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What makes a good bottom?

jmatthews20053281jmatthews20053281 Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hi, im new to owning a garden so pretty excited about using it. 
Due to lack of grass space that I am ‘allowed to commandeer’ thinking of having planters/raised beds located in a sun deck. 
I am fairly average at DIY, but think I could whip up a wood couple of lined planters, probably 40cm deep and 40cm wide and like 100cm long or so. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what the bottom should be made out of? 

As they are on a deck, my question is: will it need to be non porous to prevent damage to the deck? 
Or will it need to have room for drainage for the plants? Eg chicken wire and landscaping liner?
Or should I make it have both?

i am hoping to grow veg mostly, broccoli, Potatoes, carrots and maybe some beans?
I’ve seen variations on each on YouTube diy videos but they all seem to be mounted on actual ground rather than a deck and think damaging the deck will absolutely not be worth the level of ‘I told you so’ that I will endure for years to come.

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Kylie.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    @jmatthews20053281 try and get hold of a copy of Geoff Hamilton's Cottage Garden.  The library may have one or can order it from central stock and it's often available in charity shops or on Amazon.

    It has designs for wooden planters, obelisks and all sorts and will solve your bottom problem.   

    i would advise lining any wooden planter with black plastic, neatly folded over at the top and stapled to the sides just below soil level and with holes punched in the bottom for drainage.  This will help retain moisture in the planting medium without drowning the plants but, most importantly, will protect the wood for longer life.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    You will definitely need drainage holes ... and, honestly, water running through daily will damage your decking over time, I'm afraid.  

    Planters on open ground work much better ... and you don't need a bottom at all, though you may like to put in a liner to help retain moisture.  Planters dry out much quicker than the ground does.  Ones the size you intend, growing vegetables, would need very regular watering. 
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    You can grow potatoes in an old compost bag, and carrots in a pot. 
    Brassicas and beans need plenty of space and room for deep roots, so ground planting is better, but a hunt through a good seed catalogue might surprise you. There are many attractive and decorative varieties of both that you could easily grow in a flower garden :)
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    Most of your fellow members will want to provide constructive/helpful advice but the sizes you've quoted (16 ins x 3ft 3ins) is just not enough for the veg you hope to grow.  Given one square yard/metre of OPEN ground, you could feed your household with runner beans for months but......   Pic attached.
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