The seaweed/manure/compost/mole heaps has been a success. Had to cover one of the bed containing more tender veg in April when it snowed up here in Northern Scotand. But these beds are a great. That's one bit of work I will not regret.
One year on, I have levelled the area, shifted the beds and got myself a greenhouse. This occupation can become quite addictive.
@BLT... I could suggest leeks. If you can put your hands on some plants. May be too late to start seedlings now. More experienced gardeners here will surely come up with something. I am still waiting for Shensui onion sets and Garlic ordered last month from Marshall... Hope they turn up before xmas
Thank you for your prompt reply,I was lucky to discover a new garden centre in Battlesbridge in Essex. This place supplies all the Allotment associations so I got my onion sets 3 weeks ago. I grew Leeks last year Musselburgs had far too many.. I gave away 40 seedlings and grew 40..They occupy the ground a bit too long.
The Gardeners World team suggested the Early variety of carrots specifically so got thise.. If the weather holds they should be ok.
I have just bought 3 ready-made raised beds, 1 metre by 2 metres, with a topping on the sides for sitting on when I'm weeding, I bought them from Wiltshire Wood Recycling who are an amazing bunch and who were very helpful when I went to them with my ideas. Thanks for all the earlier posts about filling them. I shall probably use some rotted manure mixed with all my home-made compost, but may need more topsoil, so any suggestions about mot being ripped off when purchasing this would be appreciated.
I built an another two beds this fall, and will carry on bringing 10 odd litres of top soil gathered from mole heaps every day this winter. Takes a few mns a day after work, and they quickly fill up for no money.
The little creatures are getting really busy just now. The only draw back is that the work colleagues think you are a weirdo when you turn up at the office with a shovel... ;0)
Having said that, any housing development in your area? You'll be amazed how a bottle of malt whisky can translate into top soil.
I just converted lawn to beds. I removed the turf and left it to compost, it breaks down nicely. Compost on the grassless lawn, which is heavy clay, then a few months later plant. Clay makes excellent soil but slow to warm in spring.
Just a lil update, my 2 raised beds seem to be doing very well. my spring cabbage and sprouting broccoli and carrots are doing great in the none manured on and the onions, shallots and garlic seem happy in the manured one.. I seem to have 2 or 3 li potato plants come up, but the frost will sort them out.. A few small weeds are appearing but they are hardly big enough to remove..
I'll post some details later... but basically a 4x2 frame, 3x2 would be better, underground water pipe, 2m wide plastic sheet, cable ties, and some plastic mesh for the ends.
This one is too cumbersome for my wife to open on a daily basis, but great for me.
Opens from both sides. No hinges. Justs rests on two side stops which are also used to secure it to the base.
At 8 feet X 4 feet, I can use it on any of my raised beds. Great to warm up the soil, start a crop and move to the next bed if required.
The water pipe will remain in shape. Actually impossible to straighten. I added a spacer at the top. It is made from an old alloy tent pole sections, cut to fit between the water pipe, secured by a wire running the whole length inside the pole.
@MacWilliam Thanks for the detailed guidance - the snowy picture is lovely. I found two halves of a double bed divan the other day in a skip which I'm hoping to fashion into some sort of raised bed. We'll see how it goes! I'll be certain to post some pics on here to show my progress.
Posts
The seaweed/manure/compost/mole heaps has been a success. Had to cover one of the bed containing more tender veg in April when it snowed up here in Northern Scotand. But these beds are a great. That's one bit of work I will not regret.
One year on, I have levelled the area, shifted the beds and got myself a greenhouse. This occupation can become quite addictive.
@BLT... I could suggest leeks. If you can put your hands on some plants. May be too late to start seedlings now. More experienced gardeners here will surely come up with something. I am still waiting for Shensui onion sets and Garlic ordered last month from Marshall... Hope they turn up before xmas
Thank you for your prompt reply,I was lucky to discover a new garden centre in Battlesbridge in Essex. This place supplies all the Allotment associations so I got my onion sets 3 weeks ago. I grew Leeks last year Musselburgs had far too many.. I gave away 40 seedlings and grew 40..They occupy the ground a bit too long.
The Gardeners World team suggested the Early variety of carrots specifically so got thise.. If the weather holds they should be ok.
I have just bought 3 ready-made raised beds, 1 metre by 2 metres, with a topping on the sides for sitting on when I'm weeding, I bought them from Wiltshire Wood Recycling who are an amazing bunch and who were very helpful when I went to them with my ideas. Thanks for all the earlier posts about filling them. I shall probably use some rotted manure mixed with all my home-made compost, but may need more topsoil, so any suggestions about mot being ripped off when purchasing this would be appreciated.
@CreakyGardener
You have plenty time till you start using those.
I built an another two beds this fall, and will carry on bringing 10 odd litres of top soil gathered from mole heaps every day this winter. Takes a few mns a day after work, and they quickly fill up for no money.
The little creatures are getting really busy just now. The only draw back is that the work colleagues think you are a weirdo when you turn up at the office with a shovel... ;0)
Having said that, any housing development in your area? You'll be amazed how a bottle of malt whisky can translate into top soil.
I just converted lawn to beds. I removed the turf and left it to compost, it breaks down nicely. Compost on the grassless lawn, which is heavy clay, then a few months later plant. Clay makes excellent soil but slow to warm in spring.
Just a lil update, my 2 raised beds seem to be doing very well. my spring cabbage and sprouting broccoli and carrots are doing great in the none manured on and the onions, shallots and garlic seem happy in the manured one.. I seem to have 2 or 3 li potato plants come up, but the frost will sort them out.. A few small weeds are appearing but they are hardly big enough to remove..
@BenL2
I'll post some details later... but basically a 4x2 frame, 3x2 would be better, underground water pipe, 2m wide plastic sheet, cable ties, and some plastic mesh for the ends.
@BenL2
There are plenty examples on the web.
This one is too cumbersome for my wife to open on a daily basis, but great for me.
Opens from both sides. No hinges. Justs rests on two side stops which are also used to secure it to the base.
At 8 feet X 4 feet, I can use it on any of my raised beds. Great to warm up the soil, start a crop and move to the next bed if required.
The water pipe will remain in shape. Actually impossible to straighten. I added a spacer at the top. It is made from an old alloy tent pole sections, cut to fit between the water pipe, secured by a wire running the whole length inside the pole.