what is best for a raised vegtable garden??

[TonyB]

hello,

i've just built a raised vegtable garden in my garden. Its about a foot or so high (6 bricks), with it being 2m x 4m roughly in size. As i have to build it up a good foot or so more with soil, I would just like some advice on whats best to do?

Its mainly grass at the minute. i was going to skim this off then lay a sheet of turam down. I can get shingel free and prob top soil cheap. So was going to do 3/4 inches of shingel with 8/9 inches of top soil on top??

Is there better stuff i can use?? I seen somewhere i should put cardboard and hay down?? Which is best?? Also, i am planning to slip the the garden into 4 sections so i can rotate each year. Should i add anything to one particular section as i heard roots prefer sandy soil?? (im completely new to all this...sorry)

thanks a million
tony

[DavidT]

Why use terram and shingle? Just dig the current surface over and top up with the topsoil.

[GreenHouse]

I have also heard that cardboard is used and allowed to rot in the bottom, I think it is used as a weed suppresent. If you are seperating the beds, you could add well rotted manure but do not put any in the bed where root veg is to be grow as it is argued that it causes root veg to fork.

[DavidT]

Weeds don`t grow 8" down. There is no need for terram OR cardboard.

[tweacle]

yeah exactly. I built some raised beds last year and all I put in the was a mix of compost/sharp sand/ topsoil and filled up. Stuff grew a treat. This year just chucked some chic manure pellets in it for goodness.