Pa Snip has a whinge.

A place to chat about anything you like, including non-gardening related subjects. Just keep it clean, please!

Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud

User avatar
Pa Snip
KG Regular
Posts: 3091
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2014 8:20 pm
Location: Near the big house on the hill Berkshire

I have mentioned this before but it really bugs me.

RAISED BEDS !!!!! or rather what are actually mini fenced beds.

To me the very term 'raised bed' infers that something, maybe made of wood or bricks, is built up from ground level in which to contain soil at a height greater than that at the ground level.

So can someone tell me why a four sided structure made of wood, or said bricks, is described as a raised bed when it does not contain soil above ground level and might just as well be described as a 'mini walled garden'. The only useful purpose I can see for such structures are as mini windbreaks.

This is not about whether raised beds are useful or not, take it from me to some people they are!!! It's about something I see as half cock.

The danger when people start to believe their own publicity is that they often fall off their own ego.

At least travelling under the guise of the Pa Snip Enterprise gives me an excuse for appearing to be on another planet
tigerburnie
KG Regular
Posts: 2084
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:12 am
Location: Angus by the sea
Has thanked: 322 times
Been thanked: 194 times

My memory of first coming across "raised beds" was Geoff Hamilton on the telly and my uncle in Norfolk copying his idea(uncle was a market gardener). Basically my recollections were that the idea was to heap compost/manure onto narrow beds that were not walked on, so a bit of "no dig" thrown in, and a retaining wall was used "if required". The idea was if I remember right was to improve drainage and soil structure rather than lift the soil height. I chose to elevate my beds using 2 railway sleepers on top of each other to aid access due to an arthritic spine, I can still bend now, but that will probably get worse. Bonus is I can sit on the edge and there's a handy shelf too, definitely reduces carrot fly problems and there are a few less slugs as well.
Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
User avatar
Pa Snip
KG Regular
Posts: 3091
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2014 8:20 pm
Location: Near the big house on the hill Berkshire

Without getting side-tracked from the subject,
You've mentioned an icon, Geoff Hamilton, met him a few times at shows, what a nice man he was.

The danger when people start to believe their own publicity is that they often fall off their own ego.

At least travelling under the guise of the Pa Snip Enterprise gives me an excuse for appearing to be on another planet
User avatar
Primrose
KG Regular
Posts: 8054
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:50 pm
Location: Bucks.
Has thanked: 37 times
Been thanked: 281 times

I,ve seen quite few of what people call "raised beds" as their vegetable plots when they,ve actually just had a wooden edging around the perimeters to stop soil and lawn gradually merging into one another to make it easier to mow the grass.

Unless you're wanting to grow your vegetable higher because of disability or because you have a thick layer of clay nearer the surface I really don,t see the point of bothering. I suspect some people just do it for the tidy well manicured formal appearance.
User avatar
Pa Snip
KG Regular
Posts: 3091
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2014 8:20 pm
Location: Near the big house on the hill Berkshire

Quite agree Primrose many people have no need of raised beds but like all things it's horses for courses'.

doubt Adam had the luxury of a raised bed in the Garden of Eden

The danger when people start to believe their own publicity is that they often fall off their own ego.

At least travelling under the guise of the Pa Snip Enterprise gives me an excuse for appearing to be on another planet
tigerburnie
KG Regular
Posts: 2084
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:12 am
Location: Angus by the sea
Has thanked: 322 times
Been thanked: 194 times

The no dig aspect is worth considering, but my growing area is probably smaller than some, but growing in blocks rather than in rows works for root crops really well, last years carrots were amongst the best I have grown.
Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic