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Give a newbie a Break!!!! newbies wanted any question answered

• Message 1. 

  Posted by SnakeGuy (U15021582) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  I opened this to give newbies a chance. theres to many people in here just just give the answer "GOOGLE IT"!!!!
  
  If you dont want to help a newbie dont post here!
  
  Any question will be answered and hopefully we'll have a good load of helpful people read this thread.
  
  SnakeGuy

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  I agree snakeguy.
  
  The idea of this forum is to promote discussion and see what other people think . Not just send you to another isle in the library ! Cheers, Tony.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Emz (U15085895) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  Thank you, I consider myself a newbie..I have had a few attempts at growing veg some years more successful than others. But, I'd really like to know people's views on raised beds? Am I wasting my money or should I invest?

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  There are question which can be answered very well by going to another site. Having things written on the screen can also be very helpful if you want to print out information for further reference.
  
  Some posters are also now wary of posting a lot of helpful advice or information for it to seemingly fall into a 'black hole'. There are some posters who sign up ask a question and are never heard from again. Do they ask the same question on multiple boards?
  
  I know this has come up before, with differing views, but if you can post a question, surely you can post a 'thank you' if the answer was helpful?
  
  If advice on certain topics is readily available, with pictures maybe, through Google, go for it. I use it a lot.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  I have both raised beds and conventional beds.
  
  When you say invest, don't spend too much money on them unless you are growing valuable crops. That is, those things you will never get in the supermarket, of the same quality.
  
  I have had to do most of my veg growing in raised beds because I have to garden on Tarmac.
  
  There are many reason I think they are great.
  
  Weeding a restricted area is quicker and easier. The bed is at a good height - saves your back. Often you will have decent paths all round the bed. You will be able to reach all parts of the bed without standing on it. They warm up better. Drain well.
  
  I could give you lots more pluses, but there are some crops which are not so happy with raised beds.
  
  Over to the experts on this board.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by horththit (U13862695) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  Hi Snakeguy, and welcome. I have been with this for about 2 years and found most peope very helpful. Although, now and again you get a bit of snobbery or sarcasm creeping in. Ignore it, and carry on regardless. I for one will be helpful where I can, and so will many others. Good luck in the new season.

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by SnakeGuy (U15021582) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  I'd first of all like to thank you all for using this thread, i have done a thread like this on different types of bords and has prooved useful.
  
  this is mainly just to stop the "google it" answers and get people to put useful info down
  
  if you are going to say google it please say what to search for in google because 9 times out of 10 the person asking the question has probably already searched google without luck and are looking for some helpful answers.
  
  and lastly if you do recieve helpful advice no matter how little a thankyou will go a long way.
  
  

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by SnakeGuy (U15021582) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  My turn...lol
  
  
  I have a 150m X 50m garden i use the top 60mX50m as a veggi patch
  
  What would be the cheapest way to to creat 2 20x20m raised beds
  
  i've looked into Sleepers (expensive)
  i've looked into old curb stones (expensive)
  
  I got enough earth to fill them just need to construct them
  
  a little help would go a long way
  
  Cheers

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by BigDave (U3975543) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  Emz.....My view on raised beds is they are fab, they save me time when wedding, digging, planting, I just put well rotted muck on the top and the worms take it in and the paths make it so much easyer to use the barrow....oh and then there are my 4 kids that now don't just walk all over Dads Veg.....
  
  
  I used scaff boards for my beds dug out the dirt at one end to about 12" that gave me around 20" I filled it with whatever I could get my hands on....I then turned the next load over onto the top and filled again till I got to the end of the bed.....using the first load of dirt to finish.
  
  Whatsthmarrow...
  
  Ps) If/when I get to the top of the alloment list again (as we have two now) I will be putting beds in from the off.
  
  

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  I use old floorboards, of which I have a good supply. Scaffolding planks are good. All wood rots in the end. I toyed with the idea of keeping the soil away from the wood with plastic damp-proof course, but I haven't used it. I treat the wood with plant friendly wood preservative when I can get it on offer.
  
  Limit the length of your raised beds otherwise you will be tempted to nip across them rather than walking around. I usually limit my beds to 16' or about 5 metres.
  
  I practice crop-rotation in a general manner. No strictly.

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• Message 11

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by SnakeGuy (U15021582) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  scaff boards? I'm guessing you mean Scaffolding boards.
  
  How easy are they to come across?
  
  Thanks

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• Message 12

  , in reply to message 11.

  Posted by SnakeGuy (U15021582) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  Floor boards ar another good idea but it's another thing that isn't that easy nor cheaply come by
  
  i have toyed with the idea of making concreat ones as i have alot of old cement in the shed.
  
  but this time of the year isnt very good for cement.
  
  maybe i could go collect some of the fallen trees and build one like a log cabin.
  
  
  thanks

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• Message 13

  , in reply to message 11.

  Posted by BigDave (U3975543) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  Yeah SnakeGuy I do mean Saffolding boards and you can get them at most if not all reclaim yards....get the one's that have bits cut off the ends and full boards go for £5-£10 but you can pick them up for £2 if you take the ones that are no good to use as Scaffolding as they have reg's that we don't.
  
  Ie) if there is a crack on the board they can't use them.
  
  Also the tip about not making them to long is a good one as it is easy just to nip of them....but don't thats what they are there for.
  
  Whatsthemarrow...

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• Message 14

  , in reply to message 12.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Sunday, 8th January 2012

  I've been on the boards about 2 - 3 years now and find most people helpful .I for one would have made far more mistakes without the help. I find some of the references helpful too, I've probably read most of TG's links. I fall into week one of the sowing planting out guide so it's in my favourites, it's clear the guy has put alot of work into making the site. I try to offer helpful advise when I can and respond when it's given.
  
  Have I read your message correct Snakeguy, those are going to be big raised beds, 20m by 20m, isn't that 60ft by 60ft, one bed would be bigger than my garden
  
  You can get scaffold planks from most builders yards at reasonable prices, mine cost £7.50 each.
  
  I made raised beds using decking planks, bought them in a sale at half price, not as good as scaffold planks though but treated with wood preserve every couple of years seems to keep them in fairly good condition. My main reason for using raised beds was to keep the lawn out of the veg bed and they look pretty with slate paths around them. Also for all the other reasons, no digging, easy to reach the centre when planting, you can plant closer together too.

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• Message 15

  , in reply to message 14.

  Posted by SnakeGuy (U15021582) on Wednesday, 11th January 2012

  yeah you were correct, i have a rather large space to use but have been advised to make smaller ones for ease of access.
  
  so i have re planned my garden and am going for 2 10 x 10 m and 2 5 x 5
  i am quite lucky to have a councel house in the countryside wich has quite a large garden 180m x 50m
  
  I have grown veg in it before but the soil is so crappy not much will grow, the people who use to live there dumped all their house fire ash on the garden and it's full of really thick clay after you go doun half a foot.
  
  so decided to try this option it doesnt need to look pretty cos it's out of the way and out of site and the rest of my garden hides it.
  
  So it looks like scaff boards will be my best bet just need to find a reclaim yard now.
  
  thankyou for your help

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• Message 16

  , in reply to message 15.

  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Wednesday, 11th January 2012

  10 x 10 metres seems an odd measurement. As does 2.5m x 5. The whole point of raised beds is that they are narrow enough for you to reach to the middle for planting out, sowing seeds etc without ever stepping on the bed. 1.20 metres is about right. Up thread I suggested a length for the bed which gives a good row of, say, beans. Don't make them too long. I think 10m may be too long.

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• Message 17

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by whatalottie (U9072847) on Thursday, 12th January 2012

  I opened this to give newbies a chance. theres to many people in here just just give the answer "GOOGLE IT"!!!!
  
  If you dont want to help a newbie dont post here!
  
  Any question will be answered and hopefully we'll have a good load of helpful people read this thread.
  
  ³§²Ô²¹°ì±ð³Ò³Ü²âÌý Hi Snakeguy,
  
  I agree,Snakeguy, I'd be very sorry to lose 'newbies'. I've learned such a lot from this board. I always try to answer newbie posts, but I'm not on the board all the time, if only that I'm on the allotment when I'm not working! We all started some time. I ask some very basic questions, and really appreciate answers, I know a bit about other stuff. There is nothing like expereince.The fact that answers may be contradictory is just part of gardening life. You just have to make your choice, whatever suits you.
  
  Of course there are some questions which are asked so many times that some more impatient people are, well basically, rude. People might suggest "search the board" (to the right of the posts). Google is an answer, but produces such a wealth of contradictory information, at so many different levels. from the frankly academic to the crank and sometimes just basically wrong.
  
  I like this board, the people are helpful, and not too didactic. I hate being told "you must..." and told off "you've not been not listening, I've told you before... just makes me furious (both example from THIS board, but it doesn't happen often!) So may people are willing to tell us their experience. and there's nothing like experience.
  
  Oh dear, what a tirade! I like newbies, long may they post new threads.
  
  Lottie
  
  
  
  

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• Message 18

  , in reply to message 16.

  Posted by whatalottie (U9072847) on Thursday, 12th January 2012

  I think the conversation about raised bed is useful and interesting. It's a pity that it's buried in a thread on another subject entirely, and if I was looking for stuff about raised beds I might have missed it. Do you think it would have been useful to have started a different thread?so that's easier to find?
  
  Just a thought, sorry to be awkward,
  Lottie
  

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• Message 19

  , in reply to message 18.

  Posted by jinty71 (U15093203) on Thursday, 12th January 2012

  Hi
  
  As a newbie we only got out plot late last June, I read all the advice on these boards and was grateful for it. Our plots are a completely new site, half the ground was an old building and half was a grass play area, so every plot has different soil conditions.
  
  I appreciate the time all the experienced gardeners take to explain things to the less experienced growers.
  
  I'm keen to get growing this year with a full season of growing, rather than the short season we had in 2011. I'm sure I will have lots of questions to ask once we properly get started and will be appreciative of the time taken by others to help me out.
  
  We haven't done raised beds, but are using decking boards to border all our beds to stop the grass cutters from destroying plants and any protective covering this year, we lost a fair amount of salads, netting and chard last year to their ride on mower.
  
  Janet

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• Message 20

  , in reply to message 19.

  Posted by Shona (U14174862) on Thursday, 12th January 2012

  Hi - I am into my 4th year on my allotment. I did not bother with raised beds - I am not sure they are worth it unless your soil is really poor. Also I am not very handy so would have found them difficult to construct! I do agree with Janet though not to plant too closely to the paths as I have lost a bit of veg to the passing mower and made holes in the netting and fleece!
  
  The other point with raised beds is that one of the benefits is that the soil is not trodden upon and compacted, therefore the beds need to be of a size that you can reach into the middle of!
  

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• Message 21

  , in reply to message 16.

  Posted by BigDave (U3975543) on Thursday, 12th January 2012

  SnakeGuy I think BaraGwenith has hit the nail on the head 4ft/5ft is about right and the length can be from 10ft to 20 ft this stops you walking on them and keeps the soil nice and light......
  
  Mine are all 17ft long as this fits on my plot but some are 4ft and some 5ft wide.
  
  I then have four 2-1/2ft wide beds and they are also 17ft long.
  
  All of mine have 2ft paths linking them together with wood chip on them, this I get free from the yellow pages as they give it away its waste to them.
  
  Whatsthemarrow...
  

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• Message 22

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  Posted by realfood (U13916672) on Thursday, 12th January 2012

  I have used both raised beds and normal beds, and in my view raised beds are not worth the effort, and I have now removed most of them. It is a fact that the most productive plots on our allotments by far are those who do not bother with raised beds. Raised beds waste so much productive space to paths.
  Raised beds can be useful if someone is disabled in some way and cannot bend down, or the ground is regularly flooded, or you are gardening on concrete or tarmac, but otherwise just get on growing stuff as soon as possible.
  Do not forget that raised beds dry out quickly and will require a lot of watering in dry weather.
  Google is a very useful source of information and would always be my first port of call for information.

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• Message 23

  , in reply to message 22.

  Posted by realfood (U13916672) on Friday, 13th January 2012

  And do not forget that your question may already have been answered before. At last this board has listened to the posters and there is a "Search this Board" box at the top right of this page which is working well.

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• Message 24

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  Posted by SnakeGuy (U15021582) on Monday, 30th January 2012

  I'd first of all would like to thank eveyone that has replied to my questions,
  i will take in to not the sizes you have given me. looks like i'm gonna have many raised beds lol.
  
  as mentioned before i opended this thread just to get the point across to others that if a newbe asks a question, a reply of just google it isnt helpful.
  
  if googling is the answer please tell them what to search for, makes you sound more helpful.
  
  as with all the replies i have recieved i have taken in to accound everything people have said and i am now searching for bords to build my beds.
  
  Little word of warning for all ** heavy snow is heading towards the south east**
  
  
  Thanks all **SnakeGuy**

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• Message 25

  , in reply to message 24.

  Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Monday, 30th January 2012

  Good morning Snake guy. I've used paving slabs / flags ON EDGE to construct my raised beds. To stop the slabs falling outwards I have surrounded the top edge with an angle iron collar. Painted with bright colours, looks a treat. Cheers, Tony.

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• Message 26

  , in reply to message 24.

  Posted by DiggerSean (U14704361) on Tuesday, 14th February 2012

  Hi SnakeGuy.
  
  I have to agree replying with a 'google it' answer is not helpful at all. I've found the majority of users on this forum to be very friendly and helpful, although the Monty Don/Toby Buckland debate brought the worst out of people (in my view) but that's another story.
  
  Going back to the question of raised beds or not, well I use both. I have four raised beds in roughly the centre of my plot.
  On the smaller side to these I grow all my fruit with my nursery beds on that side too. On the other side I grown all my (bulk) crops that need the space such as potatoes, onions/leeks, brassicas, suedes, peas etc. The four beds in the middle are used on a rotational basis, with root crops in one, my early potatoes followed by tomatoes in the next, smaller peas/beans in the third and then smaller brassicas/salads in the other.
  
  This works quite well for me and as the beds have been improved with plenty of organic matter the crops grow very well. Another advantage is the raised beds warm up quicker in spring so you can get an earlier start. They do take up more room due to paths around them but this is more than compensated for due to the higher yields produced ....in my opinion (you can also grow plants much closer together due to the improved growing conditions).
  
  My raised beds are constructed from 10foot used scaffolding boards (beds are 10ft by 5ft each) and we bought them for £1 a board from a scaffolding company (other people on our site can get them for nothing as they 'know' scaffolders)
  The beds are very easy to construct and so far the boards are still in decent shape after 3 years of use.
  
  At the end of the day it's a personal choice. You will get conflicting advice on this board but that's only because people use systems that are right for them, and we're all different. Listen to all advice given and then use the advice that you think is right for you, if it doesn't work then try something different.
  But most of all.....enjoy, I think the one thing that we can all agree on is that gardening/growing your own is one of the best things since sliced bread.

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• Message 27

  , in reply to message 26.

  Posted by sthlndngrower (U14310155) on Thursday, 16th February 2012

  Really useful info on raised beds- you’ve inspired me and I’ve just checked out local salvage yards and will call in the morning to check if they've got any old scaffolding boards. Top tip!
  I'd love some advice in creating a raised bed on concrete. My front garden is quite sunny, but there's a concrete area (disused driveway) that is great for popping a few pots on, I can’t do anything more drastic really as it’s a rented property. But I’d really like to capitalise on the position and construct a raised bed. I'm not sure whether I should try and enclose the bottom as I doubt it'll be so level with the ground that it'll stop soil escaping. I could possibly line it with some of those big woven bags that builders aggregate is delivered in. I can't think what else I might use- what do you good people suggest?
  Also, when you’ve a big space to fill such as this (I’m thinking metre or so wide and at least 2m long) where do you get soil? I have a good supply of rotting horse manure, so can improve anything I put in, but I imagine it’s going to need a lot more than my compost and manure supply can manage. Any ideas? I don’t want to spend a fortune on bagged compost from the garden centre.
  

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