Another raised bed question...

sareybox_2

Hi

I hope someone will be able to point me in the right direction. I've been offered the use of 2 raised beds by a kindly old man who is too old to garden anymore (So excited :j as my garden is tiny and dark and the allotment waiting list is 3 years:eek:).

Anyway, the beds have been used previously for veggies but not for a couple of years and look very dry and stoney at the moment (with a few weeds and some cat poo). He says lots of manure has been worked in over the years and they are quite full of soil.

I think I need to work something in to improve the soil quality but what is best and also cost effective?

My half thought out plan was to weed, pick out the stones (and the cat poo) and to work in some compost. Is compost the right thing? I haven't got any of my own ready yet so I'd need to buy it in.

Should I remove some of the soil that's in there now - if so what should I do with it? Any idea how much compost (or whatever!) I'll need? The two beds are approx 5ft x 8ft and 5ft x 6ft. Also is there anywhere you can buy compost in bulk or is it best in bags from the garden centre?

PS I'm in Harrogate, North Yorkshire and the coucil don't do any compost / soil improver as some others do... well not that I can see anyway..

Many thanks for reading my ramblings and thanks even more if you decide to help!

Sarey x

Kay_Peel

I wouldn't be too worried about improving the soil just yet. It has been lying fallow for a couple of years and the old man reckons that he worked in lots of manure in the past. I've got a cunning plan that will be cheap and less back-breaking.

I would just concentrate on weeding, stone removal, breaking up the soil with a fork and letting some air in.

Then.......

I'd buy a couple of bags of well rotted organic farm manure and a couple of bags of compost. I'd concentrate on growing crops that will put some nitrogen into the plot and break down rock hard soil - beans, peas, carrots and other root vegetables, and potatoes for starters.

Instead of digging the whole bed, I'd dig trenches for these crops. I'd line the bottom of the trench with the manure and fill with 75% soil and 25% compost. I'd plant/sow seeds, into/onto the trench.

When the crops had finished I would cut off the bean and pea stalks but leave the nitrogen-rich roots in the ground over the winter months. I'd sow some green manure to replace my summer crops. At the beginning of Spring I'd dig the green manure and bean roots into the soil.

best of luck! :beer:

sareybox_2

A cunning plan indeed, I have just 2, maybe 3 , questions if you'll indulge me.

Is it too late to chit and plant potatoes? Also, I have a feeling that some of the 'weeds' might actually be potato plants, is this possible if there were some planted a few years ago, how do I check?

I read somewhere that beetroot doesn't like manure - are they still a root vegetable? If so should I leave out the manure on that trench?

Do you think I should leave out tomatoes, courgettes and peppers all together? (they are my favourites and I have lots of seedlings)

Thanks!

Sarey x

Zazen999

Personally; I'd:

get rid of the cat poo [obviously] and any perennial weeds.

then

Rake the beds over.

and

Using a bulb planter; make a hole and drop in seedlings of courgettes and beans and your peppers; with a sowing of carrots and beets and lettuce. When you drop in the seedlings, put some well rotted manure into the holes, and pull the original soil back up to the sides of the plants. If you put the courgettes on the corners, they half grow over the path saving you valueable bed space.

I personally wouldn't put potatoes in now, or grow tomatoes outside as they all get blighted later in the season and you will waste good ground on the potatoes.

As your crops become spent - either mulch with compost and sow green manures or put a good layer of well rotted manure over the top and leave until spring.

Also, split the beds next year and use a 4 bed crop rotation to keep the crops apart. In the first year it doesn't really matter as you are playing catch up so best to get veg in there than faff about.

However, all gardeners would do it differently - and all of them are probably right!

sareybox_2

How close to the corners would you put the courgettes? Any one know how tall peppers will grow (they are sweet peppers not chilli peppers), should I put them in front of the beans (there is a wall with supports for bamboo etc at the back of the beds) or should i put peppers and beans at the back IYSWIM?
Thanks!
Sarey x

Zazen999

I put courgettes about 6 inches from the corner.

Beans at the back unless they are dwarf

Peppers at the front in the sunniest spot.

sareybox_2

Brilliant, thank you very much