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First time veg grower
lovegardening77
Posts: 332
in Fruit & veg
Hi everyone, I'm getting a raised vegetable bed but once I've got it I don't know what to do next apart from put it together. Will it need rubble in the bottom to aid drainage? What compost would be best for it? I don't have a greenhouse so some suggestions of veg that can be sown outside would be very helpful. Any books for first timers that you've found helpful? Bit nervous about it!????
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Probably need a little bit more information like how big / deep the bed is? What the soil conditions are like underneath for drainage? what you plan to grow in the beds?
It's 180cm long, 90cm width and about 30cm deep. The ground it's going on is a mixture of clay and sand.
Great. Raised beds are ideal for veggies (most things really). Having said which, ideally you should have worked in some compost when you filled it. You need to decide what kind of veggies you want to grow. If you want the leafy kind, cow or horse manure is the best, though it's best to apply this in the spring. If you want roots, leaf mold and a bit of wood ash/ blood fish and bone is best. Best for this time of year are cabbages, brussels ,swede etc ie winter veg. You could try some late lettuce, rocket et, if you get nice plants from the garden center. Parsley is good to overwinter. Good luck. Ian.
Sorry, Brussels aren't suitable for raised beds as they have to be planted really firmly and one thing you must not do is walk on the raised bed. Oh, and swedes are better grown in a field by a farmer; they are cheap enough to buy.
I found this book really helpful as an inexperienced gardener with a pretty small plot. It has some good ideas for getting the best out of a small space.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grow-Three-Square-Feet-General/dp/0241180015
Thankyou Womble, it looks good. Is it based on veg in the U.K?. I think I'm going to go with more of a planter with a base in it but hopefully one that is a decent size.