sleepers

Hi everybody! I'm a new member and desperately need some feed-back on whether old hardwood railway sleepers (originally treated with creosote) will be suitable for raised veg. beds. I have been offered some at a good price but will they taint the soil? Thanks.:cnfs:

 

Thanks Bob.
Thought about that but I am planning three 9' x 4' x 20" (in old money) beds. Won't the plastic cost an arm and a leg? Have to weigh up whether it would be cheaper to go for the pricey eco timber.
Vietta

 

Old ones really are full of sludge. I jetwashed mine before I laid them and it was sludge carnage !

I didn't line them other than the gaps and I haven't had any issues, but then I don't have crops in these beds. If it were me I would buy new, obviously more expensive but leaves no doubt in your mind. My used ones are very old oak and some beach. The beach ones really are amazing !

 

I think the width of sleepers contributes significantly to the width of raised beds (if that's what you are doing), so by the time you've made 4 beds, side-by-side, you've lost the width of a whole extra bed.

 

I've got sleepers for my veg beds with no lining and I'm still here lol. They're the normal creosote ones

 

I am knocked out with all your valuable info!
Bob....my roofers have offered me some FREE waterproof black thick plastic left over and there's plenty to line the beds! WHOOPEE!
Thanks to Little Miss Road Rage (grrrr!) and Banana Man for giving me confidence to use these sleepers (plastic will make sure!)
I'm hoping that if creosote is that bad it will deter slugs from climbing up and weed seeds germinating in the cracks so it might turn out really well!
Or, perhaps, JWK, it might not, if the slugs are looking for a catarrh cure! Thank-you for the price list....I am definitely getting a good deal on these sleepers (£15 each) so I shall line the beds and hope.
I've designed "L" shaped beds Kristen to maximise soil area. I think the 6" border will be handy for putting things on (like cups of tea for the hard-working gardener!) I'm doing the beds 20" high so it's easier to manage with my arthritis!!
Thank-you ALL

 

Good luck and don't forget to take some pics. Oh and I still get slugs in my beds lol

 

Oh my! How am I going to keep off the cats/pigeons/squirrels?

 

To be honest, a good jet washing will get rid of a significant amount of mess. After a period of drying I painted mine with a few coats of ronseal 5 year exterior wood stain, this soaked in and dried without issue.

 

The creocote will be fine, personally I always line beds with plastic:

 

nice job PG

 

Good fixing tips, Paul. Looks brilliant!
Vietta