Hey everyone! I'm wrapping up a five-year garden project and have created three raised beds using some spare oak sleepers. Two of them are about 300mm high, and one is taller at 600mm. I want to grow veggies (and possibly some flowers) with my young kids since they enjoy spending time in their grandparents' greenhouse. Unfortunately, the soil around here is super dense clay, and while I've added manure and compost for the grass, I'm not sure it's good for filling the beds. I'm looking for beginner-friendly plants to grow and advice on what to fill my beds with. Also, should I be using weed suppression at the bottom? Keep in mind that drainage is nearly non-existent because of the clay. Thanks for your insights!
1 Answer
I get what you're asking! If your beds are empty, here's my take: You can either start a compost heap with a mix of kitchen scraps, leaves, and some of that clay soil for good measure (this is trench composting). For a quicker solution, just grab a few bags of manure or compost and mix that with broken-up clay soil to fill the beds halfway. I’d recommend planting seed potatoes on top—potatoes thrive in clay, and they actually help break it up! As they grow, just keep adding compost/manure for a great harvest next season.
Yes, you're right; the beds are currently empty. That’s exactly the advice I needed! I’ve heard potatoes are a good start but wasn’t sure what to fill them with. Thanks for your help!