Stupid Question 2004...

[GardnerJ]

How do you make the beds on your plot once you have the ground dug?
i think i have space now for four huge beds but i don't actually know where to start in terms of marking them off, how much space to leave either side and all that! are there guidelines on how big they should be? i am only planting broad beans, peas and garlic now.
ta
Jemma

[GardnerJ]

[rdak]

If you are planning not to walk on your beds, then a max width of 4 feet is recommended, so that you can lean in from either side. I make my paths 3 foot wide, which some might see as excessive, but it enables me to comfortably kneel down and tend the bed. As for length of the bed, up to you, but not so long that you are tempted to walk over bed to the get to the other side! By beds are 15foot long.

[GardnerJ]

do you just tread on the bit that you want to make a path out of?
i was wondering how you differenciated the path from the bed if yuio haven't got raised beds?
ta

[rdak]

I marked out with string, roughly turned beds over, so they are currently in a raised shape. Not intending to use any wooden sides. PS. Those long cardboard tubes are from carpet shops -to hold down the plastic.
Paths covered in carpet.

[Moggle]

Jemma, my beds are a bit wider than is probably reccomended, 1.8 metres (6 foot) wide. Paths are .5 metres (2 foot?) wide. Wanted to get the maximum growing space.

I marked beds out using tent pegs and coloured plastic twine, and only dug over where the beds will be.

Ross, I think your carpet may be the answer to my problem of what to put on my paths that won't cost much - if at all. Great photo  ;D

[mitzzy]

I got some carpet off cuts from our local dump and I hope to nip up and see if there is any more .


I might see if the carpet shops have any really small end of rolls , never know might get them for nothing :)

I have not meaured  my beds just doing it by eye and working out how far I can reach ( i am 5ft 2 )


Mags

[Mrs Ava]

I don't have defined paths, just a series of stepping stones really.  I dug my whole plot over, then planted, planting as far as I can comfortably reach, then go round to the other side, and plant as far as I can comfortably reach....if you see what I mean.  By having no defined paths, only walked on earth, if I suddenly have a few extra plants to fit in, I just fork over an area of path and plant.  Mine is all a bit haphazard, but it works for me, hardly any plot unplanted, and more veggies than we can eat!  ;D

[Andy H]

               l l
              l l
              l l
              l l
_________l l_________
_________  _________
             l l
             l l
             l l
             l l
I just marked our plot into quarters toallow some sort of rotation. Many better ways as above but had big roll of blue rope and stakes so used them. 12 stakes and 4 lengths of rope. I have now put carpet on the paths.

[ACE]

Do you honestly call that gardening!

[rdak]

no. it's not a picture of my garden.

[Justy]

I have made beds about 4ft wide and as long as my plot is wide (does that make sense?!) with paths in between wide enough to get a barrow through.  I was in the same boat as you Jgardner - I didn't know where to start so I got some offcuts of timber and marked out the beds.  They are only about 6 - 8 inches high so prob not really raised beds but it also helps me when I put the compost onto the bed as it does not spread to far.

[ina]

This is not be the prettiest picture of my lottie but it shows the paths well. The main paths are wider than the paths between the beds which don't go all the way through to give me more planting space. The paths are just trodden down, some weeds come through at times but a quick hoe takes care of that. Empty beds get dug over one by one so it's not such a daunting job.

Personally I prefer the looks of natural paths to carpet or other man made material even tho' when it's really wet my clogs tend to look like platform shoes hahaha and it can get a bit slippery. This is why the big paths (for the through traffic) between sections have cut off ornamental grasses and used straw on them as you can see in the lower left.

You may wonder why the strawberry plants in the picture are covered with chicken wire, this is because in late winter, early spring, rabbits have eaten the hearts out of plants before.

[ina]

Here's another picture to show how I did the paths and veggie beds.

[Garden Manager]

If you want raised/deep beds then a good way is to dig out your paths and pile up the dug out soil on the beds. You  get nice deep beds (particularly if you retain the soil with something), get a nice level path and dont waste valuable topsoil.

The beds I have in my veg plot (garden not allotment) are done this and are roughly 3mx1m with 60cm wide paths in between (just wide enough for a wheel barrow ;D).

[Doris_Pinks]

My paths are carpet or weed supressing membrane, topped with straw. It means I can walk on them all year and tend the beds, without getting stuck in the mud!The straw when it breaks down goes on the compost heap! DP

[GardnerJ]

ok next question then guys.... what kinda straw do you use? i have only seen straw in pet shops? is that the kind i need?

Thanks as always

Jemma

[sandersj89]

You can buy it there, it is either barley or wheat straw. I would say wheat straw is tougher and will last longer. It is the prefered straw for winter bedding at home on the farm for cattle.

If you buy it at a pet shop you will pay well over the odds for it. Try and locate a farm that will be happy to sell you a couple of bales for a few quid.

One problem though is that the small bales that weight about 15 to 20 kgs are becoming a rarity as farmers now either chop their straw as it is not worth baling and selling or they use the large round bales or high density square bales that can weigh in excess of a tonne.

Have a look in your local free adds paper and you might find a farmer selling bales for horse/poultry keepers.

HTH

Jerry