Montys raised beds.

Juniper4 · August 2020

Watching Montys raised beds full of well grown vegetables is making me very envious. Does any one know what soil he uses? Doesn't look like compost, ooks like ground soil, as it's very clumpy (if you understand what I mean).
My vegetables have done very poorly this year, and it's driving me crazy. (My raised beds are full with peat free compost). Should I be mixing it with ground soil?

Loxley · August 2020

I think they're just full of good quality topsoil.

Fairygirl · August 2020

Compost alone just disappears, so it's fine for a pot or similar, but not long term. It doesn't have enough substance for along term bed.

Raised beds of any kind - ornamental or edible- need regular additions of other organic matter. Leaf mould, home made compost, topsoil/old turf, manure etc, depending on what's being grown.

batwood14 · August 2020

Monty has heavy clay soil but he uses copious amounts or organic matter in his planting. Clay does have more elements, minerals and nutrition but it goes to extremes in hot weather and wet weather. I have heavy clay too and have to ensure that organic matter is incorporated to prevent this. He's got 30 years of sorting the soil out - I only have four years in my new garden!

Blue Onion · August 2020

Do you have a place for making your own compost? If not, start trench composting in your raised beds as soon as you pull up rows of finished plants. I recommend storing about three days of kitchen scraps before putting them in the trench, to save effort and work. Depends on the amounts of kitchen scraps you produce. Egg cartons, torn cardboard, etc can be mixed in before adding to the trench. Other people keep shredded paper to mix in. Unless you have mega masses of kitchen scraps, I wouldn't worry too much about the greens to brown ratio. Moisture soaks into the soil and critters soon balance it all out. It will greatly improve your soil. Also mulch with as much grass clippings mixed with mowed leaves as you can fit on the surface. That will improve the soil as it rots down plus keep in nutrients and such over winter.. and keep a nice area for micro fauna to do their thing. The problem with peat free compost is it dries out so darn quick, and doesn't hold the nutrients because it lacks the structure. It will give you a basis for improvement for future years, so work on building it up now for next spring.

Juniper4 · August 2020

Thank you @Blue Onion for the tips.
I have no room for a compost heap. But I will try to do what you suggest in one of my raised beds.😊

Juniper4 · August 2020

@batwood14 I too have clay soil.

So would you suggest not to put down a base over in the raised bed? As I have, so not to have the weeds coming up.

Work with the ground and put on top peat free compost, topsoil and scraps from the kitchen?

batwood14 · August 2020

@Juniper4 - use a base but use cardboard (thick cardboard or newspapers whole) these I find are better than weed fabrics + they hold moisture. If using scraps always place at the bottom of the trench/raised bed, never on top as this will attract vermin/pests etc. mix compost and top soil together then fill the raised bed.

Fairygirl · August 2020

No need for a base @Juniper4, but doesn't matter if you have put one down

It would only be a problem if it was very substantial, like heavy, commercial landscaping material, and roots couldn't get down.
It would also depend on the depth of the beds too, and what's being grown in them

Montys raised beds.

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