[sunshineband]

Joining this thread a bit late but
1. I have raised beds because the soil underneath is such rubbish -- stony field
2. If I had decent soil I would've gone for lazy beds as they wouldve been cheaper to make and as easy to maintain

it's horses for courses IMHO 

[David.]

How not to make raised beds!

On this plot (not mine) they started by driving there with a brushcutter for a couple of weeks, then brought a tractor & trailer to take the cuttings away, a tractor again to bring a rotorvator + those (bookcase) raised beds and yet another tractor/trailer trip with a load of manure, all for 2 tiny raised beds that are only about 800mm wide on a plot over 10 poles!



But actually cultivating anything in them appears to have been too much, as this is what they currently look like:

[Eatyourgreens]

Says it all 


But don't tar all RB'ers with the same brush as I am sure there are lots of example of ordinary plots and gardens in an equal state of inactivity 


Bob

[David.]

But don't tar all RB'ers with the same brush as I am sure there are lots of example of ordinary plots and gardens in an equal state of inactivity 

It was not the inactivity within the RB's that I was tar brushing, but the incredible waste of (surrounding) space/effort/etc.

[Celery]

Today I put 5 potato in one of those building bags.I am planoing on watering it every other day
             celery

[Eatyourgreens]

I would reckon all of it needs having a go at David, so many people become gardeners and give up within a few days because they realised it is a bit more of a commitment than they thought, if this is on an allotment there should be ways to take the plot back and give it to someone who will use it.


Bob

[Yabba]

so many people become gardeners and give up within a few days because they realised it is a bit more of a commitment than they thought

Bob

flip side is people like me, I started off with a couple of beds that I could only use during summer, they're a tad "damp" rest of the year ... then gained an 8' x 6' greenhouse, then expanded into slightly more beds ( that's this year ), and then will ( hopefully, if I keep it up this year ) expand into even more beds next year ... or I'll make shedloads of mistakes and make better use of the same space next year

Whilst I help grow flowers every day, I've never considered myself a gardener, and still don't, ( and only grow veg / fruit/ urm ... other things you can eat ... because I love the whole seed -> plant -> plate route ) so I've always tried to "prove" myself at every step.

I still haven't proved to myself that I can run an allotment sized plot though, so I'm not on a waiting list

¥