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Growing veg. organically in raised bed

mj10364mj10364 Posts: 16
in Fruit & veg
I am growing veg. for the first time, I am using a homemade wooden raised bed. I want to grow organically, do you have to line the raised bed or can you just put soil and veg. seeds/plants just in? Would appreciate advice on this. Thank you. 
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Posts

  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    edited May 2020
    The wood is likely to last longer if you line it with heavy duty plastic bags.  Don't line the bottom though as it needs free drainage.
  • mj10364mj10364 Posts: 16
    Thanks for your comment. Would a compost bag be suitable to use as a liner and would it affect trying to grow orgainically?
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited May 2020
    Old compost bags turned inside out (so they are black) are ideal and are usually made of LDPE, the same stuff as potable water tanks, so no risk of them contaminating the soil.  Best to ensure the highest parts of the bags are slightly below the soil or mulch to stop sunlight eventually breaking them down, so if you make sure no plastic is visible, you're good to go as they say.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • mj10364mj10364 Posts: 16
    Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply to my query. Can you use aluminium containers to grow veg. in which I assume you wouldn't need to line? :)
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Metal containers can get very hot in the sun which can damage roots, so probably not ideal.  Lining or painting the outside white to reflect heat or internally lining with some kind of insulation may help.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • mj10364mj10364 Posts: 16
    Thanks for the advice, what other containers could you use?
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Almost anything which is strong enough to hold wet soil, won't quickly rot and has drainage will work.  It's up to you to weigh-up the environmental cost, but using wood from sustainable sources is probably the least damaging.  Re-using things which can't be recycled is also worth considering.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • mj10364mj10364 Posts: 16
    Thanks for the advice Bob.  :)
  • mj10364mj10364 Posts: 16
    Thanks for the advice Philippa, you've both been very helpful. I am having problems trying to decide what veg. to grow in my small raised bed (roughly 6ft x 6ft  h1.5ft) plus various pots, which is best - growing from seed or plants and where can you get them ( i'm not sure about going to a gardening centre just yet). Would appreciate any advice. :)
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Decide what you like to eat and then ask back here and I'm sure we'll be able to advise on good varieties.  For instance, lettuce and carrots are relatively easy from seed and can be sown direct into rows in the bed.  The cut-and-come-again types are great.  Other things like tomatoes and peppers need heat to start them and if you go for brassicas such as cabbage, you'll need to choose smaller varieties as those take up a lot of room per plant.  If you like french or runner beans, they'll do well if you erect some support or choose dwarf varieties.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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