Cold Morning on Plot

**Bill HH** · 25-11-2013, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by vegboi View Post

Odd question what size raised beds does everyone get I can't deceive my width is 12ft just wondering do I go smaller,

One of the ideas of raised beds is that they are narrow enough to allow you to weed and cultivate them without walking on (and compacting) the soil. So if you have access to both sides then 6 feet would seem reasonable. I would say yours are to wide to avoid walking on. I have read somewhere that 4ft is regarded as the ideal.

**Fleurisa** · 25-11-2013, 10:43 AM

Depends whether you have go go gadget arms! (Inspector Gadget in case you are too young or old to get my reference)

**vegboi** · 25-11-2013, 11:48 AM

So should I get 12ft by 4ft or 6ft by 3 ? I am thick

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**veggiechicken** · 25-11-2013, 11:56 AM

Squat down and see how far you can reach comfortably - say its 2' - then double it. This would give you 4' wide beds that you can reach from both sides without walking on the soil.

**Bigmallly** · 25-11-2013, 12:08 PM

Vegboi, what are ther dimensions of the area you are are wishing to put raised beds on & are there any fences already in place as they will have to be taken into consideration........just going by your photos as 2 areas look to have permanent fences.

**Bill HH** · 25-11-2013, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by vegboi View Post

So should I get 12ft by 4ft or 6ft by 3 ? I am thick

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You can have any length you want, its only the width we are talking about, and that is depending on how far you can reach to get to the middle of the bed. A 4ft width is comfortable but you might think you can reach further, measure your reach , if you can access both sides then the best width is your reach doubled.

**Bren In Pots** · 25-11-2013, 01:38 PM

Don't have your beds too long or you'll be tempted to jump over instead of walking all the way around.

**johnjohn** · 25-11-2013, 03:53 PM

I've only just made mine but I know that the 4ft wide beds are going to be easier to manage than my wider 6ft ones but I made them big on purpose- they are the same internal size as my blowaway polytunnel frame that I will be using as a brassica cage.

You may also want to consider other things like space between the beds. Mine are wide enough to kneel between when facing forward, others might consider that to be a waste of growing space and want narrower paths.

**Martin H** · 25-11-2013, 08:14 PM

I have no-dig beds rather than raised ones. I made them 4' 6" wide as per RHS recommendations, but it's a bit of a stretch to plant in the middle even with my quite long arms.

Also my 15" paths are a bit narrow, I end up facing sideways if I have to kneel down to work on the beds.

So I'm thinking about shaving 3" off the beds and adding it to the paths...

**Chippy Minton** · 25-11-2013, 10:03 PM

We went for 6' x 4' in the garden and 4' x 10' across the plot as it's 10' wide

**vegboi** · 26-11-2013, 07:48 AM

Originally posted by Bigmallly View Post

Vegboi, what are ther dimensions of the area you are are wishing to put raised beds on & are there any fences already in place as they will have to be taken into consideration........just going by your photos as 2 areas look to have permanent fences.

Hi Big Mally

Yes I have two permanent fences on the plot why do I need to consider them? I am thick I know

And I measure I could get 10 12x4ft beds in both sides

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**vegboi** · 26-11-2013, 07:50 AM

Originally posted by Bren In Pots View Post

Don't have your beds too long or you'll be tempted to jump over instead of walking all the way around.

Ahh I was wondering go they need to be the length of the bed or would it look odd so if the bed is 22ft do I go for two 6ft by 4ft?

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**Bigmallly** · 26-11-2013, 07:54 AM

Originally posted by vegboi View Post

Yes I have two permanent fences on the plot why do I need to consider them? I am thick I know

The reason I was asking is because you will not be able to access the beds from the fenced end so the 4' width needs to be parralel to the fence if that makes sense. If you put the 12' length parralel to the fence, you will have to step on the soil to get to the fence side..........I don't think I'm explaining myself too well.

**vegboi** · 26-11-2013, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by Bigmallly View Post

The reason I was asking is because you will not be able to access the beds from the fenced end so the 4' width needs to be parralel to the fence if that makes sense. If you put the 12' length parralel to the fence, you will have to step on the soil to get to the fence side..........I don't think I'm explaining myself too well.

Ahh never thought of that your a genius, you are making sense just I'm useless at DIY, so the beds dint need to be the length of the bed?

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