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Starting a raised bed - filling and using asap?

Ok we have been wanting to start a garden for years and finally decided to start now.  We are reading and trying to learn how to get the best start we can.

Unfortunately from some of the posts here it looks like we have waited too long to get the beds started?  I was trying to figure out what we should use to fill it. That is when I saw recommendations of 1/3 fill dirt, 1/3 compost & 1/3 manure (along with other mixes) but that it takes months to be ready for planting. 

Is there something we could/should use to fill if we want to get started planting as soon as possible?  We are using raised cedar beds (kit from Home Depot).

Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,905

    Hi figi4. This forum is actually on a UK site and most of our members live either in the UK or in Europe. As long as you have good drainage in your raised bed you can fill it up with garden soil. We can buy that easily here. I think this may be what you call fill dirt? This will come with a certain amount of nutrients already in it. It all rather depends on what it is you are wanting to grow.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    Hi figi4.  Ditto what Ladybird said, just wanted to add that if you're planning to use shop bought compost/manure it will be ready to use straight away.

    It's the fresh stuff straight from the farm/stable or home compost bin that needs time to matureimage

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Advice there is good figi - the mix you're considering is fine for growing most things, as long as the manure is well rotted. Drainage is something to consider if you have a  lot of rain, and if the site is drier, you may need to look at usingmore ordinary soil so that it doesn't dry out too quickly. 

    If you want to grow specific things, it may need some other altering or additions. image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WateryWatery Posts: 388

    Just pointing out a language difference.   In UK compost can be either the result of composting or it can be what in the US is called "potting soil."  Not sure what "fill dirt" is. 

  • figi4figi4 Posts: 3

    Fill dirt is mostly just regular ground soil from what I gather without anything added to it, potting soil is a fluffy type of dirt with nutrients and a bit of bark for drainage in it that is just good for plants you will put in pots, compost for us is leaves, food scraps etc that have been rotting.

    Thanks for your help! We found a local site that not only sells the fill dirt but garden soil as well which has all the goodies added in. Good to learn the manure at the store is ready to go, we weren't going to use any for fear of  doing damage. May have to reconsider now. 

    I was ready to grow anything I could fit but now realize that's not too smart or doable lol. Now I'm going to see what in my list is spring vs fall crops! 

    Our hope is to eventually do a little of each and see what we like the best. Carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, lettuce, potatoes. Plus we've had some fruit trees that we are hoping will produce this year -  avocado, 2 figs, orange, lime & lemon. Figs are producing and now the others are flowering, but nothing from the avocado yet. 

    THANKS AGAIN! :)

  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    figi4 says:

    I was ready to grow anything I could fit but now realize that's not too smart or doable lol. Now I'm going to see what in my list is spring vs fall crops! 

    See original post
    That's not a totally silly approach as long as you are prepared to have some failures.  I learn far more by trying things than by simply listening to others or reading about it. 
    You don't say what size the raised bed are, but the one item I would question is putting fruit trees into the raised beds.  They are generally better planted direct into the ground.  In a raised bed they would tend to draw a lot of moisture and nutrient away from other plants.

     

  • figi4figi4 Posts: 3

    Oh no, the fruit trees were already planted in the ground. 

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