Author |
Message |
John H Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree


Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 54 Location: Kilkenny
|
Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 3:13 pm Post subject: Raised bed size |
|
|
Just a quick question what is a good size to build a raised bed. I was thinking along the lines of 8X4.
Just so access is fairly easy, the only thing I am concerned about is, is it big enough.
I hope to have 4 - 5 eventually. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
verge Rank: Chief Moderator

Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 598 Location: Ireland
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Sean Ph'lib Rank attained: Ash Tree


Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 201 Location: Co Kerry
|
Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 11:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It depends how long your arms are and how good your back is! Mine are 3' 6" wide (which allows three potato plants across when it's the spud break) and 12' long. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
TheBear Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 28 May 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Dublin, Ireland
|
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 11:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi,
I have space of about 9' by 9' for my vegetable beds, and have been wavering between three 8'x2' or two 8'x3' beds. The 2' beds would make crop rotation easier, but would they be too narrow to be useful?
(Sorry, fairly new to this; I may be popping up with various questions as I'm getting my vegetable patch established.) |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
paddy mac fisto Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree


Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 57 Location: Co. Kildare
|
Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 7:18 am Post subject: raised bed size |
|
|
All my beds are 8 x 4, very handy size for weeding but a good enough size to sow a decent amount of seed. 8 x 3 sounds like it'd be a fine size but i personally I wouldn't go much smaller than that because depending on what you sow you'll need to leave anything up to a 12 inch gap between plants. Presuming that you'd sow long rows rather than lots of little short rows down the length of the bed, a 2 ft wide bed wouldn't leave much room for very many rows.
Another tip I would give is if you can, don't cut the uprights of the beds flush with the height of the bed. Leave them a couple of feet higher than the bed. this will allow you to net the beds very easily.
 _________________ www.paddymacfisto.blogspot.com |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
TheBear Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 28 May 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Dublin, Ireland
|
Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 10:00 am Post subject: Re: raised bed size |
|
|
paddy mac fisto wrote: | All my beds are 8 x 4, very handy size for weeding but a good enough size to sow a decent amount of seed. 8 x 3 sounds like it'd be a fine size but i personally I wouldn't go much smaller than that because depending on what you sow you'll need to leave anything up to a 12 inch gap between plants. Presuming that you'd sow long rows rather than lots of little short rows down the length of the bed, a 2 ft wide bed wouldn't leave much room for very many rows.
Another tip I would give is if you can, don't cut the uprights of the beds flush with the height of the bed. Leave them a couple of feet higher than the bed. this will allow you to net the beds very easily.
 |
That's a great idea, thanks. I'd been pondering how to avoid the curse of the carrot fly. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Planet X Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 7
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
John H Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree


Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 54 Location: Kilkenny
|
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 8:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
Just a quick update I decided to go with 8 X 4 and it worked well for me. I got a couple of rows of cabbages and carrots and three rows of three types of onions and a bit of lettuce.
It was easy to access any weeds popping up and pick out slugs.
Hopefully next year I will have a few more to work on.  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Garlicbreath Rank attained: Silver Birch Tree


Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 181 Location: Wexford
|
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 2:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have three 4x8 beds and, frankly, it's not enough. However, 4ft is definitely the widest you should have - it can be quite a stretch to work in the middle. They can be as long as you like but bear in mind you have to walk around them to get to the other side!! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
John H Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree


Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 54 Location: Kilkenny
|
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
I am hoping to have five in total so I will be able to crop rotate and hopefully the soil should not get to worn out after a few years.
I will try to keep from using fertilizers. I hope to get away with just using compost and dung ( I don't know if that is enough to keep the soil fertile ) Maybe someone can let me know.  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Daithic Rank attained: Hazel Tree


Joined: 02 May 2009 Posts: 37 Location: South Dublin
|
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
John H wrote: | I am hoping to have five in total so I will be able to crop rotate and hopefully the soil should not get to worn out after a few years.
I will try to keep from using fertilizers. I hope to get away with just using compost and dung ( I don't know if that is enough to keep the soil fertile ) Maybe someone can let me know.  |
It depends on what you want to grow John. Usually what you propose will be good for most but you may add lime, for instance, to prevent clubroot on brassicas or other fertilisers like blood or fishbone for other plants - this forum is a good source of info on the various plants so you can check it out before you plant.
I have used 4ft as the "standard" width of my beds too (varying lengths)- I think it is ideal for weeding etc. and not having to stand on. _________________ Let us be grateful to people who make us happy: They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. Marcel Proust |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2006 - present IrishGardeners.com (part of GardenPlansIreland.com)
|