Raised beds and gardens

[Sawyer Rob]

Good point about over-tilling. I don't have a tiller any more - never had one for the tractor. I just couldn't justify the cost of a tiller since one of the points of the garden was to save money.

Thing is, I've custom tilled more than enough gardens for hire, to easily pay for my tiller and small tractor, they owe me nothing! So, it's all gravy now and takes a HUGE amount of work out of gardening...

SR

 

[forgeblast]

Looks good, if you do not fill every hole you can plant onions in the block.

 

[Mendonsy]

Eddie:

You take a big piece of paper cut to fit around the barrel ( I used red "rosin" paper they sell at Lowes for under hardwood flooring) to lay out the pattern. I used 6 rows vertically, 8 slots in each row. The slots are about 8" long. You drill a 1/2-3/4" hole at the end of each place a slot is going, then use a jig or recip saw to make the 8" long slot between holes.

Then you start heating the plastic with a propane torch until it gets reasonably soft, then stick a foot or so hunk of 2x4 (miter the end off to a 45 makes it easier to get in the slot) in the slot, and bend it outward to form that lower "pocket", applying a little heat as needed to make it do what you want. Let it sit a few minutes to cool, and the pocket will stay formed. I used a 1/2 dozen 2x4 pcs so I could keep working ahead while the first ones cooled, then used the first ones.

There are several YouTube videos out there on Strawberry Barrels showing exactly how it's done.....I simply copied their idea on these.

I made the huge mistake of showing the picture you posted to my wife!! Now she wants me to build some for her!!

Did you put drain holes in the bottom of your barrels to keep the bottom plants from getting too much water??
It looks like the top row will get less water than the bottom so it will take regular watering to keep them happy.
I was thinking maybe about six 3/4" holes in the bottom of the barrels with weed block over them to keep the soil inside???

 

[QRTRHRS]

I avoid any PT in my garden. I use to just do "free form" raised beds where in the spring I used a flat shovel to remake the paths and build the beds back up. Because of some growing black walnuts, I had to move my garden to an area that was on a slope. I knew I needed to use hard sides. I found cedar pickets from Home Depot and hardwood stakes to make great beds. I just cut off the last inch of the pickets.

I also learned that I was wasting the space between my beds and my fence for the deer and rabbits. So in my new design, the beds are also the boarder of the garden. I just made sure they were only ~2.5ft wide. I have a little garden trellis entrance which plants can grow up. I believe it was about $3-400 for all my beds in a 20X30ft area with stone paths. Because it's on a slope, the bed sides are of various heights.

I had a 30x100 garden for 20 years that I did that with. Using a Troy Bilt tiller, after the soil was broken up, I would attach this rear spade that Troy Bilt offered and plow ditches along my rows. Of course some hand work was necessary.

Using this method, I could change the location of my veggies and layout each year. Come fall, I would level the garden out by tilling and plant rye for a cover crop.

 

[TnAndy]

I made the huge mistake of showing the picture you posted to my wife!! Now she wants me to build some for her!!

Yeah....you'll learn, huh. Next time, just tell her it's garden **** and she should avoid looking over your shoulder....ahahahaaaa

Did you put drain holes in the bottom of your barrels to keep the bottom plants from getting too much water??
It looks like the top row will get less water than the bottom so it will take regular watering to keep them happy.
I was thinking maybe about six 3/4" holes in the bottom of the barrels with weed block over them to keep the soil inside???

Yeah, I drilled some holes in the bottom. I didn't bother with weed block, just threw the potting soil in and the berry plants as I filled it.

Also, those 2x4 legs don't work worth a crap....use 4x4s, or what I've done now is set them on some 2' square 'pallets' with caster under them (because I move the barrels inside the hoop house for the winter, and can roll them on the concrete floor to the back)

 

[pmsmechanic]

One of the easiest ways to make a raised bed that I have seen is to just use an old freezer. Take the lid off and leave it at the dump and bring the rest home. I have never done this myself but always thought it would work well. They are the right size and easy to move. I really like the idea of filling the bottom with logs before putting soil on top.

 

[streamin]

If anybody is still following this thread, I had a question. I am almost done and it has rained a lot here. I have 2 blocks high and no bottom (just regular earth), but I am concerned that I don't have any drainage holes. Do I need them? will the water keep draining down or will it just hold it like a swimming pool?

 

[TomSeller]

If anybody is still following this thread, I had a question. I am almost done and it has rained a lot here. I have 2 blocks high and no bottom (just regular earth), but I am concerned that I don't have any drainage holes. Do I need them? will the water keep draining down or will it just hold it like a swimming pool?<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/rural-living/430480-raised-beds-gardens-garden-jpg"/>

What soil type is below your raised bed? Does it drain?

 

[streamin]

What soil type is below your raised bed? Does it drain?

That's a good question as I am a beginner and not much in identifying types. But is looks like regular soil with a bit of a sandy texture. Don't think there is much clay. seems to drain ok from the rest of the property.I buried some old rotten wood under there, then put a load of topsoil followed by some real sandy soil. the top is a garden mix.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My gardens are doing very good, I'm still "mulching" them in, right now...

I cut and pick up the mulch,

And my better half, spreads it down the rows.....here's the front garden,

Once it's down, I have NO weeds and MUCH less water is needed, also the gardens are always really nice to walk in, and the veggies stay clean... In the fall, i'll till it under to feed next years plants, as I don't use any chemical ferts or sprays of any kind.

SR