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Raised beds

FUNKYCAT1FUNKYCAT1 Posts: 4
in Problem solving

Hi

I,ve just taken delivery of some top soil.

Should I top up my empty raised beds now or wait until spring ?

I don.t want to lose goodness from the new soil after a possible wet winter.

Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,905

    I would top them up now FUNKYCAT.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • FUNKYCAT1FUNKYCAT1 Posts: 4

    I,m not sure. The top soil is in bags. My biggest worry is that any goodness from the new soil might be washed away by the winter rains.

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,905

    Your topsoil won't be overloaded with goodness and you will be adding more goodness anyway in Spring but if you aren't sure just leave it all in the bags. Losing goodness would be the last thing I'd worry about. image

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • NewBoy2NewBoy2 Posts: 1,813

    Funky Cat 1

    I dont think that top soil will depreciate over a few months as it should have been "grown " and sieved by the producer.

    Call the supplier and if they give you a satisfactory response about the quality then you can make an informed decision

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=375

    The soil I bought was slightly orangery red in colour and was free of all stones and organic material

    I made a RB 2 years ago and added compost from our allotment and it sank by 50% in a year and I am just adding 20 bags of TS next week

    I made another RB 1 year ago and added alternate layers of horse manure and new top soil from the GC. Its 30 inches deep

    I sowed beetroot and parsnips and carrots and they have all done well

    20 " long parsnips by end of July and loads of carrots all straight and free from carrot fly

    good luck FC

    Everyone is just trying to be Happy.....So lets help Them.
  • FUNKYCAT1FUNKYCAT1 Posts: 4

    I,m not in any hurry as the bags aren,t in the way.

    The supplier claims that the soil does have nutrients.

    Thanks for your help.

  • AllotmentLadyAllotmentLady Posts: 39

    Personally I would bung in the top soil and sow either some green manure for autumn to get even more nutrients into the soil or get some lettuces going before the season is finished. In terms of loaing nutrients its contained and so there wont be any run-off of your nutrients, that said top soil is never particularly high in nutrients anyways abd I would combine with manure of a good quality homemade or brought compost. Of course this depends on what you are growing in it.

    happy growing

  • FUNKYCAT1FUNKYCAT1 Posts: 4

    Thanks everyone for your advise.

    i,ve went for it and topped them up and used the lasagne method.

    can,t wait for spring now where I,ll add some goodness.

    cheers again.

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