Raised beds

[Polygro]

I have recently moved house and will soon be building some raised beds for organically growing vegetables in the back garden. What suggestions do you have for filling the beds with please in terms of soil or compost etc?
Thanks

[WendyC]

Can I turn your question around? Do you need raised beds? Could you just grow in the soil that's there?
Buying in topsoil is an expensive business and filling with multipurpose compost will give a soil that is too light and will be depleted of nutrients within 5-6 weeks. Others have used "lasagne" planting as way of filling beds. Try searching for that term.

[Polygro]

Raised beds

Can I turn your question around? Do you need raised beds? Could you just grow in the soil that's there?
Buying in topsoil is an expensive business and filling with multipurpose compost will give a soil that is too light and will be depleted of nutrients within 5-6 weeks. Others have used "lasagne" planting as way of filling beds. Try searching for that term.

Thanks for your response - yes, I need raised beds as I want to continue gardening into my dotage!
I am an organic gardener, so meant home-grown garden compost rather than shop-bought compost (I should have made that clear, sorry).
I will certainly look up "lasagne" planting; thanks for the tip.

[veggiechicken]

Hello and welcome to the Grapevine!
If you're new to gardening and to your garden, it may worth living with your garden for a while, to check where the best/sunniest places are for your beds.
There are some ideas on http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ase_84359.html

[Polygro]

Raised beds

Hello and welcome to the Grapevine!
If you're new to gardening and to your garden, it may worth living with your garden for a while, to check where the best/sunniest places are for your beds.
There are some ideas on http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ase_84359.html

Thanks for your reply and your welcome.
I am not new to gardening (must have been gardening for about 50 years now), just new to raised beds and this forum!!!!!

[Nicos]

Hi there...and welcome to the Vine from me too!

[Polygro]

Raised beds

Hi there...and welcome to the Vine from me too!

Thanks Nicos!

[Kirk]

I would plan on building a bed such that you can add to the height if or when required. Mine had been raised twice as additional material has been added.

Planning on another and as I recall Wicks do a board that is about 6 inches width and 1 1/2 thick - I am intending to use that as an initial edge. You can use decking board as these are 4 1/2 wide so 2 layers means a 9 inch bed height.

None are really intended for continuous contact with soil so will rot over the years. One edge of decking I used I painted in a wood preserve thing - say thing as it was not what I expected. It was a cheap product from Wilkinsons and looked wrong as a cover for wood preserving but it dried well and is solid and glossy, so keeps water out fairly well.

Could run off to B&Q and get air blocks, but would need a base/foundation to lay these on.

Half suggest you do not go for nice big beds, they are a problem to reach across, and make sure that the edges are solid enough to kneel on with all your weight (get good kneepads also). Boards seem to come in 1.0 and 1.2 meters so suggest one of those to define the width. Think it is easier to have 2 beds of 3x1 meter rather then one of 3x2 meters.

I filled mine with anything that came to hand and dug it into the existing soil, especially things that did not work as well as expected (coco nut shell stuff that smelt of chocolate was one), now I mainly add the used compost from potato's in containers and manure for nutrients.

If you use wood then suggest lining the inner sides for some protection. Problem is that if digging then you can damage this. Brick/block would be longer lasting but are a more permanent feature once in position.

[vixylix]

My raised beds are 3 railways sleepers high (for aesthetics more than any practical reason) - I have about 25% large stones in the bottom then 25% gravel then the rest is MPC (unfortunately I don't have my own!) which I top up as and when I can / it needs it. It drains really well (its pretty much going on to tarmac underneath the raised bed give or take 6 inches of soil) and I had great success growing in it last year!

[Polygro]

Raised beds

My raised beds are 3 railways sleepers high (for aesthetics more than any practical reason) - I have about 25% large stones in the bottom then 25% gravel then the rest is MPC (unfortunately I don't have my own!) which I top up as and when I can / it needs it. It drains really well (its pretty much going on to tarmac underneath the raised bed give or take 6 inches of soil) and I had great success growing in it last year!

Thank you so much for sharing what you have filled your raised beds with - very helpful.

Though I can't help wondering how 3 railway sleepers might look more aesthetically pleasing than two! I was going to do two deep, so your further thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

[rary]

Remember the higher your bed, the easier it is to work it as you get older, not as far to bend,(they tell me) and welcome to the Vine, what your location, if near the sea, I think its worth while puting seaweed into the bed makeup.

[vixylix]

Thank you so much for sharing what you have filled your raised beds with - very helpful.

Though I can't help wondering how 3 railway sleepers might look more aesthetically pleasing than two! I was going to do two deep, so your further thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

My garden is staggered at different heights so it was just personal preference that it looked 'better' against everything else! I am also lazy so Rary's point about it being higher played a factor - I can reach it quite comfortably without bending / kneeling for hours. Also - as there is no soil under my raised bed I felt the additional soil depth would be beneficial.

Saying all that it did make it more expensive! I'd go for whatever you're happy with!