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New small veg plot - how to get started?
WildFlower_UK
Posts: 236
in Fruit & veg
We tried growing a few types of veg in planters/pots this year, and were delighted with the success. We have therefore decided to go a bit bigger next year, with either two 1x1m or one 2x1m raised beds using a simple kit like this one from B&Q that sits directly on our lawn (we have a small garden hence why we're not going for larger types of beds).
My questions are:
1) What is the best way to fix the kit to the ground?
2) Do we need to remove the turf before filling? I heard that it's not necessary, and that laying some cardboard can help kill the grass/weeds if done a few months in advance (we were thinking of sorting the beds this Autumn ready for next Spring).
3) What sort of soil/compost mix should we fill them with? The soil in our garden including the lawn area is mostly heavy clay, will this be in issue with drainage?
4) For after the first year, what's the best way to 'refresh' the soil so it will have enough nutrients for a new growing year? This is also helpful to know as we have a lot of compost (fresh this year) used for this year's crops.
I'm not 100% sure exactly what we will grow yet; this year we have grown tumbling toms (in a pot), basil (in pots), courgettes (in larger planters/pots) and potatoes (in pots, but mostly failed), so would like to grow mostly the same but also some salad, fennel, larger tomatoes and maybe kind of beans.
Any help for this newbie will be gratefully received!
My questions are:
1) What is the best way to fix the kit to the ground?
2) Do we need to remove the turf before filling? I heard that it's not necessary, and that laying some cardboard can help kill the grass/weeds if done a few months in advance (we were thinking of sorting the beds this Autumn ready for next Spring).
3) What sort of soil/compost mix should we fill them with? The soil in our garden including the lawn area is mostly heavy clay, will this be in issue with drainage?
4) For after the first year, what's the best way to 'refresh' the soil so it will have enough nutrients for a new growing year? This is also helpful to know as we have a lot of compost (fresh this year) used for this year's crops.
I'm not 100% sure exactly what we will grow yet; this year we have grown tumbling toms (in a pot), basil (in pots), courgettes (in larger planters/pots) and potatoes (in pots, but mostly failed), so would like to grow mostly the same but also some salad, fennel, larger tomatoes and maybe kind of beans.
Any help for this newbie will be gratefully received!
"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"
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a - I would recommend using the "Raised bed container liner" to keep the weeds down. It is fitted and only costs £5.
b - I would say take out about 3" of turf - do it in squares with your garden spade to the size of your new bed, by cutting the 4 sides then skimming a square out. If you want an exact outline then put the raised bed where it will go and mark it out.
Then recess the Then put the turf upside down at the bottom of the raised bed, so you get a raised bed that looks embedded slightly. It will act as a bit of a soil improver and you will need less compost / soil to fill it.
c - I would expect it to stay put, but others may have direct experience of the product.
Ferdinand
I'll definitely take int consideration what you may about using the turf to help the kit stay put, although I guess if I use the liner then the turf won't also act as a soil improver?