Stacking raised beds whilst growing potatoes? An Idea

Afternoon all,

I am going to grow some potatoes in my raised beds and I had a thought.

Basically, when I made them I knocked them up by simply nailing together the wood pieces and the sizes are all the same so I can simply stack on onto the other.

I was thinking of planting my potatoes and to earth them up I could simply stack another raised bed on the original one and use the earth from when I dig the plots drainage ditches. I can then simply bash in some poles to keep the raised beds more secure.

Any thoughts on this?

I need to make some more raised beds any way due to the usual winter flooding on my plot.

Many thanks,

Samuel

 

Yes it works Samuel,that's what i've done before...the only thing is unless you have a good supply of soil it can work out expensive....i only earth mine up a couple of times because of this but still do OK

 

Also, for the last "earth up" you can use grass clippings, which you can get from neighbours green bins after you have asked them of course.

Steve...

 

Nice one Steve..why didn't i think of that(OK don't answer that)

 

SteveR will know, but for others thinking of using neighbour's grass cuttings always check they haven't been using 'weed and feed' on their lawn. I've used grass treated with it (village bowls club grass cuttings mound) but only the old stuff that was over 4 years old.

 

Out of interest what's the deal with using grass clippings?

I find this interesting & am curious to know!

Thanks for your replies,

Samuel

 

It earths up your spuds, and the whole point or earthing up is to exclude light from getting to your tubers, which turns them green and makes them poisonous.

You can use shredded newspaper, straw hay even old pullover as long as it excludes the light.

Steve...

 

Ah, thanks for your reply

I thought earthing up was also done to increase potato production?

 

http://www2.eastriding.gov.uk/environment/bins-rubbish-recycling/composting/
Loli your council gives PAS 100 compost away, just go and collect your bags

If it is anything like Dundee council pas 100 it is far richer and better than anything I have bought before
(I do not know how far away it is for you to transport, it states two bags, but if it is a slack day then they let you take what you want, Your car can manage ten bags)

Jack McH

 

Brilliant JackThank you very much for the link....9th of May is the next pick up near me

I'll be there with my boots blacked...

 

If the great flood, it will definitely need to raise the ground.