Forum prizewinner Laurence Ireland is a raised bed enthusiast
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| Laurence's raised beds surrounded by pots
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| Taken from the roof: raised beds under construction
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| Crops under cover using Enviromesh
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'Each year you just need to keep adding compost, which you make from your old veg matter.'
Raised bed enthusiast Laurence Ireland of Somerton was one of two forum prizewinners in December 2007.
Laurence explains: 'I'm a big advocate of raised beds which can be 15-30cm (6 to 12in)
high. They are usually 1.2m (4ft) wide and whatever length you choose.
Leave at least 45cm (1½ft) between beds as a path. This means you can reach to the middle from either side easily, and therefore don't need to dig the bed after its first preparation, because you are not walking on the soil.
'Other advantages are you can plan what you grow, and where, more
easily. If you plan to rotate crops – and I recommend you do – that is
easier to work out also. The beds warm up quicker and it is easy to be
creative to make covers for them.
'Each year you just need to keep adding compost, which you make from your old veg matter.'
* Join Laurence and discuss veg-growing and raised beds on the forum.
*For more on Gardening.co.uk members and their gardens, see Related Articles at the bottom of this page.
denotes Subscriber-only content | Wednesday 23 July 2008 | Help | Glossary 
