I have been creating a raised bed vegetable garden area and it was hard work (usual stones in the ground problems.
I started by digging the area out and removing the turf and then digging deep to fit the raised bed posts into the ground.
I dug out a trench that I was to fill with gravel, both to make it prettier and also because I heard that slugs and snails don't like to go over gravel - anything to keep them off the veg after the year of it I have had with them!
I put in a liner so that the weeds would not come through the gravel.
Then I added some stepping stones around the back, made use of some of the massive stones that I have pulled from the ground, and began the process of filling in with the small stones.
I put cardboard in the bottom of the bed to help the grass down until it rots and then added a lot of compost. A few plants around the outside to soften the edges (more to come in time)
And finally I planted my cabbage and cauliflower, I have been growing most of these from seed for a very long time and some of them have succomed to being eated alive by caterpillars and slugs and snails. hopefully they will recover a bit. Cabbage is my favorite veg, so I hope that I will have some for Christmas.
A job well done.
Very well done. Not to rain on your parade but make sure the pots and or the vegetation in them does not touch your beds otherwise the snails and slugs will use it as a bridge! (Speaking from personal experience here). Hope you kept your turf to store grass to grass somewhere. Next year, it will give you lovely compost.
ReplyDeleteOoh thanks, I nearly missed that one! I am sure the pesky slugs will find any way they can! I did store all of my turf under the deck in the hope that it will become lovely compost next year, so I am glad for confirmation that this will happen.
DeleteYou might need to cover your brassicas with netting to keep pigeons off. They adore cabbages etc - we have a lot of problems with wood pigeons down at the allotment, and I've seen uncovered brassicas reduced to nothing but stalks on other plots.I'd hate for you to lose them after you've grown them from seed.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, so many threats to my oh so nurtured and loved little seedlings. On the plus side, I have never seen a pigeon here!
DeleteGreat progress, don't let those blighters get your seedlings. I have copper tape round a pot which holds a cutting I want to get to maturity. It only cost £1 at a bootfair but I love that plant. Guess what, I checked on it the other day and what did I find but two snails nestling above the copper tape, yes above it! I have heard beer traps are good, at least if they don't work you can drink the beer!
ReplyDeleteYou've got to hate snails and slugs don't you. Why can't they just eat weeds and show some use.....
DeleteAnd gravel does not deter, I could go on and on and on how slugs slide over every thing. I did comment here before re chilli plants and now the b****** have ate em. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteWill be sprinkling liberally with slug pellets again then!
DeleteTry to get some crushed shells from your garden centre. I`ve heard that this is like broken glass to a snail and should stop them from getting across your gravel if you can scatter some of it amongst it.
DeleteIt is surprisingly few slugs/snails that will do the damage. If you venture out just after dusk with a scissors, and the same again first thing in the morning (earlier the better) you will catch them in the act. Brassicas are at their most vunerable when they are small.
ReplyDeleteGood luck. Raised bed looks lovely.
I picked about 20 caterpillars off the cabbage the other day!
DeleteWe have had huge trouble with caterpillars this week. We have an old pop bottle that we put them in when they are plucked off the cabbage. It's chock full of green wiggles nearly everynight!
DeleteThat garden is looking better by each time I visit here. Well done!! Don`t fancy coming down south to help me dig my weed ridden one? - Guess not.
ReplyDeleteIf I lived near you I would happily come and help! Spending time out in the garden gives me more pleasure that i can possibly describe!
DeleteHave you tried the coffee grounds trick for snails? Apparently piles of coffee grounds around plants are uncomfortable for sliding snails. Are these snails edible for humans?
ReplyDeleteI did try the coffee grounds, yes, they seemed to love them, haha.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, that looks awesome! If you ever get to the states....I have a project for you! LOL!
ReplyDeleteYou might not appreciate this Texas heat though, ha. Nice job, very nice. :-)
Thank you, not sure what is worse, working in the extreme heat or working in the sheeting rain and wind!
DeleteThis looks excellent! You should put in some brussel sprouts for Christmas too. THey look really impressive on their long stalks and when you bring the whole stalk in for Christmas dinner it's a bit of a wow moment. Also, you could think about over winter veg like some types of onions. They grow before the frost, then hibernate over winter and continue to grow in the spring, so you have an early harvest next year. We get two crops a year from our beds when we can. Still no solution to the slugs though :( (PS thanks for the comments on my blog =D )
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about winter veg, I want to be able to free up the bed for putting things in next spring though, so must be stuff that will be harvested in before. Perhaps some sprouts are the perfect solution.
Deletewow dan you've done a proper job there! i just nail the wood together and set it ontop of the grass and wonder why the slugs get everything and the weeds wont p*ss off lol im sure your veg will do brilliantly and you garden is looking really personal these days, you must be proud of everything you've done this year x
ReplyDelete