Raised beds - help?

rustyjemma

no. 42 bus could get you tommorow - eat your veg!

fifi35

Hi,
I want to make a 4x4 raised bed on the gravel in my garden. How high will I have to build it to make it deep enough for vegetables to grow, bearing in mind that the bottom of it will be gravel?


Thanks.

Fifi

Pippilongstocking

Hiya
Would have said about a foot and then thought to self hmmm - unless you want to grow tatties etc it would need to be deeper- but otherwise would have thought a foot-to foot and half would be ok, can fork the gravel up to incorporate the soil a bit or is it solid?
goodluck

fifi35

Hi, thanks for the reply. The ground underneath the gravel if fairly solid and rocky. I will just have to build it 2ft high. Once the woodwork has been finished what soil in what order would you suggest i fill it with to get the best soil for my veg?

Thanks.

Fifi

Pippilongstocking

Um, dunno - have a look in local paper sometimes folk offer top soil free for pick up, or check out your local composting scheme you might be able to pick up stuff for free there, and as to the type hmm my first criteria would be what can I get for free, what might I need to add to it and go from there. (ie if you get alot of compost from recycling place, then you might want to add some soil to give it some substance or if you get a pile of top soil, you might want additional compost to beef up the organic content.) sorry if it sounds like I am ranting.

If you build 4x4 - ?m or ft? and 2ft high its going to need alot of soil, and strong wood to make sure it all stays in place as soil is v heavy!! I know there is a site where you can work out how much you need........try and post that for you, cheerio the noooo!

fifi35

Thanks,

I will try the council for free compost. If you could send me that website address that would be a great help.

Fifi

Pippilongstocking

http://www.csgnetwork.com/topsoilcalc.html

That hopefully should work!

Goodluck!

Fay

A._Badger

A couple of months ago I paid to have three raised beds built in my garden (yes, I know, but I was busy earning a living and I'm a complete idiot with my hands).

The people who did the work bought wood and when I looked at it, I asked them if it was tanalised. They said yes and somewere that set of an alarm bell, but I just couldn't remmebr what the problem with it was.

Today on Radio 4's Costng The Earth there was a discussion about the dangers of tanalised wood (apparently it's impregnated with copper and arsenic) and its use in raised beds was specifically warned about.

I read on an earlier MSE forum that there is a new forumal for tanalised wood in the EU, but does anyone have any reliable up to date information, please?

I realy don't want to have to start again

olly300

You could do this:
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/faqs.php?id=115

I can't find you an official link so I've pmed you what I've found.

Ezmondino

Thanks for highlighting this, something for me to think about.