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Raised beds for veg and fruit

lizhanley1969lizhanley1969 Posts: 60
in Fruit & veg
Please can anyone let me know when do you put soil, compost etc into a raised bed in preparation of planting. Do I have to prepare the beds a week or two before planting. Or is it best to fill and plant at the same time once plants are ready to go out in May/ June? I will be putting in well rotted manure, top soil and compost, with a bit of grit. Thank you.

Posts

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Whatever you fill them with @lizhanley1969 (and that might depend upon what you will be growing) the level will sink so I would fill them and soak them a few times a good couple of weeks before I planted anything which gives a chance to top up where needed.
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • Womble54Womble54 Posts: 348
    Yeah, best to fill them well in advance if possible to let them settle and for the worms to show up, but you can fill them at the same time as planting and treat them like a big pot if you’re short on time. 
    Depends what you’ve put it on top of, a drainage layer of gravel at the bottom can be helpful but not always necessary. Some mulch on top is helpful to reduce the need for regular watering. 
    You don’t need to fill right to the top in the first year as you’ll need to add more organic matter (manure or compost) and mulch each year, so the level will tend to rise a bit each year.
    Good luck.
  • lizhanley1969lizhanley1969 Posts: 60
    Thank you for your help. 

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