Raised Bed gardening

[pixelphoto]

I very much love raised bed gardening for several reasons.
1. don't have to lean over so far (ewww my aching back)
2. Have a convenient place to sit to weed
3. Beds warm up better giving you longer season early in the year and later in the year.
4. drains well so roots of plants are in standing water
5. soil is not trampled and compacted due to foot or tractor traffic

I used concrete blocks for my raised beds. All my beds are approximately 4foot wide by 20 foot long. At 4 foot I can reach the middle from both sides of the bed and not have to worry.

I put down cardboard to keep the weeds down to a minimum and it last about 2 years before it starts breaking down. Its safe under USDA Organic standards to use.

I then fill them up with a layer of aged compost then a layer of topsoil followed by another layer of compost and another layer of topsoil. I do this until its filled to the top.

The holes in the concrete block are good for putting pvc pipe and bending it creating a hoop. This is good for draping floating row cover or greenhouse plastic over to extend your season. The floating row cover keeps the frost off as well as keeping the flea beetles and other pest away from your crops.

Here are a few pics.

This first one is the backside view from the woods. I have to fence everything in because of the deer and rabbits as I live in the woods.
[img]https://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa27/copefarms/IMG_1161.jpg[/img]


The back row goes all the way across this is good for beans to grow up the fencing. It is also 3 foot wide since I cant reach it from both sides It had to be made narrower. The other two beds are both 2 blocks high. It takes alot more soil to fill them in but its worth it for deep rooted crops like carrots and the like. its also nicer since it just right for sitting height and not having to lean over as far.
[img]https://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa27/copefarms/IMG_1157.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa27/copefarms/IMG_1114.jpg[/img]

[Newt]

Hi Pixelphoto,

Thank you so much for sharing this. It looks like it took alot of work to set up, but once it's done it's easie to maintain.

Newt

[Grey]

I too love my raised beds. They are made of untreated lumber, stained on the outside and lined on the inside with cardboard and fabric to keep weeds down and help protect the boards a little.

I love the idea of bending PVC for extending the season, Pixel, so I think I will take some larger pipe, hammer it into the ground and then I can bend some PVC poles over that. Probably so I can start early this Spring.

[pixelphoto]

rebar is cheap and works well for the pipe as well you can hammer a small piece of rebar in the ground then cover it with one end of the pvc pipe bend the pipe and cover the other side of the bed.

[Gary B]

I like the idea of cardboard underneath..............nice set-up.

[opabinia51]

Looks great, I will warn you about PVC piping though, it contains plasticers that leak out of the polymeric structure of the compounds into the soil.

These chemicals can then slowly poison the plants and they actually slowly posion us as well. So, it's something to think about.

[pixelphoto]

true pex is probably a better solution as it doesnt contain the bad pvc stuff in it.

[Newt]

Looks great, I will warn you about PVC piping though, it contains plasticers that leak out of the polymeric structure of the compounds into the soil.

These chemicals can then slowly poison the plants and they actually slowly posion us as well. So, it's something to think about.

Good heavens! What next?? I had no idea.

Newt

[opabinia51]

Yes, the problem is that PVC piping is used everywhere in North America to supply not only our plants but, us with water. Polyvinylchloride itself is a stable polymer but, very brittle so, to make it soft and pliable they need to add plasticizers.

Anyway, to my knowledge polyethylene is stable enough to not use plasticizers, metal definately doesn't use plasticizers and I'm sure there are other plastics out there.


Plastic piping is definately cheaper and easier to use but, I really don't like using plastic anything because it is a non natural chemical and doesn't break down quickly at all. It did come from petroleum in the earth and eventually when provided with enough heat it will be reconstituted back to the earth or perhaps the galaxy but, it is not going to breakdown on any human timescale.

Don't get me wrong, I do use plastics. I just think that we need to try to limit the use of them. And definately think twice about using PVC even though it is incredibly convenient.

[Newt]

Opabinia, you make some really good points. Thanks so much.

Newt

[pixelphoto]

Ive seen light weight wire used as hoops for the floating row covers. Probably alot better for the environment that plastic pipe.

[gardenbunny]

I have been struggling with my soil for two years: thick clay! I have reworked the soil over and over as deep as I can go, but by the middle of the growing season it is back to clay. I have tried Soil Pick and Gypsom to help get air into the soil and it doesn't help! Surprisingly enough, the only thing to ever have survived and prospered were my tomato plants! Go figure.

This year, I discussed the subject with my husband about trying a new approach to our evil yard. He liked the idea, but knew of the hard work ahead of starting over. I reminded him that every year is starting over with our backyard!

I also didn't know how to start or what to use for materials: lumber or brick. You have all given so many ideas and I didn't even have to ask! The cardboard is a great idea to keep the weeds and the clay from coming up and leeching into the good soil. I am so excited about the prospect of my veggies getting past 2 inches in hieght! Thanks so much!

[pixelphoto]

gardenbunny the cardboard is good for clay soils as wel because when it does finally break down it turns into crumbly fine particles and helps.
I would also try mulched and cut up leaves.
We rake up a bunch of leaves each year and put them thru a shredder. This really helps break up hard soils like your clay. I know I have kaolin here in Georgia. It takes a lot of work and doing it every year but eventually it pays off and turns into good soil LOL
Good luck.

[gardenbunny]

thanks pixelphoto! I think that is what we will do. I have already begun collecting cardboard boxes from our local stores and I think we will use those blocks or bricks (whichever turns out cheaper). I can't wait to get started! I hope to finally have a successful garden!

[lillgardnr]

i LOVE the blocks....i was planning an area for raised beds in the spring and i think i may use your idea... now i just need to find the blocks thanks for the inspiration

[lillgardnr]

OK, i found the blocks and set them up where i think i want them to go. its still a little short, i need to get a few more block...but i love the idea... when i get it where i want it...i'll do a little soil, compost parfait ... i plan on growing tomatoes in it, is there anything special i should throw in the mix?
[img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/PICT1016.jpg[/img]
just had to divert a small path, move a few wheels (gosh i forgot how heavy they were), and i still have to move a small fence (for the deers)
i think i'll try to do the rest of that today if the weather holds.
we have a little sun today
[img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/PICT1017.jpg[/img][/img]

[pixelphoto]

I save my tea bags and egg shells.
I crush or mix my eggshells up in a blender.
tomatoes like the extra calcium and the better blended or crushed up they are the easier it is for the tomatoes to uptake the calcium.
Go ahead and get it in the ground before planting as it takes time to break down and become available.
looks like you are off to a good start.

[lillgardnr]

tea bags??? we go through a lot of those in this house as well as eggs so I'm on it....thanks for the help ,...and the great idea...i'll post more shots when im done I'm off for more blocks now...

[lillgardnr]

OK, so i was lucky enough to have sun all day...i got the fence up and the bed finished..i just need to fill it up and make the area pretty..... can't wait until spring.. the fence will be full of morning glories , moon flowers and sweet peas......
[/img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/PICT1038.jpg[/img]

[opabinia51]

I will give you a gentle warning about Morning Glory, it is VERY invasive and you may find that your entire raised bed area will be infested with morning glory.

[lillgardnr]

i would consider myself lucky...i love the wild look of them twisting about, and blooming everywhere....that's one of the reasons i fell in love with them ... and i have no problem ripping them out from where i don't want them, they pull up pretty easy

[/img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/PICT04702.jpg[/img]
the seeds were easy to collect as well, i loved that

[opabinia51]

Just be sure to keep up on them or they will take over. But, definately enjoy them as well.

[pixelphoto]

I also shred my old bills credit card applications and more and use it in my compost or to start a new raised bed.
It recycles and keeps identity thieves from finding things I don't want them to about me in my trash.
https://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa27/copefarms/IMG_1412.jpg

[opabinia51]

Hmmm, be careful with that; my credit card bill comes in colour ink and colour inks contain dioxins that are harmful to plants. But, good idea. Newspaper works well as well, I personally like leaves because they contain more nutrients than paper.

[lillgardnr]

still working on my bed area

I'm just itching for spring ... i need to work on the soil now
[img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/PICT1082.jpg[/img][/img]

[opabinia51]

So here are the preliminary results from my research on colour inks and dioxins; I could find no specific peer reviewed articles on colour (yes spell checker that is the Canadian spelling of colour) inks however, I did find a link with some information on colour inks on the web. From peer reviewed information, I have a few articles on dioxins and soil health (most of the articles of course are about dioxins and human health )

.

(My eternal problem as a biologist who studies non anthropocentric material)


Anyway, I'll keep researching the topic, I have provided a lot of advice over the years on colour inks based on a point that I heard in a lecture once, and thank you to pixel photo for bringing the topic up with me.

[lillgardnr]

i'll just stay away from colors just to be on the safe side...
wish i had more than oak leaves around here

[/img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/bigoak.jpg[/img][/img][img]https://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/nabes1/newoldoak.jpg[/img]

[Megan and Roscoe]

Yay, I'm glad that I found this thread. I have already started all my seedlings and I was considering a raised bed made of concrete blocks because we seem to have them EVERYWHERE. lol But I just didn't know where to start. Now, I've got the info I need! Thanks for posting this info I plan to get some boxes from the recycling center, and making a trip to the local landscaping company to get a few truck loads of soil and compost/manure.

[opabinia51]

Don't forget to add mulched leaves in the fall with varied greens such as grass clippings, manure, coffee grounds (local coffee shops are great!), seaweed (if you live near an ocean) and eggshells.

Keep that soil nice and healthy and it will reward you!