[Welsh Merf]

Can somebody tell me if these two raised beds that I've just constructed are too big? They are 2.5 metres on each side, and 225 mm (about 9") in height. I totally lost control of my plot this year, and now I'm making the big fight-back to regain control. Many thanks!

[snowdrops]

Depends whether you can reach all of it from the sides as one of the reasons for raised beds is that you never walk on the soil, but that might not be your reason for having them

[Kevin67]

Use a plank to spread your weight if you find you are going into the raised bed. Alternatively have the beds no more than a comfortable arm's length from every edge for ease of access.

If you do many raised beds before you are ready to use them, use some newspaper to suppress the weeds and make your life easier.

[3759allen]

as said it depends if you can reach the middle.

i'm about to build a large raised bed myself and am looking to run some sort of grab rail down the middle to lean on, and /or rest boards on whilst working in the bed. i'm hoping this way i won't loose as much space, as there won't be need for another path

[adri123]

The grab rail sounds like hard work.  Go for the path and be comfy I'd say...

Adri

[cadalot]

Have a look at YnFh62j3sOolist=UU6YgvyGnc7HBvBEVAeDnsiw

He also has filling and a Q&A about Raise Beds on his channel

At the end of the day it's what your happy working with, and what's best for you. My beds are not raised but I still made them 8 x 4 ft with 2 ft paths around so they are easy to work without stretching too much

[Kevin67]

Earlier this year I prepared a plot and decided to favour stretching a little bit instead of a path. This summer just gone, I had an amazing fall that wouldn't have happened had I had a path of sorts and I'm still in pain now. 10 extra carrots just isn't worth it.

[mumofstig]

Just lay a plank across the middle for walking on - works for me 

[simonwatson]

Speaking from experience, mine are 6 feet wide and 12 feet long and that's too wide. The trouble with laying a plank across is that sometimes you end up flattening something in order to place the plank.

[ptarmigan]

They'll be OK if you put a plank across them to step or lean on - just bear in mind that you'll have to leave a gap for that when planting.  Mine are 4 foot wide and I still have to put a plank down in order to sow in the middle of the beds - but it's fine - work well. Second the idea above of putting some cover down on them over the winter - cardboard weighed down with bricks or manure or compost if you have it.  That'll start the worms working and keep it a bit warmer for them. 

[upthetump]

My beds are  2.4M X 1.2M. they are easy to work on and I make the paths as narrow as possible (18" mostly)

[Kristen]

My beds are 4' wide, and the length of my plot (which makes it quite a long way to walk to the end of the bed to then get around to the far side!)

My paths are a bit more than 18" (I'd need to measure them to be sure ...)  I decided on the width based on the space I needed to kneel in the path, to weed etc., and to "park" a barrow easily.

[Welsh Merf]

Mmm . . . some very interesting replies - thanks very much! I guess it looks like the plank across the middle as an answer. I only made them that size because that was the length of the boards when I got them.

On the manure point that some of you mentioned, there are tonnes of the stuff on the allotment (horse manure),  but there's lots of straw mixed in with it. I've used it before, and not too many weeds developed from it, so I'll be finishing digging over the second bed on Saturday, and then covering them both with manure over the winter.

[cadalot]

Merf - They make a thing called a saw  so you could always cut two 2.5m in half and get beds 1.25 x 2.5   

[Welsh Merf]

  very witty! I actually have a chainsaw and a plethora of other saws - but I now have a cunning plan!