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Cheaper alternative to raised bed

Jason CookJason Cook Posts: 139
in Tools and techniques
Hi, I'm currently looking into building some raised beds. Pretty sure I can build some nice 8x5 feet beds 14inches deep for around ??70 each. Not too bad a cost. My concern is the cost of soil, its pricey and I'm going to need about 2 tonnes per bed according to the online calculators, which works out around ??108 per bed for local deliveries. This makes the whole project quite costly. So I got to thinking of alternatives. Could I just border my veg patch with timbers and leave a gap in the middle for walking on? Kind of sunken beds if you like, so its a defined area, but using the existing ground soil, thus saving quite a bit. Has anyone tried this? How did it work out? Is it a sensible idea or just silly? The plot is approx 15feet by 10feet, based on last years maiden experience the soil is good. Thanks in advance
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  • Jason CookJason Cook Posts: 139

    Hi Verdun, no I don't have drainage issues. The soils good and the drainage is fine. I think my main motivation is just to tidy things up a bit and make the patch more of a defined area. Raised beds seemed a good solution but I see the cost as prohibitive.

    any thoughts on how to define the area and make it more 'landscaped' or organised?

     

    thanks

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,617

    I agree with Verdun. Nothing wrong with growing in normal soil in rows.

     

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    You mention 5 ft beds. IMO that's too wide. The whole point of raised beds is that you don't walk on them and at 4 ft it is easier to reach into the middle from the sides to tend the plants, weed and sow.



    ??70 seems a bit OTT. Are you sure you are growing crops that are that valuable? Our last bed was constructed from old scaffolding planks at ??7 each.



    But you're right the cost of suitable soil is high.
  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    I like a raised bed, or at least a defined area like the sunken beds you spoke about Jason, nothing wrong with rows, i just find it easier to figure out what goes where if i divide an area up.

    You can just divide your plot with your paths, the beds dont need a frame, its best if you can reach into the middle of each bed easily from either side so as not to have to walk on your soil too much, 5ft seems a lot, but i imagine your reach is probably longer than mine!

    You could even define the spaces with annual flowers as i do, but i suspect that might be a little on the girly side for you! image
  • Jojo1205Jojo1205 Posts: 11

    in my last garden I used planks to define the beds, which were slightly raised as I have to shift soil from another pat of the garden (hence doing it!). It did give the veg garden a lovely neat definition which was esp good in winter with precious little happening. The soil level also rose over time as I added compost etc. 

    The other advantage was when I wanted to cover new seedlings with fleece or polythene to protect them - I placed whatever over the frame and it worked really well - made it a mini cold frame. 

  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    Not sure if you know any roofers? I was given 20 scaffod boards by one of the companies i used to work with, it might be worth asking around or keeping an eye on ebay, we even got some massive railway sleepers online for almost nothing.



    If you are determined to have raised beds, you could do one a year by filling it lile a bean trench, take out a spit of soil from the top of the bed, put to one side, fill with compostable stuff during the growing season, then replace the soil when its full/end of season, then move on to the next! image
  • Jason CookJason Cook Posts: 139
    Thanks everyone, its interesting to hear all your thoughts. I'm not intent on raised beds at all, in fact in leaning the other way.



    Do you think I would be better off defining the area as a whole with planks and maybe a small patch in the middle?



    Or would it be better to define sunken beds?
  • frensclanfrensclan Posts: 119

    I garden on very heavy clay now so raised beds are a must. I used 6" boards and by the time I had double dug the beds the soil had raised itself up a couple of inches without the addition of bought in topsoil. Over the last 3 years It has gradually built up by the addition of homemade compost, the soil out of containers and grow bags and leaf mould. In another couple of years I will be having to think about replacing rather than filling!

    I created my first raised beds over 40yrs ago by simply using the turf I took off the surface to make a low wall around the edge. This worked very well and over time the beds rose above this level and had slightly sloping sides. I eventually edged these with home woven willow edging that looked quite nice; but if I was doing it today would plant step over fruit to edge a bed thus creating something nice to look at and also productive.

    I think the most important issue is to make the beds narrow enough to be able to reach the middle without treading on them. For me this would be no more than 4'

  • DorsetUKDorsetUK Posts: 441

    Raised beds are a must for me or rather I use containers of various sorts.  I never thought of it when I was fit and healthy though.

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