Raised bed / Container - soil and worm query
 

I'm about to build a raised bed on top of a concreted floor. Part of
it shall be growing herbs and the other is for climbers and perenials.
It's about 20 foot long, 2 foot wide and 2 foot high.

In order to fill it, I've gravel for a couple of inches at the base,
then some dead branches I cut off a clematis last autumn which have
just been sat out in the rain and snow all winter, then I was going to
fill with topsoil. I do have a bit of cold compost (the grass
clippings and teabags kind!) but it's not really ready.

Would topsoil alone be sufficient? Does anyone know where I could buy
worms from?

Jules wrote:

I'm about to build a raised bed on top of a concreted floor. Part of
it shall be growing herbs and the other is for climbers and perenials.
It's about 20 foot long, 2 foot wide and 2 foot high.

In order to fill it, I've gravel for a couple of inches at the base,
then some dead branches I cut off a clematis last autumn which have
just been sat out in the rain and snow all winter, then I was going to
fill with topsoil. I do have a bit of cold compost (the grass
clippings and teabags kind!) but it's not really ready.

Would topsoil alone be sufficient? Does anyone know where I could buy
worms from?

Buy worms!? What sort? Why?

--
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the
subject.
-- Winston Churchill

bigboard wrote:
Jules wrote:

I'm about to build a raised bed on top of a concreted floor. Part
of
it shall be growing herbs and the other is for climbers and
perenials. It's about 20 foot long, 2 foot wide and 2 foot high.

In order to fill it, I've gravel for a couple of inches at the
base,
then some dead branches I cut off a clematis last autumn which
have
just been sat out in the rain and snow all winter, then I was
going
to fill with topsoil. I do have a bit of cold compost (the grass
clippings and teabags kind!) but it's not really ready.

Would topsoil alone be sufficient? Does anyone know where I could
buy
worms from?

Buy worms!? What sort? Why?

The soil and compost should be full of them, so no need to buy. Look
under a few stones and things if you want to add a few to your
breeding stock.

Topsoil's fine, even the not brilliant stuff they usually sell you
when you buy it in.

I hope the sides of the raised bed will allow good drainage: if
they're of masonry, they'll need lots of half-brick-sized holes. And
I don't suppose there's any chance of breaking the concrete up a bit,
is there? It would be much better. But, on the other hand, it will
dry out much quicker than an ordinary bed: best to think of it as a
very large container.

Sounds nice: are you going to have things growing out of the sides as
well as on top?

Mike.

darn hadn't thought of having things growing out of the sides until
now....

thanks for the replys

"Jules" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm about to build a raised bed on top of a concreted floor. Part of
it shall be growing herbs and the other is for climbers and perenials.
It's about 20 foot long, 2 foot wide and 2 foot high.

In order to fill it, I've gravel for a couple of inches at the base,
then some dead branches I cut off a clematis last autumn which have
just been sat out in the rain and snow all winter, then I was going to
fill with topsoil. I do have a bit of cold compost (the grass
clippings and teabags kind!) but it's not really ready.

Would topsoil alone be sufficient? Does anyone know where I could buy
worms from?


You may need even more drainage than you are suggesting with the branches
etc....

What will you make the raised beds from ?

I used concrete 'posts' that sort of slot together to make mine. This means that
there is ample opportunity for the water to run away. Pictures and various links
at : http://tinyurl.com/5arrc

Jenny