[gobs]

Well, I don't have plenty, but my neighbour does, and so does my daughter, both of them did brill in this monsoonic summer, oh boy, am I glad she sowed this and that!
 
On the serious note, nothing to be lost, all to be gained, but there is a downside to most things, feeding it,  I suspect in this case.  The soil shall need to be more looked after in that respect as it's being overused, especially on close planting.

[SkipRat]

I use the raised bed system, as my soil is really heavy so the choice is made for me but if i had nice loamy soil it would be rows and more rows

[John]

I've raised beds on one plot and I'm putting them in on part of the second. It's very much  depending on what you have to work with and how you work that makes the choice.

The results from raised beds this monsoon year were brilliant compared to flat bed grown. Mainly because the raised beds were above the water table and we have a source of tons of cheap compost to fill them with  

[sweet nasturtium]

I thought that smaller beds planted in blocks would work but my Brussels have really suffered, partly because I was too tempted to plant them closer in together.  They're riddled with whitefly I think partly because they are huddled in tight.

But my carrots really did well from being in a mound type bed and small blocks was good because I planted new ones every few weeks and could then clear space as I harvested.

So I think it depends on your crop, for which reason I'm not going to use raised beds but I will continue to mound up the carrot and root beds.  I may make a kind of temporary frame that I can move round as I rotate the crops.

I will also invest in some old bits of carpet to help me mark the paths out more clearly.
And finally, I can't wait to get a rotovator and go over the whole plot just like a real farmer.

[Annie]

we have raised beds and this year had moss on one of them!However our plot is in the garden so with paths we are not paying for unproductive space.We chose raised beds because we have heavy,red clay,are on a slope so could terrace the area a bit and have loads of trees around so only have to control roots that bother the outside beds..

[milkman]

well I love my fixed beds and wouldn't be without them.  

I could prattle on for ages about all the advantages but it would end up being an essay that no one would want to read.

instead I'll post the latest pics in the album.

[piskieinboots]

I go for raised beds because I never stay in one place (married to the RAF) for long enough to develop good fixed beds - raised are a quick option as we almost always end up living in places with too much clay

You asked earlier on about what else to plant at this time of year, surely spring cabbages can still go in - I put some in two weeks ago and sprouting broccoli, they were bought as baby plants, but seem to be fine

[loubylou29]

Hi.
The other reason to use fixed or raised beds is if you have littlies around. I always have kids with me, and they need VERY clear boundaries (Physical!!) for where they can step or not.

I do appreciate that probably 1/4 of my plot is paths maybe even 1/3, but the kids love charging around and I don't stress that they will stand on some planted garlic or seed.

Also as has been mentioned it is good to weed one bed at a time, and doesn't seem so daunting when you only have an hour or so with kids in tow!!

Mine aren't raised as I don't have money for the wood. (or skill to use pallets) but we used fixed beds and myex type stuff on the paths with wood chip on top. much better. No weeding path or nettles to hurt the kids.. on our plot annyway!!

[sweet nasturtium]

loubylou how do you stop the woodchip from getting into the beds (given that they don't have wood barriers if I've got you right).?

[loubylou29]

loubylou how do you stop the woodchip from getting into the beds (given that they don't have wood barriers if I've got you right).?

Not sure really..... the beds are cut in, so have a sort of V trench at the edge... actually you'd think the chips would fall in more, but they don't!

I would like to edge them with wood one day.. but at this point in time I am keen to keep costs down, and when I buy some wood this winter it is to make a Munty frame!! I might even treat myself to a gate!  

[sweet nasturtium]

I think I'll do the same, but just go along in rows and then board them up as and when I get the wood.  It's an awful lot of wood that's needed. 120ft by 15!!!

[milkman]

a lot of perfectly good wood for edging can be acquired for free by rifling through skips etc on business / industrial parks on a quiet sunday morning... (otherwise it's all heading straight for landfill)

[upthetump]

I'm going raised beds and have installed my first 2. My plot was empty for a few years and the more I dig and clear it the worse it seems to get. I'm taking soil from it every time I clear it and after 10 efforts and clearing it completely it is now back to mountain. To suppress the weeds and give me a chance of acheiving anything I need the bed system. My pathways are only 14" and the soil is not compacted like a traditional plot. I suppose its "horses for courses"

[muntjac]

I'm going raised beds and have installed my first 2. My plot was empty for a few years and the more I dig and clear it the worse it seems to get. I'm taking soil from it every time I clear it and after 10 efforts and clearing it completely it is now back to mountain. To suppress the weeds and give me a chance of acheiving anything I need the bed system. My pathways are only 14" and the soil is not compacted like a traditional plot. I suppose its "horses for courses"

 " werks for thee " tump matey