Help - Raised Garden Bed

[Bill HH]

My garden is undergoing a process of complete refurbishment where soils will be getting lifted and monoblock paving will be done. After that, I don't think many will remain, can I not buy some? If so, how do I release worms? Also, I don't think I've noticed any worms before in my garden.

I have never bought worms but I presume you just sprinkle them on the bed and maybe scatter some soil over them.

[CrackX]

I have never bought worms but I presume you just sprinkle them on the bed and maybe scatter some soil over them.

Is that after filling the garden bed?

[Bill HH]

Is that after filling the garden bed?

Either. They will sort it out.

[CrackX]

I've decided that I am going to save kitchen waste such as vegetable/fruit peelings. I will be using them for the bed. So
1) Lay out a layer of cardboard
2) Few layers of wet crumpled newspaper
3) Add approximately 6" layer of manure mixed with my kitchen waste
4) Fill up the remaining of bed with loamy topsoil
5) Add a layer of multipurpose compost
6) Add 50g of earthworms

I am going to leave the bed for a week to warm it up although I will water it everyday to keep it moist. After a week, I am going to sow butternut squash and courgette seeds.

What do you think?

[Bill HH]

A word of warning do not put potato peelings in, they will all shoot and you will be forever picking them out.

[CrackX]

Aah! Do you think it's worth the bother saving veg/fruit peelings omitting potatoes? Should I just get grass cuttings?

[KevinM67]

Add both, in the same layer.

I don't know how much veg/fruit you (and possibly family) consume; however, the remains pretty much rot away to nothing fairly quickly.

I'm not sure of the weather up your neck of the woods at the moment, but here in Hull - with the constant sunshine and showers, I can effectively watch the grass growing.

Edit to add: when I meant both - veg/fruit & grass cuttings it what I meant.

I've normally kept any bit of potato out if things - I'm not too sure why, cosmetic reasons??

[Bill HH]

Yes it matters not as long as its plant based, I like peelings because they hold lots of water, but a bit of everything you've got covers all bases. Don't get too hung up on this, it is fairly open to your own interpretation and what you have available. I know people who stick wooley jumpers in the bottom. Maybe the odd dead relative. Also if you don't have manure don't worry all the green stuff will rot to make the same thing.

Remember this is going to sink over the year, you should be thinking about composting stuff for next year to top up the beds. Remember no need to dig this type of bed, just keep adding compost.

[Richard Eldritch]

I made mine from old potato compost and my Hotbin stuff. There's always a potato or two trying to grow! No idea what type they are.

[CrackX]

So as the soil sinks, do I chuck peelings on top of the bed?

[Bill HH]

I made mine from old potato compost and my Hotbin stuff. There's always a potato or two trying to grow! No idea what type they are.

I made a big mistake by chucking un-composted potato peelings into a bed, Every single peeling sent up plants, hundreds of them. maybe I should have abandoned my plans for the bed and grown spuds.

[Scarlet]

Get yourself a couple of compost bins. You will be surprised how quick it will all rot down especially in the summer, you can use them to top up your beds when they are ready.

[Bill HH]

So as the soil sinks, do I chuck peelings on top of the bed?

No not raw, they need to be composted, only use raw peelings at the bottom of the bed (where they will turn into compost). If you put them on top they will stink and encourage rats ets, also look horrible.