planning my raised beds.....

Was admiring your excellent work, top job.

I use gravel boards bought quite cheaply from the local timber merchants like many people, though would love something as handsome and sturdy as yours.

I did notice this which may be of help:
https://www.growveg.co.uk/guides/treating-wood-for-vegetable-gardens/

Good luck
GG

 

Ah thank u ever so much for your kind words

Here is a pic of the markings on the wood, I have not got a clue what they mean lol.....
https://flic.kr/p/DziT39

 

Vida A refers to the producer. In this case, Vida Wood in Alvesta, Sweden. They're a private company, and the UK is their biggest market.

W842: Dont know.

0402: Thats an id number for the notified body.

13: a code to identify documentation.

Dry Graded: In Vidas case, tested at a moisture content of 18%. 20% is more usual.

C24 M: The strength grade.

More useless info from me...

 

So still nothing to tell me if its treated or not then , ok thanks for the info tho

 

WELL!..... A bit of great news, I checked with my friend who ordered tho wood, he ordered it for me as he gets trade price, and I just got a reply back now.... IT IS TREATED, ah that's an awful relief I can tell you, so all is good now then, all I have to worry about now is protecting the top posts really then, GREAT NEWS!!!

 

Delighted for you; one less thing to worry about!

 

im getting there.............all the ends protected where i had to cut..... :D i went with bringing the wood that needed protecting inside the nice warm house in the end to make sure they were dry before protecting

im hoping to get a break in rain today so i can at least construct one bed :(

the protector i went with says its safe around plants/vegetable/kids/pets etc, i feel comfortable using it, and at the end of the day the whole bed is not painted in it, only the posts and the width ends of the 6" x 2"

Stained the ends where i had to cut... its coming together lol by Martin Young, on Flickr


Stained the ends where i had to cut... its coming together lol by Martin Young, on Flickr


Stained the ends where i had to cut... its coming together lol by Martin Young, on Flickr


Stained the ends where i had to cut... its coming together lol by Martin Young, on Flickr​

 

in position, just need to level and add remaining 3rd layer of side boards, oh and i need to add the middle/centre posts to help stop the 6" x 2" from bowing over time then onto the 2nd bed

In position! by Martin Young, on Flickr


In position! by Martin Young, on Flickr

does this seem ok? just need to fill one more space now...


does this seem ok? just need to fill one more space now... by Martin Young, on Flickr​

 

progress..........

progress.... by Martin Young, on Flickr


getting there :D by Martin Young, on Flickr​

 

getting into the swing of things now! lol

finished leveling today and added the final centre posts, im thinking to put a kind of seating/bench around the tops of the raised beds.....not sure tho, 2 tonne of veggie gold composts order should be here in a couple days,,,,,,,how very exciting lol :D


finished! by Martin Young, on Flickr

and slabbed my greenhouse today also

getting into the swing of things now! lol by Martin Young, on Flickr​

 

Hi Martin,

This looks great, you have done an amazing job!

I really hope you have a great growing season

I do have a few bits of advice though which i have learned since having my own allotment.. (i apologise if these have already been mentioned by other members)

1 - If space is tight, like your area, then think about the crops you want to grow. The older gents down at the allotment have downsized to half plots over the years as they struggle with a full one. This has changed the way they grow their produce. They mostly grow salad crops. These are quick to grow, you can get succession of crops throughout the year and its cheaper to grow them yourself than buying from the supermarkets.

crops such as lettuces, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes etc..

You can pick these fruits/veggies throughout the year giving you something on your plate all year round. If you grow onions, potatoes etc.. then these are in the ground a long time taking up space. You will then be looking at your patch waiting and waiting with nothing to show. Then all of a sudden everything is ready at once.

2 - if possible, bury the cover of your polytunnel. It should hopefully have around a foot of excess cover at the bottom. Dig a trench around your tunnel and bury the cover. This stops any wind getting underneath and flinging it in the air like a kite ruining all your seeds and crops inside.

3 - personal choice really but in my polytunnel, i have a path down the middle with bare soil down each side. I plant my cucumbers, peppers and toms direct into the soil. If you plant your plants in pots, they will more than likely dry out whilst you are at work. This stresses the plants and can cause the fruit to drop or crack. Its a lot easier to give the bare soil a good drenching each morning, the soil can hold a lot more moisture. The only issue with this is building up pests and diseases in the soil. Just keep switching the plants around inside each year and top the soil up, maybe build some wooden barriers/raised beds along the side of the path. Like in say, personal preference.

Keep up the good work!!

 

Hi Craig,

thank you for your very kind words, im hoping i have a good one also, but i know there is a lot to learn for a 1st year "proper" gardener so i wont hold my breath LOL, going to have a hell of a lot of fun tho :D

wow thanks for all the tips! all taken note of, keep track and you might just see some of your ideas taken into action

as to answer 3 Craig i wish i could plant straight into the ground, my soil is terrible, so much clay, thats why i went for the raised beds in the first place :( i finish work at 12:30 pm so hopefully it will be ok for tending to my plants and not leaving them all day with out any love

again thank you for your very detailed insight buddy, speak soon mate


WELL!.....................................................


2 tonne later.............................................yup....need another tonne lol, its £81 for half a tonne of veggie gold or £85 for a tonne lol, i know i wont need the full tonne to fill the beds up but the remaining will certainly not go to waste lol, starting to look more like veggie beds now LOL oh and its very painful to even pick up my cuppa tea at present, dont want to think about another tonne right now, but just ordered it now so should be here tuesday, enough rambling any hoo, some pics to look at

Untitled by Martin Young, on Flickr


Untitled by Martin Young, on Flickr


Untitled by Martin Young, on Flickr


Untitled by Martin Young, on Flickr

quick b4 and after


new bigger plan for veggy beds... by Martin Young, on Flickr


Untitled by Martin Young, on Flickr​

 

well i woke up today to no greenhouse, i feel so deflated :( we had crazy winds last night and today, im feeling so stupid i could kick my self for not securing it more :( its not in the neighbours gardens, so must have flew away pretty far :(

green house has flown away :( by Martin Young, on Flickr
​

really can not believe this

​

 

im thinking to go this route with planting, as a first year gardener i plan to learn a lot and that means mistakes, good or bad i'm going to enjoy this

layout 7 by Martin Young, on Flickr​

 

Amazing! You're going to have a fantastic harvest this year!