Well, the jungle is finally being tamed little by little! Our new lottie, which we got towards the end of May, is now starting to look less like a field and more like a veg garden! Today we finished the first of our raised beds (10ft x 4ft) and it felt so good to see the end result (haven't put the wood round yet as am waiting to get wood after pay day ;) ).
When we first took the lottie on it just seemed so overwhelming - marestail, grass, dandelions, all waist high and seemingly endless. We strimmed it down, covered 2/3 in black plastic which we have planted courgettes/butternut squash/cucumbers through. And so far they are growing well. Today's finished bed was the result of nearly a week of hard graft - digging, forking, hand weeding, inputting some composted stuff. And tomorrow we get to plant our runner beans and dwarf frenchies!!! ;D It might seem just a little but I cant wait. We are now starting to get stuff in the ground and feel like we will eventually end up with our own veg. Next plan is to dig the salad bed.
So, thanks for all the words of encouragement and advice. Just wanted to share a newbie's excitement :) and offer some encouragement to other newbies out there. Little by little, it can be done and is sooooo worth it.
What an achievement!
I've found our raised beds very encouraging, but quick to dry out. No surprise!
What did you fill yours with?
Well done, everyone is a newbie to start off with
You are doing better than me at the clearance and construction. Mine still looks like a field as I have only just started resorting to covering it in places - and like you I have to do it by the paycheque. I do have a few potatoes, broad beans and (caterpillar eaten) cabbages to eat off my plot but I got mine in January so although I have not been able to clear as much as you, time has delivered a small amount of produce. That is your next step - Good luck to you. One hurdle overcome, look forward to the results - they are worth it.
Thanks all. Redclanger - it does seem to take that bit longer when you're doing by the pay cheque, but we'll get there in the end!
Tim - have some runner beans and dwarf french beans going crazy in pots at home on the patio so am hoping to put them in tomorrow after building a frame. Interesting that the raised beds dry out quicker - thanks for the tip.
Piglottie,
Congratulations.
As Tim said, raised beds dry out quicker than the surrounding ground which is an advantage early in the season for those with heavy soils but for those, like myself on thin soil have non raised beds - the soil level does rise naturally over the years but as a mound not a straight sided bed.
Phil
Phil - hopefully raised beds will be an advantage for us as we are on clay soil (not really heavy, but clay none the less).