Establishing Raised Beds

[timiano]

Hi all

Quick question. I'm planning on putting in raised beds for next year. I've not got any issues with the fabrication or design of them, but the burning question is how do I get them filled up? So I make the beds, but where does the soil come from, as it's quite a lot of soil to fill?

Any tips or help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Tim

[timiano]

[Fork]

Have a look here.There should be something to help you.

http://www.crocus.co.uk/alanshowto/nodigbed/

[kt.]

I only have 3 raised beds. Mine were topped up with soil from around  the plot as I levelled it out. Also, I laid the bottom of them with a thin layer of manure, 2-3 inches, to ensure crop got off to a good start. Carrots & onions were the best I have grown so far. I also got a good first year from my new strawbwerry bed.

[Deb P]

I just dug mine over and added 3 bags of mushroom compost to each bed, and some manure as an overwinter mulch under black plastic to some beds depending on what I planned to grow there. Good results so far!

[Jeannine]

Mine are all 1 foot high filled with commercial bagged compost  and potting soil with some sand added,

[Barnowl]

We have started our raised beds more as just enclosed beds assuming that they will gradually fill up over time as we add compost, manure etc.

[flytrapman]

I removed the top soil & worked in large amounts of horse manure with the sub soil and replaced the top soil. Worked or me

[timiano]

Thank you for your replies.

I'm certainly not going to have enough soil from around, so they'll require some filling. You've given me some good idea, so I think it'll be a mixture of sources. I'll get hold of some horse manure, commericial compost, bit of sand and some top soil, and also turn over some of the subsoild that is already there. They don't need to be full to the brim, that'll come in time, just to get started.

We already have quite a few metres of deckboards that we haven't used, and gravel boards look good to do the rest, I'll just compare the prices, as deck boards are fairly cheap. And, got quite a few 2x2s for staking the boards and fixing.

We're gonna be busy come October/November! :)

Thanks again!

Tim

[cambourne7]

HI

I have 18 raised beds and am adding about another 20, these will all be 6inch high and next year if the price of wood comes down i will add another layer and bring these to a foot high.

Our soil comes from the people who collect the green waste they turn it into compost and sell it. However they also haul construction waste so rather than driving an empty truck to our village they fill it with compost and deliver it free. So i have only ever bought one bag of well rotted manure for my asparagus bed. You would think that this was ace however some allotment holders think that this will last forever and i know it will not as a second allotment site is opening and they will start getting the soil instead soon!!

We get horse manure from a local stable (they deliver) and we get wood chips from a local tree surgon (again they deliver).

Its worth making a few calls, if you dont ask then you dont get!!

Cambourne7

[plot76]

We used the soil within the area that the bed was going to be, after digging the bed in slightly and then digging over and loosening the soil within the bed, add in a bag of manure and the bed is done, I would like to raise the beds up another level, and this will happen is due course.

[Susiebelle]

Some-ones been busy :) and don't they look good very impressive! happy harvesting.

[cornykev]

Even a bath if you get too dirty.  ;D ;D ;D