Raised Garden Beds

[RalphVa]

They look very nice but I don't think pt wood is a safe choice.....:2cents:

Supposed to be safe now. Not like the old stuff.

Ralph

 

[RalphVa]

Good luck. I've not had as good luck with my raised beds. Very difficult to keep moist.

Bought soil to put in them, and it tests out perfect, but I absolutely cannot grow okra in them.

Would have been better to have brought up soil from the big garden down below where everything grew well. Would have to contend with gobs of weeds then.

Have actually converted 4 out of the 6 raised beds to asparagus.

Ralph

 

[TnAndy]

Unfortunately, the AQC treated stuff doesn't have NEAR the lifespan of CCA treated lumber. I used it on my deck and had considerable rot set inside a few years. You can still find CCA lumber for agriculture uses, and that is what I went back with on my repairs.

Point where an AQC 6x6 post rotted off....well above ground:

We LOVE raised beds at waist high level for ease of working, but I went with cinder block for a more permanent solution.

 

[Thomas]

Very nice job building :thumbsup: easier on the back knees when come to weeding.

 

[CADplans]

Good luck. I've not had as good luck with my raised beds. Very difficult to keep moist.

Bought soil to put in them, and it tests out perfect, but I absolutely cannot grow okra in them.

Ralph, you are close enough to me, that you may be having the same issue as me,,

After YEARS of poor gardens,, I passed on the soil test recommendations,, and I added SULFUR!!
I feel 2020 is the best garden I have had in 10 years,,

The sulfur was added in January,, but, it probably did not do anything until May 1st,,
from what I read, it needs to be warm,,

I can not totally explain it, but, the sulfur was the only real change to my gardening,, and we have a GREAT garden this year,,,

 

[KennyG]

Ralph, you are close enough to me, that you may be having the same issue as me,,

After YEARS of poor gardens,, I passed on the soil test recommendations,, and I added SULFUR!!
I feel 2020 is the best garden I have had in 10 years,,

The sulfur was added in January,, but, it probably did not do anything until May 1st,,
from what I read, it needs to be warm,,

I can not totally explain it, but, the sulfur was the only real change to my gardening,, and we have a GREAT garden this year,,,

Clearly the explanation is that your soil was too alkaline and the sulfur lowered the pH.

 

[CADplans]

Clearly the explanation is that your soil was too alkaline and the sulfur lowered the pH.

We have never had a soil test done that did not recommend lime,, acid rain and all that,,

lower energy use may have reduced the coal burning,, which, I believe causes acid rain,,

I have my beliefs as to what the sulfur does,, but, that is not open to debate,,

 

[BukitCase]

My theory - (not really :=) The plants get one whiff of that sulfer and think Satan's comin' after 'em, so they jump right outa the ground ... Steve

 

[3Ts]

We have never had a soil test done that did not recommend lime,, acid rain and all that,,

lower energy use may have reduced the coal burning,, which, I believe causes acid rain,,

I have my beliefs as to what the sulfur does,, but, that is not open to debate,,

As for acid rain, the rain falling thru the air will dissolve some CO2 (Carbonic acid) and become slightly acidic. The acid rain helps break down the rocks and turn them into dirt (over a very long time period). This part has been going on for millions of years without our help, think of all the rock formations in the caves. The manufacturing processes that add to that (CO2 and sulfur and ... ) increases the acids and the rain becomes more acidic and has other adverse effects. Organic materials (mulch, etc) will help buffer the ph level and make nutrients more available.

 

[robertm]

So, what are you doing for drainage?

The sides are lined. The bottoms are not lined.