[beekeeper]

Just thought someone might be interested in our raised veg beds. Old 9"x2"  floor joists screwed together with compost. 4' square, suprising just how much can be grown in each one.

[grinling]

You could also make a portable cage so growing brassicas and strawberries would be safe.
Have you got water retaining granules in the compost?

[Kajazy]

They're lovely - I'm just in the process of trying to build some up on my allotment - using old decking planks and decking spindles - I've left about 60cm of the decking spindles sticking up at each corner of the bed - they double up as stakes for the planks, and a handy place to put netting/fleece over if I need to protect the crops!

I'm still trying to work out how much I can put in the beds - am I right in thinking planting distances are closer?

[Ice]

Planting distances are closer.  If the packet says 12" spacing between plants I put them 9" apart.  Use equal spacings all round, no wide rows.

[Lulu]

I find my raised beds invaluable - easier for me to manage.  As for spacing you need to know how big the veg is your growing and use guidance from the seed packet.  But I do tend to cram things in.  Remember you will need space to harvest things like peas, raspberries etc.

just to show off here's a picture of some of my beds - empty at the time but now filling up





(DD - hope this photo is OK???)

[beekeeper]

I do cram stuff in, lettuce and carrots between the cabbages, I've got carrots between the beans and paes. All do very well. As I pull stuff out to eat in goes the next one (of what ever it is). Also got some chickens and compost all their droppings etc and chuck that in as well. For some reason all the neighbours are now trying to buy the eggs, if we aren't careful we end up with none for us.

[Lulu]

Bit of subject - but I like your avatar bee.

[beekeeper]

Found it sort of lying around..