Our weekend project! Soil comes later this week. Any suggestions on the best layouts for these beds? Also, I was planning on direct sowing many seeds – bad idea at this point?
Our weekend project! Soil comes later this week. Any suggestions on the best layouts for these beds? Also, I was planning on direct sowing many seeds – bad idea at this point?
by seaofwonder
15 Comments
HorizontalBob
When was your last frost date? I’m direct sowing some stuff next weekend with a frost date coming up, but peas were already direct sown.
Those pavers look like ankle twisters.
3DMakaka
Nice looking beds!
KaraBoo723
I hope the soil you get is good, I did the same thing last year and it turned out the soil was terrible. I had to dig it out and put all new soil in this spring 🙁 You might want to double-check the soil contents before delivery. And maybe buy some compost to add in too?
Direct sowing seeds depends on your climate or growing zone. Where I live (zone 6a), if I direct sowed seeds now, the plants would not likely produce fruit until too late in the season. Maybe consider a mix of seeds and purchasing a few already growing/sprouted plants from a trusted local garden center? That way if the seeds take too long to grow at least you get something?
sarge1000
Space them so as a wheelbarrow can move between them
procrasstinating
Space them far enough apart so a wheel barrow can get in between, turn sideways and dump a load. Farther apart also allow for space when mature plants turn jungle style and hang over the rows. Also allows for a trellis or arch from one box to the next with room to walk under and harvest.
ooojaeger
Cucumbers, beans, squash, collards are all good to direct sow now
Terrykrinkle
Flooding is gonna be an issue.
AtmosphereTurbulent8
Take a look a r/SquareFootGardening for bed layout ideas
AnxietyJunky
Hey! Are you treating the wood or sealing it with anything?
mad_science_
I would overfill the beds quite aggressively as the new soil will settle over time, at least mine did, when I was in your shoes two years ago.
Also for me, the initial soil/compost was still rather warm/hot, likely still not done rotting which caused some problems resulting in many seedlings dying off.
takeachancymf
I recommend (and have) a thick layer of wood mulch in between mine (and no pavers) to keep weeds away and in your case, wet ground soaked up.
Lurkington123
They look fantastic! What kind of wood did you use?
NOPNOFNOG12
Those large square beds might be difficult to work the middle of, you might want to consider planting around a couple stepping stones to be able to get around.
Abcdezyx54321
Not sure where you are located and length of growing season but you can likely still direct sow certain things.
NoAd3438
Spacing that allows you to work around the beds. I might put a board on the top of the sides of the bed I intend to work from, like a bench seat to sit on or lean over.
15 Comments
When was your last frost date? I’m direct sowing some stuff next weekend with a frost date coming up, but peas were already direct sown.
Those pavers look like ankle twisters.
Nice looking beds!
I hope the soil you get is good, I did the same thing last year and it turned out the soil was terrible. I had to dig it out and put all new soil in this spring 🙁 You might want to double-check the soil contents before delivery. And maybe buy some compost to add in too?
Direct sowing seeds depends on your climate or growing zone. Where I live (zone 6a), if I direct sowed seeds now, the plants would not likely produce fruit until too late in the season. Maybe consider a mix of seeds and purchasing a few already growing/sprouted plants from a trusted local garden center? That way if the seeds take too long to grow at least you get something?
Space them so as a wheelbarrow can move between them
Space them far enough apart so a wheel barrow can get in between, turn sideways and dump a load. Farther apart also allow for space when mature plants turn jungle style and hang over the rows. Also allows for a trellis or arch from one box to the next with room to walk under and harvest.
Cucumbers, beans, squash, collards are all good to direct sow now
Flooding is gonna be an issue.
Take a look a r/SquareFootGardening for bed layout ideas
Hey! Are you treating the wood or sealing it with anything?
I would overfill the beds quite aggressively as the new soil will settle over time, at least mine did, when I was in your shoes two years ago.
Also for me, the initial soil/compost was still rather warm/hot, likely still not done rotting which caused some problems resulting in many seedlings dying off.
I recommend (and have) a thick layer of wood mulch in between mine (and no pavers) to keep weeds away and in your case, wet ground soaked up.
They look fantastic! What kind of wood did you use?
Those large square beds might be difficult to work the middle of, you might want to consider planting around a couple stepping stones to be able to get around.
Not sure where you are located and length of growing season but you can likely still direct sow certain things.
Spacing that allows you to work around the beds. I might put a board on the top of the sides of the bed I intend to work from, like a bench seat to sit on or lean over.