Long (6m) thick planks/boards for veg garden plot

Kua

Hi,

Our plot measures 6m X 2.2m. I'd ideally like to use some big planks/scaffold boards but I'm struggling to find anything 6m long. Wickes Jewsons etc only do up to 4.8m...

Rusty_Shackleton

I've never seen planks longer than 4.8m, if they are available, they'll be disproportionately expensive as it'd be a niche product. Just use 2 planks!

d0nkeyk0ng

The important bit is that you're able to access the plants in the plot without disturbing the plot or the soil. Depending on access and your height, I'd make two or three smaller beds with space in between to walk around.


If access isn't a problem, two 3m boards will be fine and can be affixed to stakes in the ground. Depending on how high you wish to build the beds, you may want to stagger boards on top of each other to provide more stability.

Kua

Thanks for that... Do you think two plots of 2.2m by 2.5m might be better in that case with a walk way in between? I wasn't planning to build it up at all... Though I should probably consider that to save my back!

This is the plot by the way. Was planning on raised beds as we'd have to dig all the soil out to do that...

General_Applause

A proper timber merchants should stock lengths up to 6.6 metres.


Places like Travis Perkins, Howarth Timber and the like.



I don't know where you are but Builderdepot do 2" x 6" x 6mtr carcassing for just over £18 a piece.


Obviously though, you don't want treated timber and you don't need structural grade stuff for what you need it for.


http://www.builderdepot.co.uk/structual-graded-c24-treated-carcassing-timber-47mm-x-150mm.html

BananaRepublic

As d0nkeyk0ng says, you really don't want them so wide. I would have two beds, each no more than 1m wide. Make them 90 cm wide and you'll have a central 40 cm access path which is IMO ideal. Don't worry about the path eating into the beds, if you put down mulch as a path surface, the plant roots will grow into the soil beneath the mulch so in practice you'll not be wasting much area.

Alternatively, just lay a plank along the middle of the full width bed.

The problem with a very wide bed is access, and netting. I net all of my beds, except for squash and beans, as birds are horrendous pests, and will eat seedlings and dig up the soil thus destroying plants.

I use pressure treated timber, it has copper in, but that should be okay and might help repel slugs.

BananaRepublic

Oh, and I only have 4" high boards. You don't need to waste money on tall ones unless the soil is really poor and needs adding to. My boards simply act to retain compost.

d0nkeyk0ng

I agree with BananaRepublic.


I have two small beds because of limited space. They're 2m by 1m and made from scaffold boards that are 22cm wide. They're up against the fence so I can't reach the back ends easily from one side hence the width restriction. If you can reach the middle of the plot (imagine sowing seeds, pulling out weeds etc) at 2.2m wide then that will work well.


Length is less of an issue. Two or more beds allows you to segregate what you grow, but it also means less space for growing. I've found some things grow better in containers (eg potatoes) than raised beds.


Height isn't an issue. Just made sure you dig down double the height of the bed so you can break up the soil. I dug down 50cm and sieved the soil back in to take out stones and roots. I added compost to help enrich the soil and top up the beds with compost annually.



What do you plan on growing, or thing you might grow?


Again, BananaRepublic is correct about netting. Birds and pests will eat seedlings. I use veggie mesh and a frame from aluminium tubing that you cut to size. Climbing plants like peas and some beans require a trellis.

Kua

BananaRepublic wrote: »

As d0nkeyk0ng says, you really don't want them so wide. I would have two beds, each no more than 1m wide. Make them 90 cm wide and you'll have a central 40 cm access path which is IMO ideal. Don't worry about the path eating into the beds, if you put down mulch as a path surface, the plant roots will grow into the soil beneath the mulch so in practice you'll not be wasting much area.

Alternatively, just lay a plank along the middle of the full width bed.

The problem with a very wide bed is access, and netting. I net all of my beds, except for squash and beans, as birds are horrendous pests, and will eat seedlings and dig up the soil thus destroying plants.

I use pressure treated timber, it has copper in, but that should be okay and might help repel slugs.

Great advice. Thanks!

getmore4less

I went with 2.4 decking 1 board long 1/2 board wide.