Raised bed veggie garden
- Thread starter NS Gearhead
- Start date
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2LaneCruzer
Super Member
Don't know if you have gopher problems, but now would be a good time to line the bottom with hardware cloth. I had to make some little baskets out of hardware cloth to plant my tomatoes and peppers in because of gopher damage. They work really well, but are a PITA. Better to keep them out entirely...besides they make runs that channel the water away and erode the bed.
charlz
Elite Member
I use the hog/cattle panels that are made out of 1/4" wire with like 6" x 6" holes. You have to train them up it but is pretty easy. During peak vine growing season I just go out every other day and push the new leaders through a hole to the other side. Eventually you have them weaved all the way to the top of the panel. You get some nice looking cukes, straight and no yellow side from where they sat on the ground. I space the plants about 12" apart and alternate sides of panels.
ScottyChip
Silver Member
I think you will get a good harvest from your beds, and a tip for slugs is copper mesh/screen around the perimeter of your bed. Check out Vesey's seeds site, they sell the mesh. I have the copper but I haven't put in place yet, that will be for next season. Enjoy your bounty.
OP
NS Gearhead
Veteran Member
I do plan to put in an irrigation system. Probably a manual timer. Just twist it to 10min or whatever before I leave for work... it's right beside where I park. I thought of a fully automated system, but then if it rained, or is going to rain, I'd have to overide it... just as easy (and cheaper) to start it when I want it. A quick search shows $15 for a timer and $15 for a length of hose.
OP
NS Gearhead
Veteran Member
Sounds ideal... but dunno where I'd get that around here. Sounds the same as concrete mesh we use here at work. Not sure if it's SS or steel. SS would be sweet!
OldMcDonald
Platinum Member
Am I right in thinking that the fabric you intend to line the bottom with will prevent anything growing through it ? If so, you will need to treat your beds in a similar manner to pots or tubs. The depth is insufficient for many species' natural rooting depth and so they will need to be kept well fed and watered. Otherwise I am sure it will work extremely well. I have used raised beds for well over 20 years without a restricting depth or any sides. It does give better control of all aspects of production, from seeding to harvest. I have the space to leave paths in between the beds.
Before anyone argues about plants being shallow rooted and feeding only in the top few inches etc., please Google Professor John E Weaver, University of Nebraska and see if you can access his 1927 book Root Development of Vegetable Crops. His co-author was William E Bruner. The book was a companion to Weaver's Root Development of Field Crops. I have electronic copies of both. I believe they are still available from Soil and Health Library along with a wide range of very interesting other old books, and some not so old. I have no connection with soilandhealth, but I have downloaded a lot of reading material from them.
Before anyone argues about plants being shallow rooted and feeding only in the top few inches etc., please Google Professor John E Weaver, University of Nebraska and see if you can access his 1927 book Root Development of Vegetable Crops. His co-author was William E Bruner. The book was a companion to Weaver's Root Development of Field Crops. I have electronic copies of both. I believe they are still available from Soil and Health Library along with a wide range of very interesting other old books, and some not so old. I have no connection with soilandhealth, but I have downloaded a lot of reading material from them.
OP
NS Gearhead
Veteran Member
That's right. The fabric allows water to go through, but not plants. Regardless of the fabric, the gravel base probably wouldn't allow for much to penetrate anyway. From what I've read the only thing I couldn't plant in this type of planter would be potatoes.
Anyone else weigh in on using vermiculite in the garden? Seems weird to use something that insulates houses... but I'm still interested.
Anyone else weigh in on using vermiculite in the garden? Seems weird to use something that insulates houses... but I'm still interested.