constructing a raised bed

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by oakdaledave, Mar 4, 2010.

  1. oakdaledave

    oakdaledave Gardener

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    Hi guys, what is the cheapest way of constructing a raised bed to grow vegetables and where do you buy topsoil? I'm thinking of devoting a small part of my garden to growing veg, about 6' square. Could I grow summer things like lettuce and then winter things like carrots,parsnips and sprouts in the same area.
    Thank you
     
    oakdaledave, Mar 4, 2010
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  2. Steve R

    Steve R Soil Furtler

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    Steve R, Mar 4, 2010
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  3. Chrislovestogarden

    Chrislovestogarden Gardener

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    costs will vary, so it;s worth deciding what size raised bed you want and comparing prices.....Here's a UK based supplier where you could buy topsoil but I imagine most gardening centres would stock it.

    What kind of size bed are you thinking of?
     
    Chrislovestogarden, Mar 4, 2010
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  4. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    You don't have to have a raised bed to grow veg especially if you are looking to save money.
     
    JWK, Mar 8, 2010
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  5. oakdaledave

    oakdaledave Gardener

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    The thing is, my ground doesn't drain very well :-(
     
    oakdaledave, Mar 8, 2010
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  6. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    That's a good reason for a raised bed :thumb: If the poor drainage is due to bad soil (e.g. heavy clay) then it would still be worthwhile digging that over and incorporating some organic material on which to build the raised bed.
     
    JWK, Mar 9, 2010
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  7. GardeningGuyJohn

    GardeningGuyJohn Apprentice Gardener

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    It depends on how much the different materials are going to cost you. If you have access to some cheap/free timber then it would be worth putting your own one together but you can usually find reasonably good deals on raised beds. When it comes to what you want to plant there are a number of tips for raised beds here
     
    GardeningGuyJohn, Mar 12, 2010
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  8. Vince

    Vince Not so well known for it.

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    Got any scaffolding companies nearby? They are often willing to give away old scaffold boards or maybe for a £1 or two for them if they are in the least bit damaged.

    Scaffold boards make excellent raised beds.

    Top soil is widely available but please add some organic matter to it. Also, you live in Poole, how close to the sea? You may want to think of a wind break if "salt air" may be a problem.

    Grow quick growing salad crops now so you can get your "winter" crops in early, they need a substantial growing period too!

    Good luck and welldone you for wanting to grow your own :D
     
    Vince, Mar 13, 2010
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  9. oakdaledave

    oakdaledave Gardener

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    I'm thinking of constructing the raised bed and it would be 140 cm square. May I ask when winter crops should go in, ie carrots,parsnips, cabbage. Would this sise allow me to grow 3 or 4 different crops. What happens next year......can I grow the same crops again in the same soil? Sorry to ask so many questions. I will be filling the bed with top soil, is this right. Thank you. Dave
     
    oakdaledave, Mar 19, 2010
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  10. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    You can sow carrots now Dave, there are summer and winter types, the winter varieties need to go in a month or twos time (same goes for parsnip and winter cabbage). If you stagger the sowing of the maincrop carrot from mid-may to july then you will have them available from the autumn onwards. I usually sow winter cabbage in May in pots then transplant them outside in June/July after hardening them off (slowly getting them used to being outside).

    If you keep growing the same crops in the same soil then you can get problems with pest and disease build up, hence why people 'rotate' between beds. I grow the same crops every year in soil in my greenhouse, but I dig all the soil out each spring and swap it from another part of my veg patch. That will be difficult to do if you only have one raised bed.

    Yes you do need top soil :thumb:
     
    JWK, Mar 22, 2010
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