Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú

Grow your own  permalink

Raised bed advice please!

• Message 1. 

  Posted by huckleberry (U14741939) on Wednesday, 5th January 2011

  I am completely new to having an allotment and having spent weeks clearing and digging it over I would like to make raised beds. Can any of you lovely knowledgeable people advise me as to how to do this, the best sort of timber to use ( or maybe other material?) and cheap places to source it?I have been reading lots of books, but advice from experienced 'live' people would be much appreciated!
  
  Also, would you advise all raised beds or just some? My plot is 75 metres square. Thank you!!

  Link to this forum: Raised bed advice please!

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by realfood (U13916672) on Wednesday, 5th January 2011

  Most people on allotments do not bother with raised beds as they are more trouble than they are worth. The only exceptions where they are useful are if the ground is permanently waterlogged, or if you are unable to bend down for medical reasons.
  Have a look around your allotments and speak to the the older plotters who will show you how to get the best out of your allotment.

  Link to this forum: Raised bed advice please!

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by novicedippychick (U9694696) on Wednesday, 5th January 2011

  Hello huckleberry, I have to disagree a little bit with the previous poster. Whilst many people find raised beds more trouble than they are worth, for me they have been a godsend.
  
  I was lucky in that there were scaffold boards donated to our allotment and I used these to make beds that were either 2m x 1m or 4m x 1m. When digging these beds I found that I could dig them with ease. I found them quite user friendly for a novice like myself.
  
  I also have a bad back so raised beds were perfect. I now look at my beds where I have allocated a bed for my asparagus, raspberries, strawberries, globe artichokes, red currants, gooseberries and herbs.
  
  I suppose it's pleasing to my eyes and appeals to my tidy mind.
  
  Do what you feel comfortable with and enjoy your allotment
  
  NDC

  Link to this forum: Raised bed advice please!

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by madeleineR (U14451255) on Thursday, 6th January 2011

  I don't use raised beds myself although I think I will probably have to one day when my back really gets bad.
  
  Re wood - I pick all sorts of scraps of wood from my local rubbish tip. Now that they are all organised and compartmentalised for recycling, every time i go there I look in the wood section and pick odd bits that could be useful. Wooden pallets for a compost bin etc and odd pieces for supporting/protecting my fruits and veggies on the allotment. You will probably find some wood there for your raised beds and it will cost you nothing.
  
  Good luck anyway!
  

  Link to this forum: Raised bed advice please!

  Report message4

• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by ranrand (U14697749) on Thursday, 6th January 2011

  You could also try any local builders/scaffolders to see if they have any damaged planks you can scrounge or buy.
  As regards to how many raised beds you should have I would say that this depends partly on your supply of manure or other organic matter that you will be incorporating into your own soil in order to raise the bed. You will be suprised at how much it takes to raise the soil level by an appreciable amount and you might be better advised to concentrate the use of any organic matter as you prepare beds for veg that will appreciate the extra goodness, such as potatoes, peas and beans, as part of a crop rotation programme so that all the plot benefits over a 3 or 4 year period.
  

  Link to this forum: Raised bed advice please!

  Report message5

• Message 6

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Thursday, 6th January 2011

  2 foot paving slabs (or flags) on edge and kept in place with an angle iron collar welded at the corners. A lot thinner than sleepers, hence more ground area for plants.
  
  My allotment is on a bit of a slope so I've used this method to level the section most 'slopey'. Cheers, Tony.

  Link to this forum: Raised bed advice please!

  Report message6

• Message 7

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Thursday, 6th January 2011

  My idea of a raised bed is those that are around 18"-24" (500-600mm) high that were made for invalids that are wheelchair bound.
  
  The raised beds that are say up to 9" (225mm) high are a bit of a waste of time to my mind, but then again my plots are relatively level so I can get away without them.
  
  This bit of info might help;
  
  
  
  I agree they make the plots look quite tidy but have a look at my plots without them;
  
  
  
  or look at a whole year here;
  
  

  Link to this forum: Raised bed advice please!

  Report message7

Back to top