood is about 8" or so deep..

[hawthorns]

manure most beds apart from carrot and parsnip beds

[hawthorns]

manure most beds apart from carrot and parsnip beds

[Potstubsdustbins]

Potato not in the bed not deep enough.

Tomato, pepper & chillies are better with some protection.

Fruit depends on what.

For the rest 8 inch is plenty deep enough.

Potty

[Two_Sheds]

Does rotation apply to all crops apart from permanent crops?

I'm getting deja vu. You've asked this before.

you will need to have at least 6 " of compost/manure/soil on top of the cardboard to stop couch grass coming back

Compost doesn't kill couch grass: it feeds it. If you bury it in a compost heap, it keeps on growing. The couch grass needs digging out.

manure most beds apart from carrot and parsnip beds

That's an old wives' tale: Garden Organic did a trial, and found it made no difference. It doesn't lead to forked roots

[Two_Sheds]

We're not sure about how to fill the beds

At the risk of repeating myself: lasagne beds


These are mine, click through the album for befores and afters, and comments

[Bigmallly]

At the risk of repeating myself: lasagne beds

I wouldn't risk it TS, you'll be dreaming about them..............

[kathyd]

Our experience of raised beds: we've got Linkabord beds, double height (maybe a foot?), but not yet full of soil so probably 10" depth. Outside: Built over landscaping fabric and filled with whatever we could get - some compost from our local recycling centre, some turfs laid face down, some soil kindly donated by a neighbour. I planted all sorts in them, and everything grew - including potatoes and brassicas, parsnips (grew to depth of bed then stopped), squashes. In the polytunnel: we've also got the same kind of beds, and grew tomatoes, peppers, salads, carrots, peas and beans, squashes, beetroot. Problems with staking things properly because of lack of depth though. Plus inherited loads of weeds and pretty but very annoying rampant celandines from donated soil (and probably own turfs), but you can't look a gift horse in the mouth and it's been worth the effort. Still getting docks, nettles, couch grass, dandelions and other horrors coming through, but much less than in the beds built over soil elsewhere in the garden. Easier to weed out the nasties in the raised beds 'cos soil is softer - never been walked on of course. Now using mulches to get rid of annuals. Need lots of feeding and topping up in raised beds because they're a kind of isolated environment. I love them .

[hawthorns]

I'm getting deja vu. You've asked this before.

Compost doesn't kill couch grass: it feeds it. If you bury it in a compost heap, it keeps on growing. The couch grass needs digging out.

That's an old wives' tale: Garden Organic did a trial, and found it made no difference. It doesn't lead to forked roots

it does if it isnt rotted

cardboard then compost will weaken and kill couch grass

[drunkgardener]

if manure should not go in carrot bed why was it that they used half rotted manure in hot beds of the Victorian kitchen garden series?

[Aberdeenplotter]

Ask a victorian ?

Seriously though, the manure would be under the growing medium and would not be part of it so that the carrot roots would be fully developed without contacting the manure.

[Two_Sheds]

cardboard then compost will weaken and kill couch grass

Cardboard alone will kill couch grass, if it's thick enough: it's lack of light that does the business.

You could put icing sugar on top of the cardboard, or fake eyelashes. It's lack of light that causes the plant to weaken, because it can't photosynthesise