Wanting to do a raised bed...maybe

[becker_atc]

So I want some fresh veggies this year and really thinking raised bed. Looking for a little guidance.
-what's a good size? I live on an acre with big backyard
-depth?
-what combo of soil and stuff should I fill it with?
-put a layer of plastic under it?
-fertilizer?
-anything I missed?


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[XD-9Guy]

Check out the earth boxes I was told about them by some experienced gardeners and I like the look of them a lot, especially being a gardening newb myself. I am going to try a couple for some tomatoes.

 

[mugsy]

I don't have any answers but I have the exact same questions - so if you don't mind I'll hang around and pay for it with this bump

 

[Norman681]

I use boxes made out of 2x6's. 3 feet by 8 feet. That makes it much easier to weed. Turn your dirt over about a shovel deep. Then mix in a good amount of compost. It actually takes a few years to get you soil good. Then you should learn to rotate ur crops. Tomatoes grow good where peas were planted last year.


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[dennishoddy]

Get some of the 8' landscape timbers that are cheap, drill some holes in them to put rebar through them into the ground. Put some of the landscape cloth on the ground, folding the edges over the top of the landscape timbers to keep the weeds out, fill with good dirt/peat moss/fertilizer, and plant.

 

[okherp]

The depth really depends on what you want to plant. Lettuces and salad greens only require a few inches for rooting, same for beans and peas. Tomatoes and peppers, I'd say about a foot. And potatoes I'd go at least 3 feet. You can add depth for potatoes by using a feed tub with the bottom cut out places over the potatoes, and piling more soil on them as they continue to grow until you reach the top of the potato bin.

 

[becker_atc]

Planning onions, tomaters, few peppers and maybe sweet corn. The 6 year old said 'CARROTS!' I have a plastic barrel I could sacrifice to grow potatoes (Yukon gold??) if will work.


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[orangeRcode]

Get some of the 8' landscape timbers that are cheap, drill some holes in them to put rebar through them into the ground. Put some of the landscape cloth on the ground, folding the edges over the top of the landscape timbers to keep the weeds out, fill with good dirt/peat moss/fertilizer, and plant.

I used landscape timbers as well. Catch them when on sale at Lowe's or HD. I believe mine are stacked 4 high. I made my beds 4'x8' because it suited my back yard better. They've worked great for many years now.

 

[swampratt]

My neighbor rotor tilled 3/4 of his back yard then added 15 bags of 10-20-10 and tilled it again
He planted okra, tomatoes, cucumbers, and poured the water to it.
I never seen so many veggies .
I could not get anything to grow here in Yukon.
I added 2 tons of sand a bunch of steer manure and peat humus ,, finally have things growing.

I used rocks at first.. then old barn metal around the garden to keep rabbits and other critters out .
I have used cedar slabs from the saw mill many times..
My other neighbor used 2x 10s or something and had a load of what looked like sandy lome dumped in his side yard to fill the beds.
I helped make the beds and fill them.. as he is over weight and looked like he needed help.

His kids have been playing in it the last week or so.
He had extra dirt and some bricks so i extended it a bit on the far left end.
Built this last year.

 

[subprep]

If you use landscape timbers make sure to put a barrier between them and your ground soil. Wood to earth contact will rot over time and possibly attract termites, And make sure they are not OLD green timbers that are CCA treated. Landscape timbers aren't CCA treated for about 10 years now but if you just find some laying around don't use them for food gardening. I highly recommend the book or website square foot gardening it goes into detail on constructing several different types of raised beds and an excellent soil mix.