Wanted: Raised bed pics

gardengalrn · July 15, 2008

I thought I had sent a post about this before but can't find it anywhere. DH has agreed to build me some raised beds for next year's garden. My current set-up just isn't working and instead of griping and whining, I have to come up with a alternative. We had thought the area we started the garden in was ideal; fenced in and fertile. If you've read some of my posts this spring/summer, I have done nothing but complain about the weeds, bugs, wind, etc. I don't think any of those problems will be rectified by next spring. Pasture surrounds the garden and it is just taking over, not to mention the grasshoppers. I won't mention bindweed again but rest assured it is a problem I can't deal with without dropping some serious chemicals. Anyway...
DH had been against doing the raised beds because it seems we have all this space...surely I can make a decent garden here somewhere. Being the good DH he is, he quickly realized this spring that my efforts in the garden seemed to be in vain. Bigger is not necessarily better. I would rather plant 6 cabbage plants and get 6, rather than plant 20 and get ZERO.

So....we are tossing around ideas for the raised beds. I know there will be an expense to them but would rather pay the money up front and have them be permanent. The new beds would be right here next to the house and I think I could better control weed/bug problems. I keep reminding myself that this was a "learning" year. DH mentioned railroad timbers but I worry about the leaching of toxins from the treated wood. I know there are several views out there on using them. Another alternative are the landscaping bricks but we were thinking it would be ridiculous expensive. I would like some pics and ideas. Thanks in advance!!

sam123 · July 16, 2008

These are my raised beds which are made out of treated pine. I used builder plastic for two reasons. First to stop anything leaking from the timber into the soil and the other to keep the moisture in. I built the first one last year and finished the second one last week. They are 3.6 metres long and 1.8 wide. The height varies from .4 metres to .7metres. The reason why I made it 1.8 wide is so you can easily reach from either side.

**Lee** · July 16, 2008

Check out this:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?p=104175

amideutch · July 16, 2008

sam123, welcome to Tville. What part of Australia do you come from? Ami

tomatoguy · July 16, 2008

I suppose you could say that my setup is more or less permanent. Where to acquire more blocks like this, I have no clue. They were on the property (the other end, unfortunately) when we bought it. Counting the 4 inches of natural topsoil, this garden is 20 inches deep and 16 feet in diameter. I lined the inside of the blocks with thick plastic sheeting to keep the blocks from soaking up moisture from the soil and I also installed a soaker hose before I added the soil. It has produced far beyond my expectations. At this point in the season my plants are 7 feet tall on average.

mater

PaulF · July 16, 2008

For twenty-five years I had raised beds made from railroad ties. My beds were 4'X24' and double tie high. I really enjoyed having raised beds and things grew well in them. I don't think there was any creosote leakage into the soil and the flavors of the vegetables tasted true. I did get used ties so maybe that was why. They were cheap and did the job.

Paul
PS: Piegirl will have a new date for the Fest soon. See you guys there.

sam123 · July 17, 2008

Hi Ami,
I live between Sydney and Canberra on the southern tablelands

Crone · July 18, 2008

My first post! Tomatoguy, that looks like a helluva property you have there, as much as I can see of it, and a fine round garden. You are lucky.

amideutch · July 18, 2008

Crone, welcome to Tville also where most of the "Heavy Hitters" in the tomato world gather to talk tomatoes. Enjoy your stay and jump right in. Ami

Crone · July 18, 2008

Thanks for your nice welcome, Ami. German? Then schonen dank. About the only thing I know how to say...

Crone · July 18, 2008

Hi, I have a few raised beds (and more raised rows without borders, but equally high). I treated the wood with a natural, nontoxic preservative called Lifetime. I used to order it from Alberta, Canada, but I think it is now available in the USA directly. The company is called Valhalla.

Earl · July 25, 2008

I guess these hay bales could be considered raised beds. Squash on one, cukes on the other. Double row bales with compost down crack between bales. Doing great so far.

Crone · July 25, 2008

I used to have some straw bale raised beds, too, and they were great. I removed them only because I needed the bales for something else!

OneoftheEarls · December 26, 2008

OneoftheEarls · December 26, 2008

July 15, 2008	#1
gardengalrn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas, zone 5 Posts: 524	Wanted: Raised bed pics I thought I had sent a post about this before but can't find it anywhere. DH has agreed to build me some raised beds for next year's garden. My current set-up just isn't working and instead of griping and whining, I have to come up with a alternative. We had thought the area we started the garden in was ideal; fenced in and fertile. If you've read some of my posts this spring/summer, I have done nothing but complain about the weeds, bugs, wind, etc. I don't think any of those problems will be rectified by next spring. Pasture surrounds the garden and it is just taking over, not to mention the grasshoppers. I won't mention bindweed again but rest assured it is a problem I can't deal with without dropping some serious chemicals. Anyway... DH had been against doing the raised beds because it seems we have all this space...surely I can make a decent garden here somewhere. Being the good DH he is, he quickly realized this spring that my efforts in the garden seemed to be in vain. Bigger is not necessarily better. I would rather plant 6 cabbage plants and get 6, rather than plant 20 and get ZERO. So....we are tossing around ideas for the raised beds. I know there will be an expense to them but would rather pay the money up front and have them be permanent. The new beds would be right here next to the house and I think I could better control weed/bug problems. I keep reminding myself that this was a "learning" year. DH mentioned railroad timbers but I worry about the leaching of toxins from the treated wood. I know there are several views out there on using them. Another alternative are the landscaping bricks but we were thinking it would be ridiculous expensive. I would like some pics and ideas. Thanks in advance!! __________________ ~Lori "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -Abraham Lincoln

July 16, 2008	#3
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	Check out this: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?p=104175 __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

July 16, 2008	#4
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	sam123, welcome to Tville. What part of Australia do you come from? Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

July 16, 2008	#6
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	For twenty-five years I had raised beds made from railroad ties. My beds were 4'X24' and double tie high. I really enjoyed having raised beds and things grew well in them. I don't think there was any creosote leakage into the soil and the flavors of the vegetables tasted true. I did get used ties so maybe that was why. They were cheap and did the job. Paul PS: Piegirl will have a new date for the Fest soon. See you guys there. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

July 18, 2008	#9
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Crone, welcome to Tville also where most of the "Heavy Hitters" in the tomato world gather to talk tomatoes. Enjoy your stay and jump right in. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

July 16, 2008	#5
tomatoguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rockvale, TN Zone 7A Posts: 526	I suppose you could say that my setup is more or less permanent. Where to acquire more blocks like this, I have no clue. They were on the property (the other end, unfortunately) when we bought it. Counting the 4 inches of natural topsoil, this garden is 20 inches deep and 16 feet in diameter. I lined the inside of the blocks with thick plastic sheeting to keep the blocks from soaking up moisture from the soil and I also installed a soaker hose before I added the soil. It has produced far beyond my expectations. At this point in the season my plants are 7 feet tall on average. mater

July 17, 2008	#7
sam123 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 24	Hi Ami, I live between Sydney and Canberra on the southern tablelands

July 18, 2008	#8
Crone Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canadian prairies Posts: 8	My first post! Tomatoguy, that looks like a helluva property you have there, as much as I can see of it, and a fine round garden. You are lucky.

July 25, 2008	#13
Crone Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canadian prairies Posts: 8	I used to have some straw bale raised beds, too, and they were great. I removed them only because I needed the bales for something else!

December 26, 2008	#14
OneoftheEarls Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Up North Posts: 660