My biggest headache here (as no doubt for everyone else) is someone wanting to eat what I've planted from all directions. I am trying to find the most workable solutions to extend my growing area but get overwhelmed with the options.
For effect, a ‘newbie’
will construct beds of uniform size but, after the first year, will find that,
for example, potatoes will require vastly more space than onions, and brassicas
more than carrots, with the result that fitting crops to beds becomes a
problem. On the other hand, by leaving
the plot ‘open’, each planting can follow on from its neighbour with just a
narrow walkway left in between. Walkways
themselves will also move across the plot, in line with the sowing pattern,
which means that all parts of the plot (and the nutrients they contain) will be
used over time. Conversely, paths
between raised beds will never be used and will be inevitably wider, if only to
permit the passage of a wheelbarrow, something that wouldn’t happen in ‘open’
format where barrows will be left at the sides of the plot without undue
inconvenience.
@nick615 - thanks Nick. Interesting thoughts. I have the space to fence off an open plot so can see the sense of this and will certainly give it consideration.
Maybe a timely message, bcpathome, for those who see 'a good idea at the time', but I'm sure there's an able bodied neighbour who'd help you?
We don't have neighbours who could/would help. The guy next door is in his 80s but still does his own garden. No way would I ask him to do mine as well. The people on the other side ripped out all the planting when they moved in. They said they were going to turf the whole area for their kids but haven't. It's more mudbath than garden.
When we moved into our current house I did create some raised beds, and they were successful. As there are only 2 of us, the quantity grown in raised beds worked well for us. I didn't plant spuds in raised beds.
War garden, read the comments Nick makes. He explains it fully.
I have raised beds, even though I could get more gardening return without them, simply because they look so tidy. Almost certainly I am being a hostage to fashion (like the raised beds, I’m pretty shallow!) but another thing I like is the reduction in bending and having a nice wide wooden beam to sit on while weeding, harvesting or just contemplating.
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I am trying to find the most workable solutions to extend my growing area but get overwhelmed with the options.
Extract from a bigger article, Alf.
For effect, a ‘newbie’ will construct beds of uniform size but, after the first year, will find that, for example, potatoes will require vastly more space than onions, and brassicas more than carrots, with the result that fitting crops to beds becomes a problem. On the other hand, by leaving the plot ‘open’, each planting can follow on from its neighbour with just a narrow walkway left in between. Walkways themselves will also move across the plot, in line with the sowing pattern, which means that all parts of the plot (and the nutrients they contain) will be used over time. Conversely, paths between raised beds will never be used and will be inevitably wider, if only to permit the passage of a wheelbarrow, something that wouldn’t happen in ‘open’ format where barrows will be left at the sides of the plot without undue inconvenience.
why do you consider raised beds a waste of space?
We don't have neighbours who could/would help. The guy next door is in his 80s but still does his own garden. No way would I ask him to do mine as well. The people on the other side ripped out all the planting when they moved in. They said they were going to turf the whole area for their kids but haven't. It's more mudbath than garden.
I have raised beds, even though I could get more gardening return without them, simply because they look so tidy. Almost certainly I am being a hostage to fashion (like the raised beds, I’m pretty shallow!) but another thing I like is the reduction in bending and having a nice wide wooden beam to sit on while weeding, harvesting or just contemplating.
Appreciate your honesty 😁
and planning methods.