Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Soil enricher in raised veg beds

francesredcliffefrancesredcliffe Posts: 5
in Fruit & veg
Hi all. This is my first post. I grow veg in raised beds and have done for several years. Last year my runner beans were very poor, as were sweet corn. Beetroots did better than they ever have. I usually dig some rotted manure in at this time of year. Should I add some soil enricher? A friend recommends BioChar. 

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    There really isn't anything better than manure for improving the soil, so I would continue as you are.  Both of the plants you mention hate drought and depend on the weather being 'right' during their growing cycle to give good crops, so I strongly suspect the poor performance last year was the result of the weird weather we had.  My own veg crops were generally poor with some things doing very badly but others doing unusually well.
    Don't forget that providing enough water for thirsty plants like these can be difficult in raised beds.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Ferdinand2000Ferdinand2000 Posts: 537
    edited January 2021
    Why not try a green manure?

    Although it may be too late for this year, now.

    https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/green-manures
    https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/sites/www.gardenorganic.org.uk/files/Green Manures - list_2.pdf
    “Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”
  • francesredcliffefrancesredcliffe Posts: 5
    Thank you for your answers. I’ll carry on with the manure, as I don’t really have enough room to grow any green manure. 
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Not a lot of nutrients in the manure, but it does improve the soil structure. Try adding a cupful per square yard of Fish blood and bonemeal.  I have a cycle. Ist year manure, grow tatties. 2nd year grow beans, add BFB. 3rd year grow cabbages, add BFB, then back again.  Are you moving the crops around so you don't grow the same crop in the same bed two years running? Onions benefit from a longer cycle if you can.  If you grow root crops, sweet corn and onions, you can do a 6 year cycle.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    I agree FYM can be very variable in it's nutrient level. Another good supplement is Vitax Q4 as it has a added minerals & trace elements, or any seaweed products you can use. 
    AB Still learning

  • francesredcliffefrancesredcliffe Posts: 5
    Hi. Thank you for your help.  I’m not very good at crop rotation! I’ve got 3 beds and the best I can do is try and rotate veg to different ends and sides. Because it’s quite a small area to grow in I try and limit to the things that really make a taste difference like corn, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, parsnips, runner & green beans. Don’t grow onions, no room for potatoes. At the moment I’ve got kale, leeks, parsnips, and perpetual spinach in which means I can’t add manure or BFB until they’re cleared. I’m not sure what you mean by a 6 year cycle. I’ll definitely incorporate BFB. 
Sign In or Register to comment.