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Allotment Gardening
Grow all you can eat on your own allotment.
grow your own
20:32, 10th May 2014
Smallholding for Sale in North Devon
Three bedroom detached house in 18 acres for sale - North Devon, UK
smallholding
20:48, 17th Mar 2013
Nettles
Find out more about nettles - how to benefit from them and how to get rid of them
foraging
16:12, 13th Apr 2012
Making Nettle Beer
Find out how to make your nettle beer
recipes
16:10, 13th Apr 2012
How to Make Sloe Gin
Find out how to make your own sloe gin
recipes
14:40, 13th Apr 2012
Grow Your Own Chilli Peppers
Find out how to grow your own chilli peppers
grow your own
13:33, 16th Mar 2012
Home Beekeeping
Find out more about keeping bees in your garden for honey
grow your own
15:40, 4th Jan 2012
Storing Apples
Find out how to store apples
fruits
13:23, 28th Jul 2011
Raised Beds
Learn how to build and use raised growing beds.
Raised Beds
grow your ownOne sure fire way to damage the structure of your soil is to walk on it - therefore raised beds or slightly elevated beds of soil can be built which can be walked around, and planted and harvested with ease. Raising the level of the soil keeps away some weeds, and promotes good drainage. The can also act as a barrier to snails and slugs.
Pictured above is an example of how you can make a raised vegetable growing bed out of planks of 6" x 1" wood and some 18" lengths of 4" x 4". The picture is pretty self explanatory and construction very simple. The area which is to become the vegetable plot should then be double dug over and the soil heaped in the centre away from the sides. The completed wooden structure is then turned upside down and the corners hammered one by one and inch by inch into the earth. If the raised plot is more then 6 feet long then additional 4" x 4" stakes should be added at 3 feet intervals to prevent the soil leaking out from bowed and twisted wood.
Use a spirit level to ensure that the raised area is level in all directions. As soon as it is level mix any soil improvement material (manure, compost, fertilizer etc) with the soil and spread it all out. Water the bed evenly with a fine spray and leave the soil to settle for a few days after which another inch or two of soil will need to be added.
It is very important that treated wood is not used. It contains preservative chemicals which will leach into the soil over time and therefore into the vegetables you grow. Instead use naturally rot resistant wood.
Article Published: 17:13, 15th Apr 2006
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Use a wireless thermometer to track the temperature in your greenhouse
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Crop Rotation
Find out more about the importance of crop rotation
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Allotment Gardening
Grow all you can eat on your own allotment.
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Making Compost
Find out how to make your own compost
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Types of Soil
Learn about the different types of soil
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Growing Redcurrants
Find out more about growing your own redcurrants
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