This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy was my first dog and he thought the garden was his, even though I did all the work. Now Suzie and Charley follow in his footsteps. We're located near Boston (USDA zone 6A). I have a community plot, a backyard vegetable garden, fruit trees, berry bushes, chickens, and bees. I use sustainable organic methods and do my best to grow all of my family's vegetables myself.
peas planted!
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Sunday, April 05, 2009
new beds
I made a bit of progress on setting up my new raised beds yesterday. I like the way they look. Empty and ready for growing anything. Full of potential.
Nice garden beds, and so well laid out. When designing a garden layout, it’s important to remember that you can make the beds as long as necessary, but shouldn’t make them too wide (3-4 feet is about right) so that you will be able to stand next to them when working. Great job!
These beds ended up a bit wide. (Dimensions I think 12x4ft.) Usually the recommendation is you want to be able to step/jump over them. I can't really do that here.
But what I do like to do is to get boards that span the beds and use these to walk across the beds and to work in the middle of the bed. The cross boards also divide the beds into patches and give you a line to sow straight rows.
What to fill them with? I will add a half or full wheelbarrow of compost to each, maybe a bit more horse manure, and turn them. Also move a bit more dirt from the paths into the beds as some look a bit uneven. I think after this they'll be about half full, which will be fine for the first year. They'll gradually fill over the next few years as I add more compost and manure every year.
These beds are only 4 inches tall (2x4s) and the main idea is not to provide height as much as to provide a frame for the beds.
Yes, full of potential! Spaces like that are meant to be filled!
ReplyDeleteYour beds are looking good- can't wait to see what you're going to grow
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome amount of space! It looks like a giant playground! What are you going to fill your raised beds up with?
ReplyDeleteohhhhh love your beds, so long!! am doing mine to at the moment, sadly not as long. Wants more space. Take care Fiona
ReplyDeleteNice garden beds, and so well laid out. When designing a garden layout, it’s important to remember that you can make the beds as long as necessary, but shouldn’t make them too wide (3-4 feet is about right) so that you will be able to stand next to them when working. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering the same thing as Pam. What will you fill them with?
ReplyDeleteThese beds ended up a bit wide. (Dimensions I think 12x4ft.) Usually the recommendation is you want to be able to step/jump over them. I can't really do that here.
ReplyDeleteBut what I do like to do is to get boards that span the beds and use these to walk across the beds and to work in the middle of the bed. The cross boards also divide the beds into patches and give you a line to sow straight rows.
What to fill them with? I will add a half or full wheelbarrow of compost to each, maybe a bit more horse manure, and turn them. Also move a bit more dirt from the paths into the beds as some look a bit uneven. I think after this they'll be about half full, which will be fine for the first year. They'll gradually fill over the next few years as I add more compost and manure every year.
These beds are only 4 inches tall (2x4s) and the main idea is not to provide height as much as to provide a frame for the beds.
Yes, this is my giant playground!
So much potential - isn't it exciting!
ReplyDeleteOne quick question - what type of wood did you use for the side walls?
The wood is just plain old untreated pine 2x4s.
ReplyDelete