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Latest Articles
Green Manure
Find out the benefits of green manure and its uses
grow your own
10:25, 14th Aug 2008
Build a Pallet Shed
Build yourself a shed from used pallets
shed
13:31, 23rd Jul 2008
Choosing a Greenhouse
Decide which greenhouse is right for you
greenhouse
13:26, 23rd Jul 2008
Chicken Coop
House chickens in a suitable chicken coop
livestock
13:13, 23rd Jul 2008
Keeping Chickens
Find out more about the practicalities of keeping chickens
livestock
13:11, 23rd Jul 2008
Growing Redcurrants
Find out more about growing your own redcurrants
grow your own
09:02, 21st Jul 2008
Nettles
Find out more about nettles - how to benefit from them and how to get rid of them
foraging
11:48, 19th Jul 2008
Growing Peas
Find out more about growing delicious peas
vegetables
16:16, 18th Jul 2008
Raised Beds
Learn how to build and use raised growing beds.
Raised Beds
grow your ownOne sure fire way to damage the structure of your soil is to walk on it - therefore raised beds or slightly elevated beds of soil can be built which can be walked around, and planted and harvested with ease. Raising the level of the soil keeps away some weeds, and promotes good drainage. The can also act as a barrier to snails and slugs.
Pictured above is an example of how you can make a raised vegetable growing bed out of planks of 6" x 1" wood and some 18" lengths of 4" x 4". The picture is pretty self explanatory and construction very simple. The area which is to become the vegetable plot should then be double dug over and the soil heaped in the centre away from the sides. The completed wooden structure is then turned upside down and the corners hammered one by one and inch by inch into the earth. If the raised plot is more then 6 feet long then additional 4" x 4" stakes should be added at 3 feet intervals to prevent the soil leaking out from bowed and twisted wood.
Use a spirit level to ensure that the raised area is level in all directions. As soon as it is level mix any soil improvement material (manure, compost, fertilizer etc) with the soil and spread it all out. Water the bed evenly with a fine spray and leave the soil to settle for a few days after which another inch or two of soil will need to be added.
It is very important that treated wood is not used. It contains preservative chemicals which will leach into the soil over time and therefore into the vegetables you grow. Instead use naturally rot resistant wood.
Article Published: 17:13, 15th Apr 2006
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Find out how to grow and care for rhubarb
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Growing Shallots
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