[wbmkk]

I got an allotment late last year, so 2014 will be my first growing year.

The plot is on a bit of a slope and I see now that the bottom end is very wet indeed. Luckily one half of the plot will be used for a shed and maybe bee hives, so I only have to consider one half (3.6m wide)

I had some 6" x 2" timbers, so have decided to build two raised beds, each will be about 1500mm across. I know 1200mm (4 feet) is always mentioned, but I've checked and I could easily reach in about 800m.

I'm not to sure yet whether I should build the full height beds, ie the 6 inches or maybe lower it slightly, to give a overall height increase of only 4 inches.

The higher I raise the soil lever, the more material I must find / buy to fill the beds.

I gathered 5 builder's dumpy bags of leaves last autumn .... could I use these to at least go towards filling the beds ?

Could I add fresh seaweed ?

I'll probably also buy several bags of compost (even the low end quality ones) just to add some bulk. I actually see B&Q are selling 125 lites of compost for £5.98, which seems pretty good value.

My existing soil is actually quite good, it's just the matter of drainage that makes me feel higher beds are the answer.

Any advice would be appreciated

Two beds at 3.6m x 1.5m x 0.15m will need 1620 litres of material to fill.

[Auntiemogs]

Well done on getting your lottie!   

4 feet is a good guide, as it means you won't have to overstretch from either side from a standing (harvesting) position.  If you are comfortable with more, then I don't see why not...

If you have the materials to hand, I see no reason why you shouldn't use them.  You don't have to fill the beds completely, or even the full bed (yes, it can be expensive so I would use what you have and mix it with compost/well rotted manure, as is appropriate) and I'm sure that if you break up the ground first, there are many veg that would welcome the extra moisture in the downhill beds (celeriac and toms spring to my mind, but I'm sure there are others).

Mags 

[surbie100]

Hi there, I'm on a soggy clay slope too and am slowly terracing it with minimum 6" raised beds (on pic). One side of them is about 3" higher, what with going up the slope. Are you putting anything on the paths inbetween? I am removing 4ish inches of soil to make new woodchip paths and using that soil to fill the beds, as well as mixing in a few bags of rotted manure. As Auntiemogs says, you don't have to fill them straight off as over the years you'll be adding manure etc which will raise the level slowly anyway.

Also bear in mind that when you have dug the soil, it will fill more volume because it is fluffier.

One consideration might be what effects you have on drainage. Mine have made it a bit worse. My lowest path is currently underwater and I'm going to put a soakaway along the bottom edge of the slope to try and help with this.

Good luck!

Edit to clarify

[Goosegirl]

I would go for 6" high beds, especially if your soil is not very well-drained, as some roots can go quite a way down - that's what I did on mine. Also, if you go for 4' wide ones then, although it will give you less gardening area, if you do find it a stretch later on (back prob or whatever) it will be easier for you, plus it will take less filling material! Yes - use whatever soil, compost and seaweed you can find. Been-and-queued compost used to be very good - hope it still is, but go for it anyway.

[crh75]

but I've checked and I could easily reach in about 800m.

What a reach

[wbmkk]

but I've checked and I could easily reach in about 800m.

What a reach

If I put a piece of wood across the top, I can lean on this with my left hand ... and use t'other one to do whatever I have to.

[Goosegirl]

but I've checked and I could easily reach in about 800m.

If I put a piece of wood across the top, I can lean on this with my left hand ... and use t'other one to do whatever I have to.

My hero Geoff Hamilton made a simple structure consisting of a wide plank with ropes on each end so he could use it to walk on the soil without any great impact, plus he could move the plank via the ropes to another place.