Rejuvenating my raised beds

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alan bell

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Rejuvenating my raised beds
« on: August 26, 2009, 11:57 »
I started gardening using Mel Bartholomew's "Square Foot Gardening" book as a guide.
I use a 6"raised bed/box system for some of my garden, and use real soil in raised beds elsewhere.
I was a little disappointed with some of my veg this year, and want to rejuvenate the compost mix that I use in the boxes.
Basically the mix comprises 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 peat moss and 1/3 mixed commercial composts.
I have emptied the largest box, and seived the mixture to remove the root material from finished crops, and get back to the original mixture and its consistency.
The root fibres were becoming pretty substantial.
I plan to add some garden compost before putting the mix back in the boxes, and I'll probably wait until spring.
Can you more experienced gardeners advise on suitable additional nutrients to give me a really effective growing medium?
I've got a soil tester and guess I'd like to achieve a pH suitable for a pretty wide range of veg. I'll grow Brassicas, carrots and beans  elsewhere.
Thanks in anticipation.

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peapod

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Re: Rejuvenating my raised beds
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2009, 21:45 »
Bringing this back to the top for any other replies, but Im planning on using blood fish and bone mix, and miracle grow type feed
"I think the carrot infinitely more fascinating than the geranium. The carrot has mystery. Flowers are essentially tarts. Prostitutes for the bees. There is, you'll agree, a certain je ne sais quoi oh so very special about a firm young carrot" Withnail and I

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mumofstig

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Re: Rejuvenating my raised beds
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2009, 22:04 »
Just thinking out loud you understand, but would it be worth adding some soil based compost to give the mix some 'body'.
I also don't understand the need to remove roots from the beds, these rot in situ... and add nutrients to the soil?
Blood fish and bone, and chicken manure pellets are popular feeds for veg growng.

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cooperman

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Re: Rejuvenating my raised beds
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2009, 22:37 »
depending on what I intend to grow the following year I just top up a wee bit with manure, just spread a thin coating over the top late autumn and the worms take it down during the winter, sorted
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Yorkie

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Re: Rejuvenating my raised beds
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2009, 22:41 »
I'd echo what MoS wrote
I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days all attack me at once...


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