Have you changed from raised beds???

[nilly71]

I've decided to have a change about over the plot and get rid of some of the raised beds. Mainly because they were a pain to plant and harvest potatoes and I have extended the plot an extra 7'w x 10'l. They are still partly raised as i have young children and want them to stick to the paths.

This is how the plot is layed out at the moment, each of the main beds are15'x5' and fruit is around the edge:


and this is what i was thinking of, 2xmain beds approx 17'x25' and the fruit have their own section:


Both are to scale, pic one is 1/2 a plot, pic two is 3/4 plot.

Have you gone from induvidual beds to big beds or the other way round?

Neil

[nilly71]

[Ninnyscrops.]

Yes me this year!

My number one plot has paths that form naturally when I make up my mind where I'm planting what.

Number two plot I put raised beds in mainly for strawberries and asparagus but carried on with more to make it look neater.

Apart from the two dedicated beds above, the rest are coming out.

1) I keep tripping over the edges
2) Weed seeds seem to trap themselves down the edges and it's a nightmare to dig out a missed dandelion that's got its root underneath the timber
3) The beds dry out quicker and I get less return

Well that's only my opinion on raised beds, but lots of people like them  ;D

Ninny

[realfood]

I have one plot that had raised beds originally, and as the wooden edges rot, I am digging up the paths and amalgamating the beds. The largest bed is now 5 mx4 m. The advantages are many. Less wasted space, larger crops, cut down in watering, easier to dig and keep weed free as less weeds to come from the paths.

[Digeroo]

I am very interested in what you are saying.  I was feeling rather left out by not having any raised beds.  Not very good at carpentry.  But I have been thinking I ought to get some built.  It is very interesting to see that people are taking them out, perhaps I do not have to feel deprived without them.  

In my garden I have some logs cut from some cupressus that got too big and I use them to built up the soil depth for my runner beans.  But they do rather supply a home for slugs.

[gardentg44]

not going to mention them,all ready said i dont see the point in them.

The last time i got shot down in flames.

but i see people are going back to the proper way.

old traditions die hard. ;D ;D :-X :-X :-X :-X

[nilly71]

I still like the raised beds as they look smarter and people allways walk on the woodchip paths (except my 2yr old daughter), the allotment is basicaly an extention of my back garden so i want it to look nice. But small raised beds are a pain.

Neil

[jennym]

When I started on this plot, I used large raised beds because there was no decent topsoil at all, just a couple of inches over very heavy flinty clay. It wouldn't grow anything decent. It also flooded badly in winter. Had to add tonnes of muck and, over the following few years, the soil improved. Brick and slab paths were added between the beds as materials became available. After about 3 - 4 years, the timber was removed and now the beds are still raised, but are more of a gentle mound. I find it easier without the timber, and if you want to you can rotavate too.

[Vinlander]

I find it easier without the timber, and if you want to you can rotavate too.

Surely the beds now spill onto the paths?

Or they would on my system where I go for maximum soil area via minimum paths (just a few cm wider than my feet are long - narrower ones are a serious trip hazard).

But I never let a bed get wider than 1.2m so I have a lot of paths. Fortunately narrow ones are a very economical use for woodchip.

I keep a very thick plank handy to raise my barrow going down the narrow paths (or it jams on the 30cm high planks either side).

You must have at least a metre-wide path to cope with the spillage from rotavating?

Cheers.

[jennym]

My paths are mainly from recycled slabs, about 600mm wide. The soil doesn't seem to fall onto the paths much ordinarily, I suppose you'd call them slightly mounded, but the overall height of the entire plot was raised too.
It does get messy if I rotavate, don't do it that often now to be honest, the soil is that nice now (mostly). But, if I do, and there's soil on the paths, well... I get out the broom.
Folks may think I'm looney for having a broom on a veg plot, but I do like the paths to look clean, gives a nice satisfying feel looking at it all tidy. And I find a stiff broom is really handy for sweeping across strawb beds once they've been sheared off - I let mine mat up, so a rake would catch in the runners, and have got very big strawberry beds so its the quickest option for me.

[BAK]

We use raised beds (4 feet wide * ~ 14 feet long * 4 to 6" high) without any timber or plastic edging. Carpet used on paths. While a bit of soil gradually falls onto the path over the months it is usually just sufficient to camouflage the carpet. The odd weed that may grow on the path is simply hoed up.

The beds are usually dug in early winter and left rough ... levelled in Feb / Mar (weather-willing) with slightly sloping sides. As part of this process the carpet is taken up and the soil shaken off (back onto the bed) ... this is easier to do with 2 people.

The result, while not as pretty as other plots with edging and wood chip paths, is neat and functional.

[Tulipa]

Jenny, I have a broom too, last job I do is sweep before leaving - always makes it look tidier. :)

[Le-y]

i had raised beds in myu garden last year i found that because they were off the ground it made it much easier for me to manage being very heavily pregnant i didnt have to get down so far and i could sit on the corner if i needed too.

I may have just one bed this year up the allotment. I think i am going to put on down for my carrots because there are a million stones i my soil, plus a whole load of other crap that we're trying to get out but for this year i'll just put my one bed down, fill it to the top so that they will have a good foot of nice clean soil to grow in as they please!

otherwise, no beds for me, i intend to just walk paths between.

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

i think the best solution is a combo of raised and informal beds.  On my plot I have formal raised beds which are pretty much 'no dig' -  manure them or put in compost when they become vacant and this helps alter the make up of the clay soil.  Because they are not monolithic beds it helps break the soil improvement process into manageable parts.  Also the raised beds suit the crops I grow in them - roots and legumes and galric/onions etc.

On the other hand I have about 50% informal with lots of fruit, seating area, bambo for screening (and poles), comfrey and a small play area for he kids - in this more informal area I am working on encouraging wildlife through a tiny pond, natural berries like hawthorn and holly etc for the birds and so on. I also have an orchard area in which I grow bulbs in spring (for colour) and then I can inter plant with trailers like pumpkin/squash later in the season.

I dont know why people get hot under the collar about the bed/no bed thing - I think they work perfectly in tandem.

Si

[fi]

i have a few raised beds on the allotment for permanent planting have had problems with couch grass roots under the wood and rooting in the bed. was planning to have raised beds on remainder of plot but changing my mind. think that i will raise the topsoil slightly by digging out the paths and using some of this soil on the beds, but not have permanent structure around the edge. 
at home i have 3 raised beds the height of 2 scaffolding planks and about 12 foot by 4 ft. root crops do better in these beds than on the lottie. also very good for winter salads.

[Old bird]

I am still happy sticking with my raised beds due to the fact that they are not walked on and are easy and quick to prepare ready for new planting or just tidying up!!

I do not grow potatoes, or tall brassicas where they raised beds would be detrimental as they need firm foundations.  I can see there is a reason for both raised and "traditional" although I certainly could not keep up with the "traditional annual dig"!

[Emagggie]

I could never see the point of raised beds.It has always seemed such a waste of growing space. Like Ninnyscrops I walk thin paths in between whatever I grow. Plenty of the newer plot holders on our site do though, and I can understand how it can be a benefit for folks who find bending difficult. It's interesting to see that some of you are removing them now.
Old Bird, I dig as I go, it works ok. :)  

[nilly71]

I do not grow potatoes, or tall brassicas where they raised beds would be detrimental as they need firm foundations.  I can see there is a reason for both raised and "traditional" although I certainly could not keep up with the "traditional annual dig"!

I had no problem with the brasssicas in my raised beds when i first done them.


How many take children over the plot and do they walk all over your traditional beds?

Neil

[Le-y]

i take my kids to the plot and yup they walk everywhere HOWEVER i often used to find my toddler walking in my raised beds in the garden last year so doesn't make a difference for my child :)

[Vinlander]

i have a few raised beds on the allotment for permanent planting have had problems with couch grass roots under the wood and rooting in the bed. was planning to have raised beds on remainder of plot but changing my mind. think that i will raise the topsoil slightly by digging out the paths and using some of this soil on the beds, but not have permanent structure around the edge. 
at home i have 3 raised beds the height of 2 scaffolding planks and about 12 foot by 4 ft. root crops do better in these beds than on the lottie. also very good for winter salads.

Yes it's a good idea to keep the boards above the soil - they last 5 times longer too.

The best thing is to cut up the PVC doorframes you sometimes find in skips, but bricks will work too.

This year I'm nailing lino to the back of the board and sinking the lino edge into the path so hopefully that will stop the soil escaping so I only need 3 bricks under each board to keep them above the path.

I would also recommend digging out the paths and replacing with woodchip - then you can easily fork into any couch that is trying to get into the beds... give it "nowhere to run to - nowhere to hide".

Cheers.

[kt.]

I tried both methods and now only have two raised beds for my strawberries.  My paths are laid with paving stones that get a quick brush if they get covered when digging and rotovating.  This way I still have the benefit of defined edging of my beds without them being raised.