Raised Bed Garden (perhaps a little unusual)

[jaydee325]

We just moved to a new place.

The previous owners have kids so they had a sizable sand box (16'x16'). With everything on our plate this year, we won't be able to have the garden we are accustomed to having, so I was thinking about getting along with using the sand box for a small raised bed for a few of our favorite veggies. We're also going to do some pot gardening for things like herbs.

My plan is to remove some of the sand to allow filling with approx 4" of some top soil. I'm using the term "top soil" in a generic sense here since I'm wanting to use what is most appropriate and not sure what that is. I'm thinking compost, but not sure.

So, those of you who have raised bed gardens, how would you approach this project as far as materials?

 

[jeff9366]

Michigan generally has fairly acid clay as a major soil constituent.

Sand base will loosen soil structure without raising soil pH, so you may wish to lime moderately, bearing in mind that lime takes about 12 months to change soil pH.

Aged compost is always good. As the organic content increases plants are somewhat less sensitive to pH.

I read here that 3% to 4% soil organic content by weight is excellent.

 

[TnAndy]

Not the most ideal bed, being 16x16....you'll have to get up in it to plant/work/pick. More ideal is one 4-5' wide or less with access to both sides, but you have what you have. Depending on what you want to plant, you might need to take out more of the sand than 4".

 

[Ford850]

I use a mix of peat moss, compost, and a little native top soil (if available), and that mix has worked great for me. With that wide of a box, you could alternate soil and wood chip rows (4' soil and 2' wood chips) to give you some clean walking lanes that will break down to compost in a couple years. Years ago I had good luck mixing wood chips with my soil mix mentioned above.

 

[RNeumann]

To make loam you would want to add clay and silt. And from there I’d add some organics like manure. Sand is a good start but simply laying something on top of it probably won’t give you the results you want.


Loam - Wikipedia

 

[MossRoad]

Thing about raised beds is you don't want them to be more than about 2' reach from either side. So 4' is ideal. If you make a 2' path every 4' you'd have 9 four foot squares in there, and that would be ideal for reaching.

9 four foot squares when properly managed can provide an incredible amount of food.

One of my favorite books is called Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. Look it up sometime. Great read.

 

[TnAndy]

Thing about raised beds is you don't want them to be more than about 2' reach from either side. So 4' is ideal. If you make a 2' path every 4' you'd have 9 four foot squares in there, and that would be ideal for reaching.

9 four foot squares when properly managed can provide an incredible amount of food.

One of my favorite books is called Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. Look it up sometime. Great read.

View attachment 643706

Raised bed gardening for us has been THE way to go. I built a 20x36 hoop house some years back, and you're correct....the amount of food that can be raised in it truly is incredible. We do mostly 3 season, with some cool weather stuff carried over in winter (broccoli, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, onions) with the aid of frost covers/wood stove below 20.

The outside beds are 30" deep (front to back) and the center bed is 60" wide. Beds are 32" tall...about waist high. Makes planting, weeding, etc very easy, something to consider as you age.

Having learned from this experiment, I believe a 30x50 (would allow two 60" wide beds in the center with 4' aisle between all beds) would end out outside gardening completely and probably keep a family of 4 in as much fresh food as they could eat.

 

[mark02tj]

TnAndy - the pics of your place never cease to amaze me!! I'd love to see your place in person!!

(NOTE: Not fishing for an invite! LOL! Just a rhetorical comment. But it would be cool to see!)

 

[Egon]

Some people are starting gardens in their front yard in place of lawn. Utilizing these types of areas for food production may become more frequent.

 

[MossRoad]

Some people are starting gardens in their front yard in place of lawn. Utilizing these types of areas for food production may become more frequent.

Victory Gardens!!! :thumbsup: