raised bed ideas

fuddle

Hello.

I am wondering how i can make a raised bed at a fraction of the cost it would take to buy in wood. Could I use a large plastic container (crack winter?)

It's for my strawberries.

Just wondering if any one has any weird and wonderful ideas that I have not thought of?

Linda32

Hi,

Sorry to answer your question with a question, but does it have to be a raised bed?

You can grow strawberries in plastic pots, the sort that you might put bedding plants in during the summer.

fuddle

it's ok about the question I had the strawberries in a hanging basket this year but didn't do very well at all. I think they were too crowded. I wanted to be able to allow the runners to also root too which is why I thought about a raised bed or large tub.

I could do pots too I suppose, they'll be bigger than a hanging basket.

Linda32

Well, what I was thinking is, do you have an area where they can just go straight in the ground, without the costs of the wood for raised bed.

Edited to add, something might pop up on freecycle.

fuddle

I have a patch of grass, rented privately don't know if I dare dig a patch down the side lol

You know what, I'm going to do that. I'm going to grow all round the sides. It's entrenched by a wall so can never get the grass to look any good any way as can't get the mower in. I'll send him a text. Ask for permission eh? but thanks for the idea. I have twelve plants to move. Will look good

Linda32

I see, yes best to ask first. Hope it goes well.

mrbadexample

fuddle wrote: »

Ask for permission eh?

It's easier to say sorry than to gain permission. :whistle:

cootambear

Here`s my tweak (I haven`t go around to yet though).

Get a large plastic bin of some sort. A local garage would probably have some plastic oil drums ready to be thrown away. (good scrub required). Beginning from a quarter up (to stop all the water being lost) cut lots of little holes in it with stanley knife. Obviously, the thinner the plastic the better. Get the kids to paint it with emulsion so it doesn`t look so stark if you like..

Start filling it with compost, and rubble in the middle for drainage. As the soil reaches a hole, pop a plant through and continue like this until the soil reaches near the top. But leave a gap at the top, no soil or plants. This is so that you can easily add manure year after year.

Being shallow rooters strawbs will grow in anything. However they hate drought or waterlogging. The bigger the vessel, the less of a worry this is. Plus you will maximise the little space you have . Good luck