Come one Nick, you know sharing is caring. 
2 of six. Still being filled with a mixture of domestic compost, manure, bought in compost and soil.
Each bed is 13 foot long, roughly 2 foot high and 4.5 foot wide. Steel tubes inside some of them to provide anchor sites for blue pipe for mesh or polythene, or bamboo/willow for beans and such.
Shan
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I'd line the sides so you don't have soil escaping between the board gaps - believe me, they get bigger with time... or maybe, that's just J's carpentry....
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dpack
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nice
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Nick
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I'd line the sides so you don't have soil escaping between the board gaps - believe me, they get bigger with time... or maybe, that's just J's carpentry.... |
Yeah, it's on the list of things to do. I think just a double layer of polythene (it's not thick), stapled there should last long enough.
dpack
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out of uv from sunlight polythene is pretty stable if you dont poke it
owt over 250 gm will do fine for liners
about as thick as a cheap sous vide bag is an odd measurement but perhaps explanatory
polythene 500 gm has done my sides liner for the raised border thing for 12 years, it will probably see me out , overkill
or it won't matter as i am developing a cornish bank
as your wood is untreated is a liner required?
i only use them if the wood is deliberately toxic to separate it from the soil, liners do not reduce and sometimes encourage rot in untreated wood( a scorching with a blowtorch (or other more amusing means) is fun and good practice with naked untreated wood, the tars and resins from toasted softwoods with fewer "splinters" repels water and vermin, and it is cheap and fun to do)
under engineer cleverly, if a bit of soil escapes so what?
on balance i would not go for liner unless the "container" was toxic timber
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Nick
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The alternative quick and simple plan is I’ve some pine cladding type boards and some lengths of decking. Nailed over the joints on the outside would solve both issues.
I need another trailer load of compost anyway so no rush.
Local place allows you to turn up with *any* trailer. £20 for a large one, £10 for a small one. They laughed at my SiL and filled it for free because it was only 8x5. Big recycling place and it’s cash for the operatives, apparently. Either way, it’s good stuff of slightly alkaline and a little low on nitrogen according to the experts at the local allotments. I have tons of horse shit and fermenting hay, which is apparently the answer. We shall see.
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Treacodactyl
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I feel a tad inadequate. I only have one bath laying about the garden and that's far more rusty.
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Shan
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I'm slightly curious as to how he ended up with so many bath tubs lying around?
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Nick
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We have four 
One came from our bathroom during a refit. The others are handy pig troughs, runner bean beds and such. They’ve just ... accumulated. I’m particularly fond of the avocado one.
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Shan
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How do they just accumulate? It's not like they breed or charge about in herds or flocks...
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Slim
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You haven't even bothered to turn one into a redneck hot tub?
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Nick
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You haven't even bothered to turn one into a redneck hot tub? |
Possibly my biggest achievement in lock down was getting running water to the property.
As for a hot tub, the wife would kill for one. I can’t imagine anything worse.
I’ve seen IBCs used as one. Classic.
As for baths. Farmers tend to save them as water troughs as they get thrown out or whatever. The field three down from us had loads in. We ... acquired a couple when the original owner did a bunk for tax evasion.
Mistress Rose
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You might find those beds are a bit wide to work easily from the sides. We started with beds about that size, but have reduced the width to about 1m so that it is easier to reach the middle, otherwise you have to stand on the bed, or get a bit of a hollow in the middle when you are trying to dig from the sides.
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sgt.colon
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Looking good Nick. I like how you have roped the dog in to helping as well.
Have you decided what you are going to grow in them?
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Slim
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You think he's just suddenly taking up an interest in growing in raised beds?
Clearly they're that large to hide bodies in. Hence the dog coming to check out odors before they're fully masked by compost
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Nick
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You think he's just suddenly taking up an interest in growing in raised beds?
Clearly they're that large to hide bodies in. Hence the dog coming to check out odors before they're fully masked by compost |
No. This is wrong. A LIE.
My kids have left home. And decided not to take their phones with them. That's what happened.
Nick
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Looking good Nick. I like how you have roped the dog in to helping as well.
Have you decided what you are going to grow in them? |
Well. Beans (runners and French), peas, onions, sweetcorn, red cabbage and rocket were winners last year. I've added in beetroot, leeks and pak choi into the mix so far. Also some spuds for one of the heavier beds, to break it up a bit. And strawberries and cut flowers in one. Baths get used for sweetpeas, successfully. Plus the asparagus bed, and I appear to have bought, on Shan's hearty reccomendation, some Jerusalem Artichokes. They'll go in a bath, too, I suspect. Last time I planted them we got rid of them eventually, by selling the house.
Greenhouse is for tomatoes and chillies. My usual supplier has let me down this year, so I'm having to plant my own.
ETA. Obviously, I’ll be planting far too many courgette plants.
Nick
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You might find those beds are a bit wide to work easily from the sides. We started with beds about that size, but have reduced the width to about 1m so that it is easier to reach the middle, otherwise you have to stand on the bed, or get a bit of a hollow in the middle when you are trying to dig from the sides. |
Yeah, they're about the widest we can easily manage, but I also have a handy pair of planks that can sit over, as a bridge if needed. We ran one double length bed last year, I've just added several more similar (actually, slightly narrower).
Shan
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Looking good Nick. I like how you have roped the dog in to helping as well.
Have you decided what you are going to grow in them? |
Well. Beans (runners and French), peas, onions, sweetcorn, red cabbage and rocket were winners last year. I've added in beetroot, leeks and pak choi into the mix so far. Also some spuds for one of the heavier beds, to break it up a bit. And strawberries and cut flowers in one. Baths get used for sweetpeas, successfully. Plus the asparagus bed, and I appear to have bought, on Shan's hearty reccomendation, some Jerusalem Artichokes. They'll go in a bath, too, I suspect. Last time I planted them we got rid of them eventually, by selling the house.
Greenhouse is for tomatoes and chillies. My usual supplier has let me down this year, so I'm having to plant my own.
You're 'special'. I wouldn't wish them on anyone else.
Nick
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Looking good Nick. I like how you have roped the dog in to helping as well.
Have you decided what you are going to grow in them? |
Well. Beans (runners and French), peas, onions, sweetcorn, red cabbage and rocket were winners last year. I've added in beetroot, leeks and pak choi into the mix so far. Also some spuds for one of the heavier beds, to break it up a bit. And strawberries and cut flowers in one. Baths get used for sweetpeas, successfully. Plus the asparagus bed, and I appear to have bought, on Shan's hearty reccomendation, some Jerusalem Artichokes. They'll go in a bath, too, I suspect. Last time I planted them we got rid of them eventually, by selling the house.
Greenhouse is for tomatoes and chillies. My usual supplier has let me down this year, so I'm having to plant my own.
You're 'special'. I wouldn't wish them on anyone else.
They are the vegetable that keeps on giving. Louise will enjoy them immensely.
dpack
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bath tubs are ace, beds or troughs or dark cloches for forcing asparagus to give the white blanched delicate version
good for cave rhubarb as well
done hillbilly hot tub, i preferred the sauna/spring combo but a soak in warm water in a blizzard was rather nice
that was direct heating of a steel bath with a tray fire and a plank to sit on as the base got a bit warm or the water got cold
i have seen them made by using a central heating radiator over a fire and convection heating via plughole and overflow which allows for using plastic ones as well as metal ones
naked in a pot with a fire under it, in a blizzard does not sound relaxing but it is oddly pleasant
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Shan
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Looking good Nick. I like how you have roped the dog in to helping as well.
Have you decided what you are going to grow in them? |
Well. Beans (runners and French), peas, onions, sweetcorn, red cabbage and rocket were winners last year. I've added in beetroot, leeks and pak choi into the mix so far. Also some spuds for one of the heavier beds, to break it up a bit. And strawberries and cut flowers in one. Baths get used for sweetpeas, successfully. Plus the asparagus bed, and I appear to have bought, on Shan's hearty reccomendation, some Jerusalem Artichokes. They'll go in a bath, too, I suspect. Last time I planted them we got rid of them eventually, by selling the house.
Greenhouse is for tomatoes and chillies. My usual supplier has let me down this year, so I'm having to plant my own.
You're 'special'. I wouldn't wish them on anyone else.
They are the vegetable that keeps on giving. Louise will enjoy them immensely.
Self generated tub bubbles?
Nick
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Looking good Nick. I like how you have roped the dog in to helping as well.
Have you decided what you are going to grow in them? |
Well. Beans (runners and French), peas, onions, sweetcorn, red cabbage and rocket were winners last year. I've added in beetroot, leeks and pak choi into the mix so far. Also some spuds for one of the heavier beds, to break it up a bit. And strawberries and cut flowers in one. Baths get used for sweetpeas, successfully. Plus the asparagus bed, and I appear to have bought, on Shan's hearty reccomendation, some Jerusalem Artichokes. They'll go in a bath, too, I suspect. Last time I planted them we got rid of them eventually, by selling the house.
Greenhouse is for tomatoes and chillies. My usual supplier has let me down this year, so I'm having to plant my own.
You're 'special'. I wouldn't wish them on anyone else.
They are the vegetable that keeps on giving. Louise will enjoy them immensely.
Self generated tub bubbles?
Redneck jacuzzi.
Now then. Poly tunnel. We’ve a space for one. Lots of frames on ebay. Are replacement skins easily available off the roll, to fit any size?
gz
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We will have to have our next skillshare with you Nick!
When I had a garden with lots of beds they were 4 foot by 20 foot, with lawnmower wide paths. (24 beds). Wide enough to grow a decent amount, and have alkathene pipe and polythene mini polytunnels. (A la Titchmarsh)
My DiL uses baths for growing in their allotment polytunnel...they have problems with Mares Tail (equisetum).
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Nick
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HA! I haven't yet grown anything except brambles.
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Shan
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Looking good Nick. I like how you have roped the dog in to helping as well.
Have you decided what you are going to grow in them? |
Well. Beans (runners and French), peas, onions, sweetcorn, red cabbage and rocket were winners last year. I've added in beetroot, leeks and pak choi into the mix so far. Also some spuds for one of the heavier beds, to break it up a bit. And strawberries and cut flowers in one. Baths get used for sweetpeas, successfully. Plus the asparagus bed, and I appear to have bought, on Shan's hearty reccomendation, some Jerusalem Artichokes. They'll go in a bath, too, I suspect. Last time I planted them we got rid of them eventually, by selling the house.
Greenhouse is for tomatoes and chillies. My usual supplier has let me down this year, so I'm having to plant my own.
You're 'special'. I wouldn't wish them on anyone else.
They are the vegetable that keeps on giving. Louise will enjoy them immensely.
Self generated tub bubbles?
Redneck jacuzzi.
Now then. Poly tunnel. We’ve a space for one. Lots of frames on ebay. Are replacement skins easily available off the roll, to fit any size?
How on earth would I know - I spend my life replacing sheets of glass on the damn greenhouse, not plastic sleeves on poly tunnels.
PS the 'bubble tub' is about to become another casualty. Will be up for sale, in May. 
Nick
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Poly carbonate in the greenhouse. Rookie error there.
I thought the bubble tub was going to be your new chicken house on the mountain?
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Shan
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No. I don't do polycarbonate.
After drawing up a list of what needs to happen, we came to the conclusion that it was one bridge too far. J is now actually refusing to even look at 'the list'.
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Nick
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No. I don't do polycarbonate.
After drawing up a list of what needs to happen, we came to the conclusion that it was one bridge too far. J is now actually refusing to even look at 'the list'. |
ROFLMAO.
sgt.colon
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Looking good Nick. I like how you have roped the dog in to helping as well.
Have you decided what you are going to grow in them? |
Well. Beans (runners and French), peas, onions, sweetcorn, red cabbage and rocket were winners last year. I've added in beetroot, leeks and pak choi into the mix so far. Also some spuds for one of the heavier beds, to break it up a bit. And strawberries and cut flowers in one. Baths get used for sweetpeas, successfully. Plus the asparagus bed, and I appear to have bought, on Shan's hearty reccomendation, some Jerusalem Artichokes. They'll go in a bath, too, I suspect. Last time I planted them we got rid of them eventually, by selling the house.
Greenhouse is for tomatoes and chillies. My usual supplier has let me down this year, so I'm having to plant my own.
ETA. Obviously, I’ll be planting far too many courgette plants.
Sounds like you should have a busy and productive year.
Never tried Jerusalem Artichokes. Are they nice?
Shan
|
Looking good Nick. I like how you have roped the dog in to helping as well.
Have you decided what you are going to grow in them? |
Well. Beans (runners and French), peas, onions, sweetcorn, red cabbage and rocket were winners last year. I've added in beetroot, leeks and pak choi into the mix so far. Also some spuds for one of the heavier beds, to break it up a bit. And strawberries and cut flowers in one. Baths get used for sweetpeas, successfully. Plus the asparagus bed, and I appear to have bought, on Shan's hearty reccomendation, some Jerusalem Artichokes. They'll go in a bath, too, I suspect. Last time I planted them we got rid of them eventually, by selling the house.
Greenhouse is for tomatoes and chillies. My usual supplier has let me down this year, so I'm having to plant my own.
ETA. Obviously, I’ll be planting far too many courgette plants.
You cheeky arse.
dpack
|
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Nick
|
Looking good Nick. I like how you have roped the dog in to helping as well.
Have you decided what you are going to grow in them? |
Well. Beans (runners and French), peas, onions, sweetcorn, red cabbage and rocket were winners last year. I've added in beetroot, leeks and pak choi into the mix so far. Also some spuds for one of the heavier beds, to break it up a bit. And strawberries and cut flowers in one. Baths get used for sweetpeas, successfully. Plus the asparagus bed, and I appear to have bought, on Shan's hearty reccomendation, some Jerusalem Artichokes. They'll go in a bath, too, I suspect. Last time I planted them we got rid of them eventually, by selling the house.
Greenhouse is for tomatoes and chillies. My usual supplier has let me down this year, so I'm having to plant my own.
ETA. Obviously, I’ll be planting far too many courgette plants.
You cheeky arse.
🤷♂️?
Nick
|
Looking good Nick. I like how you have roped the dog in to helping as well.
Have you decided what you are going to grow in them? |
ETA. Obviously, I’ll be planting far too many courgette plants.
Sounds like you should have a busy and productive year.
Never tried Jerusalem Artichokes. Are they nice?
Yeah. I like them. Sort of nutty potato. Good roasted or in soup. Dead easy to grow. Impossible to get rid of. Make you fart. That’s about all you need to know.
Shan
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May your Asparagus cross breed with your Jerusalem artichoke.....
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dpack
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ja's are ace if you have sunny space, they are robust
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Nick
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ja's are ace if you have sunny space, they are robust |
Robust. Before and after harvest.
sgt.colon
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| Quote: | | Farting and hard to get rid of |
Hmmmmm, you've not really sold them to me. 
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Nick
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| Quote: | | Farting and hard to get rid of |
Hmmmmm, you've not really sold them to me. |
Sounds like every husband, ever.
sgt.colon
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Mistress Rose
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Managed to finally get my seed potatoes in. They are in the new raised beds, and it was most noticeable that the bed which had a lot of charcoal in it was far more moist than the other. I also managed to find a bit of room in one of the other beds for the leeks, so they are now in too, but will need watering on a regular basis for a bit.
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dpack
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back to ja, ace things, tasty and nutritious
pretty as well
the farty bit is no problem if we keep it local and one community after a nice soup or stew base
the farty bit is often overestimated and is far outbid by tasty and very good food.
they are vigorous in a nice spot but eating some can keep that under control
the dpack scales of judgement are very much in their favour
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Mistress Rose
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Jerusalem artichokes are also nice baked or roasted. I clean them well and leave them in their skins, then the skins can be removed as they are eaten.
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Nick
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I got my asparagus planted yesterday. This raised bed connects with the earth, the others remain bottomed with weed control fabric. All are now full of a mixture of rotting hay, manure, compost and soil. Peas and onions in, and poking thru. JA planted but container bound. Everything else can wait...
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dpack
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that seems right, asparagus is a hungry beast if you want a good crop and deep, rich and connected to the earth is ideal.
ja contained is a wise plan, ditto horseradish if you like the stuff
at the mo my black mint has gone free-range for a while so as the centipedes can get the weevils out of the roots 
if they manage it will be repotted before it gets invasive
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Mistress Rose
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Nick, if you can get hold of some charcoal fines, it will keep the moisture and nutrients in the soil longer. I just planted out my seed potatoes in two similar beds and the one with a lot of charcoal in it had far more moisture than the one without.
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