New Project

[Sandyback]

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Between the next door but one neighbour and me we've got a piece of field on temporary loan. There already a path between the properties to cater with the holiday rota's.
The first 5ft from the my fence will be the future width of the path, its too full of rubble and the plough line was plough out so its given a ridge that will take too long to level up.
Any stones etc can be lost in that area as well.

The initial plan was to dig 2ft X 8ft beds and plant as we go. after a rethink as the beds are not raised I'm inclined to have 3ft X 8ft to allow for a bit of edging control but still retain a reasonable planting width. This should give us 7 beds whilst still retaining the option to extend a bit more length ways.

I'll try and update as we go along.

[peter]

Reckon that'll keep you in mischief by itself.

[Shallot Man]

Wont be much time for the pub .

[Sandyback]

We'll see, Wednesday is liquid lunch day anyway. I'll perhaps spend the time usefully planning bed 1, that should take me up till about 3.

[Sandyback]

Ongoing Project, having re lawned and re jigged the old garden layout this will be the 1st full year of raised beds and addition greenhouse's.
I'm hoping to give brassicas a try again (Brussels) now that I can easily cover them, I've never had much joy with them since moving over here.
The easy bit, just need to do something about the moss, I did suggest we turned it all into a petanque court, that was met with a glare.

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This corner is pretty much clay. The frame had a cover on it for all of two days. so it now contains a couple of raised beds with Rhubarb and Asparagus planted and the frame will support the blackberry and whatever the other fruit planted there is.

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The fruit bushes and my greenhouse

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[Sandyback]

I've had me attachments Ltd

The large greenhouse in the forefront is the wife's, I have been banned from ever stepping inside and tinkering.

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greenhouse with hot bed etc

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Wifes greenhouse where I have had to promise never step inside and re arrange things.

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[Sandyback]

The potting shed. I was threatened with all manner of violations when this suddenly appeared, we didn't have room for it until the pond sprung a leak which really solved a number of problems, it was a freebie, there was just enough glass, and with the addition of the plywood sides it works great.
I can now tinker till my hearts content, but I have to share

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[Geoff]

Impressive array of buildings - haven't worked out how many or how many are yours. I don't like raised beds like that so best not comment.

[Sandyback]

Hi Geoff, I was uncertain quite how to construct the beds, given the lay of the land and the fact I wanted them level I decided to sit them at surface level and make the ground up in places, In hind sight I wish I had sunk them down a couple of inches more.
One reason for raised beds was to keep the dog off, which does seem to have worked.

I would be interested in your views as the books I looked at seemed to contradict in places.
Possibly the main area which I chose to ignore was the amount of fill, I create a fair bit of "compost" and the intention is to add to the beds as I go along.

[Geoff]

I've never used raised beds so can't really comment on how you fill them. If you are mainly using them to keep the dog off they are really standard beds with a low wall round! If the soil is good no need to fill them up for the sake of it. I can see a use for raised beds if the ground is shallow, very poor or wet so you can grow in replacement soil but otherwise they seem to waste valuable growing space with a large percentage of paths. Why not dig much bigger beds and put a fence round?

[Sandyback]

Thanks for the feed back Geoff, what you suggest is what we had previously.

I had two 8ft X 14ft beds and one 12ft X16ft bed, and fences. I think a number of factors where considered one being compaction and the advantages of no digging. However in hindsight and with retirement that might not have been an issue. The loss of the pond and somebodies addiction to buying greenhouses sort of dictated a new layout.

I think the deciding factor was the availability of the twin wall roofing sheets that could cover the beds, and the fact that the wife fancied raised beds and offered to buy the timber
The original plan was the sq ft method but to my mind it was getting too complicated, it did seem to appeal to the better half, which is why I think we started to go down that route.

I think deep down I do miss both my bonfire area and the satisfaction of digging, one thing is certain, management of the garden seems to be less hassle.
Anyway I'll see how it goes this year, I still have the bramble patch in the field to play with, and the wife does think the "raised beds" look nice. Who can argue with that

[Primrose]

There looks a lot of activity going on there and to be honest, I'm green with envy for a greenhouse like that to potter in. But we have such a limited growing area in our garden, I try to use every inch and could never go the raised bed route because they create too much wasted growing space.
I make our own compost and over the years the level of my growing borders has risen, which has caused wet soil to rot the bottom of fences, which we are gradually solving by putting in concrete gravel boards at the base of the fence as panels rot and need replacing. I do have to trample on my veg patch & compact soil because the whole area of it is used, but compromise by using a very long handled mini fork to keep the areas I tread on forked over afterwards and aerated. You will certainly be kept busy clearing all those brambles for your next growing project!
Thanks for posting the photos. It's really interesting to see what other projects other people are working on, and to see the 'before' and 'after' results.

[robo]

We have built 8 raised beds down the plot very similar to yours , we did not have much option the state of the soil and the amount of debri we where digging up left us no option it was raised beds or remove all the top soil and replace then we would still have a problem with clay and drainage ( the plot was a tip for over 14 years) now we have a chance just waiting for the last 3 ton of soil for the last 2 beds we have had 6 ton up to date

[AlexMason]

You are doing so well.
Wish you to grow more vegetables and fruits in your Garden.

[Sandyback]

I bit the bullet and let me mate Billy talk me into hiring him to rotavate the bramble patch. He cunningly arranged for it to happen today which is our liquid lunch day.

I said how much and he said get me a pint.

My problem is he drinks lager which is 2.85 a pint and I drink smooth which is 2.55 I'm considering only contributing the 2.55 in case he thinks

I'm an easy touch when he comes to reverse tine it.

The other thing I have to consider is the wife takes us to the argument centre and then me and Billy split a taxi fare for the return journey. 3.00 each.

Would it be reasonable to suggest he buys his own beer and I shell out the for the taxi, or should it be beer and taxi.

Bear in mind when considering the options, he only used half a tank of fuel, some of which was walking it down the street I did suggest travelling should be in his own time, he had 2 free cups of coffee and was only on the job for 2 hours not including travelling:twisted:

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