[big green bloke]

hello all
          been having a chat with mum and think of turning the alloments in riased beds expected for any that have thing in that can not be  move each bed would be six foot across so we can reach to weed from each side
and the width of the plot should get about six or seven on each plot . any iclue what would be best apart from wood  :? yours big green bloke

[BAK]

6 feet sounds too wide even if you are a big bloke.

4 to 4.5 feet is more normal.

You do not need to have any surrounds. In my case bits of soil (but not a great deal) topple off the bed and onto upside down carpet that I use on the paths in between the beds. I periodically scrape it off the carpet and back onto the bed with a hoe.

The only people on our site who use (wooden) surrounds are those that use bark for their paths.

[richyrich7]

The other advantage with not having edging is that they can harbour a lot of slugs etc.

[shaun]

with all this rain lately I can see the advantage of raised beds,but personally I would just raise the ground.
paving slabs would make good raised beds,take 3'x2' or 2'x2' slabs and dig em in 12"  for extra strength you could strap the corners with flat bar drilled and screwed/bolted,they would last a lot longer than timber  

[Patrick]

Hello big green bloke.
I think beds are a good idea but I agree with Bak, 6ft is too wide.
I have beds about 5ft wide. Even that is sometimes awkward for weeding. Bindweed and couch grass mainly. They're not raised as such, just patches of ground I grow on with paths in between. The paths are just plain earth. As richyrich7 says, why provide a nice environment for slugs.
I have a path(plain earth) up the middle of my plot with 12 beds about 11ft X 5ft each side,so I have 6 beds for each family of veg I grow.
This is the first time I've had an allotment and it's working for me.

[kentishlad]

Hi, I would go with 4 feet across for your beds, also worth thinking about the length, keeping them reasonable otherwise you can find yourself walking a long way round especially at planting time if you sow like I do in short rows!
 
I use raised beds just as mounds of earth. Like mentioned above it has it's advantages in not harbouring pests and the cost of course.

Wayne.