Planting raised beds

Discussion in 'Allotments Discussion' started by Stevebeard, Dec 26, 2017.

  1. Stevebeard

    Stevebeard Guest

    Ratings:
    +0
    Hi all
    as we are about to embark on our first plot journey, (me,wife and son) growing organic food, is there a plan somewhere showing how to plan out what you should plant and where.
    Although my background is horticulture, vegetables is not part of it, and i am longing for the day we walk onto the plot and harvest our own home grown food. Just want to keep it as a few root veg as we dont have the room for brassica's.
    My forum name is also my personal blog name too, would love people to check out our progress so far and let us know what they think, i am always ready for good advice.
    Thank you..
    steve
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Gail_68

      Gail_68 Guest

      Ratings:
      +0
      @Stevebeard50.blog, Hi Steve someone will answer you better regarding organic foods, as a lot of members do their own things :)
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Steve R

        Steve R Soil Furtler

        Joined:
        Feb 15, 2008
        Messages:
        3,892
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Carer
        Location:
        Cumbria
        Ratings:
        +3,698
        Hi Steve,

        Had a look at your blog, I'm not a fan of thumbnail pictures, if your going to post photos..make them big enough to be seen. Also you will get a much better response here if you post those enlarged photos here on a topic too. I'm not a fan also of going off in different directions on the web to view things I came to a forum to take part in, just my preference.

        Any reason why in such a large space you have put 3 small raised beds in, they could have been put closer together, made larger or more added?

        Go ahead and start a project topic here, post some decent sized photos and watch the help flood in...and welcome to GC too..

        Steve...:)
         
        • Agree Agree x 3
        • Informative Informative x 1
        • Freddy

          Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

          Joined:
          Jul 15, 2007
          Messages:
          9,461
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired - yay!
          Location:
          Bristol
          Ratings:
          +12,508
          • Like Like x 2
          • Agree Agree x 1
          • clanless

            clanless Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Jan 20, 2013
            Messages:
            3,201
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Gentleman of leisure.
            Location:
            North Wales
            Ratings:
            +7,618
            I have found that raised beds need to be fairly narrow - to allow them to be tended without stepping into or stretching over them.

            Stevebeard50 - have you dug over the soil below each raised bed - if not this may be a good idea - I'm thinking in terms of digging out any soil compaction and potentially avoiding a hard border between soil types.

            If memory serves me, the trick is to rotate crops to prevent exhausting the soil nitrogen (the element which promotes leaf growth). I'm afraid that's as far as I can help - I'm more a flower :spinning: person :blue thumb:.
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • Informative Informative x 1
            • Stevebeard

              Stevebeard Guest

              Ratings:
              +0
              Hi Clanless
              I don’t intend to dig as the beds are only 5 foot wide and 10 foot long, i didnt dig over the base of them as it is heavy clay, hence the raised beds. I am using an organic compost and organic food to keep them alive and well, just wondered if there was a set plan for how to plant in order to maximise the space.
               
              • Informative Informative x 1
              • Scrungee

                Scrungee Well known for it

                Joined:
                Dec 5, 2010
                Messages:
                16,524
                Location:
                Central England on heavy clay soil
                Ratings:
                +28,996
                Haven't gone off elsewhere to look at blog, but I'm no fan of parallel raised beds close together, did that once and got fed up with constantly getting my knees/feet wedged between the edging boards, and the alternative of kneeling parallel to the bed and twisting through 90 degrees to work them was a PITA.

                I need a full 3'2" between edging boards to avoid my knees pressing against the bed I'm working on, and prevent my boots jamming into an edging board behind me - NB feet will tilt back whilst kneeling, and even further when standing up.

                My (single) raised beds are now separated by wide, open growing areas, with the exception of those which don't require much work at ground level, for example loganberry structures and raspberry beds.
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • Informative Informative x 1
                • Stevebeard

                  Stevebeard Guest

                  Ratings:
                  +0
                  hi scrungee
                  that sounds like a plan, there is a good gap between mine as we have the grass cut around them in order to keep the place tidy. Of the fruit trees we have, they are potted in large pots so we can move them around should the need arise, but i would like to plant the raspberry, blackberry and gooseberry in longer troughs so i can thread string to hold them up, i am going to start a topic in the edibles section shortly.
                   
                  • Friendly Friendly x 1
                  • Gail_68

                    Gail_68 Guest

                    Ratings:
                    +0
                    @Stevebeard50.blog
                    Glad your getting sound advice from members who know what they're doing and most likely been at it for years:blue thumb:
                    I hope you get your organic plants established:)
                     
                    • Like Like x 1
                    • clanless

                      clanless Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Jan 20, 2013
                      Messages:
                      3,201
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      Gentleman of leisure.
                      Location:
                      North Wales
                      Ratings:
                      +7,618
                      I have the same problem here - heavy clay soil - and installed raised flower beds to alleviate the problem.

                      Would recommend at least breaking into the surface of the clay soil - this will help drainage enormously :blue thumb:.

                      In terms of what to plant - it will be a leaf crop one year (which will deplete the nitrogen in the soil) and a root crop the next so that the nitrogen has a chance to recover.

                      The other thing you can do is plant a 'green manure' crop - eg field beans - which will grow down into and break up the clay - and which you dig into the bed as they are flowering to improve the soil and add nitrogen.

                      Which crops to plant? I would choose a crop which is not commonly available in the shops.:spinning:

                      It's nigh impossible to suggest a plan for the layout - which will maximise yield - it all depends on the crops that you want to grow :smile:.
                       
                      • Like Like x 1
                        Last edited: Dec 29, 2017
                      Loading...

                      Share This Page

                      1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                        By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                        Dismiss Notice