Whistech's Raised Bed Project

[whistech]

About six weeks ago I joined Tomatoville and asked for advice on building some raised beds so I can grow tomatoes next spring. Several people replied to my thread with a lot of great information and I want to thank everyone who did. Using a lot of your inputs, I built raised beds in my back yard. The beds were completed early October. I bought dirt from a local company called Natures Way Resources and had it delivered to my driveway. I calculated I would need about 8 cubic yards so I added one more yard to be sure I had enough to fill my beds. By the way, hauling 9 yards of dirt from the driveway to the back yard one wheel barrow at a time is hard on an old fat man! I completed the project on 5 October and planted cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and some radishes the next day. Since then, I have added a few other items. I have purchased tomato seeds from Tania and Remy and will be starting those in late December to transplant on March 1st. Below are a few pictures of my small garden. My Grandkids are my pride and joy and they enjoy helping in Poppys garden.

[Redbaron]

Absolutely beautiful!

[Deborah]

That's the garden I dream of !

[dokutaaguriin]

Looks great! Nothing like hauling dirt from the front yard to the backyard to remind you that it is all for the plants!

Jeff

[gggeek]

Originally Posted by dokutaaguriin

Looks great! Nothing like hauling dirt from the front yard to the backyard to remind you that it is all for the plants!

Jeff

And thus why my garden is now in the front yard

[ddsack]

What a nice job! Fine looking black dirt, I'm sure you will enjoy every bite of the vegetables you grow in there, especially remembering all the sweat and sore muscles in the hauling and shoveling. Great lessons for the kids as well, and good bonding time.

Great looking garden! You started raised bed gardening in the same manner I started by hauling dirt from the front yard to the back yard in a wheel barrow. I had been a row crop gardener and a container gardener for many years before transitioning to raised beds. It's simply easier and more productive for an old man. I also have a three year old garden helper, in the form of a great grandson; who calls me da because he can't say dedad yet. I became dedad when my grand children couldn't say grand dad. Ain't it grand to be able to pass something you truly love to the next generation and hope they derive as much pleasure from it as you have.

Da

When you are ready to start germinating those seeds, check back on this forum and ask all the questions you may have. There are a lot of folks on here who have learned by experience the wrong way and the right way to germinate and grow seedlings.

Ted

[kilroyscarnival]

Nice raised beds! I had seen the 4 x 4' ones but like the look of these longer and narrower ones. (Probably yours are not that narrow but they sure look long.)

[whistech]

Originally Posted by kilroyscarnival

Nice raised beds! I had seen the 4 x 4' ones but like the look of these longer and narrower ones. (Probably yours are not that narrow but they sure look long.)

Pictures can be deceiving. The two longest beds are 4 feet wide by 24 feet long. The shorter bed is 3 feet wide and 16 feet long. I still have one more 4 feet by 16 feet bed to build at the side of the back yard but I am taking a rest before tackling that.

[barryla61]

Awesome looking beds!!!

[kilroyscarnival]

Wow. Nice that you have so much room and are using it well!