Hello Gidster, I am still learning about this, but with RB's (Raised Beds) it's swings and roundabouts, they are great for some stuff, not so for others, and also great for some gardeners and gardens, whilst others hate them as a waste of resources.
I went for RB's because, I had the wood, I didn't want to tackle too large an area (Been there, done that) and I wanted to try them after years of traditional veg gardening.
I have 5 RB's of 12ft by 4ft and a sixth of 16 by 2.5ft divided into five smaller beds for veg/fruits like Courgette etc.
But I am lucky I also have other space, so I have a herb and salad area about the same size as a RB and a larger veg area (About two RB's in area) and you can add a greenhouse, conservatory, large cold frame and a large garden besides.
In my opinion with RB's you are limiting the area you use, but in exchange you have a lot more control of when you crop, so in theory you extend the season in exchange for volume.
You also exchange the harder physical work of a large plot, for the increased thought and micro management needed for a RB system.
For example I am only growing new Potatoes, but I have sowed them in groups of three seeds, planted a week apart for nearly two months, this should give me an eating of tatties fresh from the ground when they are at there dearest. During the winter I buy sacks of spuds from a farmer as they are cheaper than I can grow them (Up here they are). As the tatties are dug up they will be replaced by Leak's
I have all my Onions growing away at the same time, they store well, if I am clever and time it right, they will be harvested and I will replace them with Cabbage and Kale for winter/next spring eating (Planted with proper spacing for full size).
In my other beds it's a case of only sowing a few seeds at a time for cropping through the year. So I sow 5 Broad Beans, 7 turnip seeds, 7 Beetroot seeds etc but I will resow in seeds pots again in a few weeks. All my sowing is done in pots and I can manage (Hopefully) when I plant them and crop them with a lot more precision as I control the environment more than on a large plot. (Well that's the theory).
With Brassica's you do need to think a bit more about spacing, to get a Brussels Sprout to give you healthy sprouts, the plants do need space, they will grow if you crowd them but not really give you sprouts, as in what you see in a well spaced out bed, the same can be said of Caulie's, and hearting Cabbages, I think the plants have a "don't crowd me gene". You can grow Cabbage that don't heart or summer Cabbages at much closer spacing, but they would prefer more space if you can give it.
So you want to consider inter-cropping any larger Brassicas with fast growing cash crops like Lettuce started in pots so they are ready in weeks, small summer Carrots etc, or as Peapod says, try to grow smaller numbers spread through the year or put in another bed just for the Brassica overspill.
Hope that makes sense.
Bob
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June 14, 2009, 09:14