This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Raised bed soil improvement?
PollyR
Posts: 64
in Fruit & veg
Evening all.
What a lovely day!
We built two raised beds to grow veg two years ago. The first year was amazing - loads of produce but the second year was a bit disappointing.
I did put some additional fresh compost into the bed and I think a bag of manure between the two beds but I'm wondering whether this year I should add more to the soil to ensure a good crop.
Any advice or guidance would be gratefully received.
Thanks!
0
Posts
It would be interesting to know what you grew, what was most successful and what wasn't. Wherever I am - and I have gardened in Austria, Brazil and the Middle East, I always try to put in at least one raised bed as they increase the fertility 5x. I'm trying to think what the weather was like in UK last summer. One - perhaps the major - problem with raised beds is that they do dry out quickly. Did you water at all? Here in Brazil I have to water every day, unless there is a torrential thunderstorm! I won't mention Saudi....In answer to your question: a good soil needs 2 things 1.structure 2. nutrients. It sounds as if you've got the nutrients taken care of, but with what you have been adding, maybe the structure is a bit loose. Do a simple test. Take a handful of soil from the bed and roll it into a not too tight ball in your hand. If when you release it, it remains a tight ball the structure is too tight - not likely in your case. If it falls straight apart it is too loose. Ideally it should stay in a ball with just a few bits falling off. If you think it is too loose adding garden soil may help, but be careful - garden soil can be sandy, which will not help much. Good luck! [email protected]
You don't say how big your beds are but a bag of manure between two of them sounds too little. So perhaps your problem is not feeding enough. Or it could be too little water. Up here in Scotland that is not a problem but if you are down south, it may have been.
Hi @Hogweed - Yes, maybe it wasn't enough manure. The beds are 6ft x 4ft I think. We're in the midlands and I don't think water was lacking. I'll add plenty more this year and hope for the best.
Sounds very interesting to be gardening in all of those places @Inglezinho! How fantastic!
Regarding what I grew - beetroot did well both years, as did mangetout, but runner beans weren't so great in year 2. Tomatoes were a complete let down, spring onions didn't really do much...I can't think what else I grew now!
Hi PollyR, I'm not very experienced myself but was wondering if you rotated your crops at all? There's loads of information on it on the internet about it.