Gardeners World

A._Badger

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I wonder when this crop of raised beds has rotted away, how many will still be growing their own food?

Forgive my cynicism, but I'd guess about the same number as always would have stuck with it.

Lotus-eater

A._Badger wrote: »

Forgive my cynicism, but I'd guess about the same number as always would have stuck with it.

I'll forgive you nothing

You might be right, not sure what that has to do with raised beds though.

amcluesent

>I would love to know how much they cost.<

About £300 each after adding the top-soil, IIRC what Tobes said.

mouseymousey99

I thought it was sad to dig up a rugby pitch, I'm no sports person but they already have so many gardens they could use for filming. I'm sure the pitch could be used for sports?
Another one shrieking when I saw those raised beds, they used one phrase the first week which I think summed it up for me 'instant gratification' mmm. I'll continue watching, but it seems to leave a big gap for a programme with just a bit more depth.

A._Badger

mouseymousey99 wrote: »

I thought it was sad to dig up a rugby pitch, I'm no sports person but they already have so many gardens they could use for filming. I'm sure the pitch could be used for sports?
Another one shrieking when I saw those raised beds, they used one phrase the first week which I think summed it up for me 'instant gratification' mmm. I'll continue watching, but it seems to leave a big gap for a programme with just a bit more depth.

I'm sure there is, too. The problem is that the BBC always seems to infantilise and Channel Four (the obvious candidate for a programme for the more experienced - or perhaps just the more curious) seems to have completely lost its way. Along with it's money. I wonder if those two ideas might somehow be connected?

Farway

I started with GW in black & white, 405 lines, and Percy Thrower, and have watched most times over the following decades

Colour was a big improvement as you can guess, but times change, Percy was all bedding, roses, lawns, formal gardening and spray everything with chemicals, the Clack's Farm period went into fruit & veg, but still sprayed chemicals everywhere

Then it was Geoff Hamilton when the environment, less chemicals & DIY crept in, then AT and up to present time

The point I am trying to make is that it evolves, like gardening itself, and no doubt some younger person is like I was 30 + years ago watching Percy in black & white, thinking "I'll try that" and eventually going onto to become the "old boy" on the allotments

No doubt the current lot will fade in time and another presenter & format will emerge, but I will still watch it, even if through clenched teeth and the bottom of a glass

Mojisola

We've been using raised beds for over twenty years - and people were using them long before we changed over. Because the soil is never walked on, it stays open and is easy for plant roots to move through and doesn't need digging. Years ago, we saw research on planting raised beds - sorry, can't remember references - which showed that the spacing between plants can be closed up dramatically on raised beds without loss of crop weight because the root growth was so much better. As you don't have to leave space between rows of plants for walking on, the area used up in paths between beds is easily compensated for.

Our neighbour is a traditional gardener and spends time and energy each year digging his veg plot over in preparation for planting. Our deep beds don't need digging and that alone makes them worth having.

SEE

Well, if the BBC are looking in, I liked it the way we were:o
Here is a selection of wonderful programmes that I enjoy time and time again.

March
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=199tkjhEiPI&feature=channel

April
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI4hVqa3NyA&feature=channel

Lotus-eater

Mojisola wrote: »

We've been using raised beds for over twenty years - and people were using them long before we changed over. Because the soil is never walked on, it stays open and is easy for plant roots to move through and doesn't need digging. Years ago, we saw research on planting raised beds - sorry, can't remember references - which showed that the spacing between plants can be closed up dramatically on raised beds without loss of crop weight because the root growth was so much better. As you don't have to leave space between rows of plants for walking on, the area used up in paths between beds is easily compensated for.

Don't say that, raised beds did not exist until GW took them up and presented them to the nation.
You will upset people on here I tell you....

Mojisola wrote: »

Our neighbour is a traditional gardener and spends time and energy each year digging his veg plot over in preparation for planting.

That's just not fashionable, please tell him to desist and remember that all gardening must be run by rules.
Rule No.1 All plants must be green this year.
Rule No.2 All raised beds must be at least 2 foot deep.

And fgs, don't let him get his rows out of line, any rows no matter how short, should be straight and true.

A._Badger

An excellent series, SEE. I haveit on DVD and it stands frequent re-watching.

Another that I enjoyed, and which wasn't aimed at beginners, was Anna Pavord's Flower Passions.