Planting Membrane For Raised Beds

 

Most packs of seeds deal with rows and then spacing along the rows, however as with the square foot gardening concept, I'm looking at the square area that is recommended for each vegetable and using that information, and then seeing what modular grid in a planting membrane will give me a similar square area.   

It is suggested to sow parsnip seeds thinly in shallow drills about 1cm deep, with rows 25-30cm (10-12 inches) apart, then thin seedlings to their final spacing: 100mm (4") for small roots, 150mm (6") for medium, and 200-250 (8" - 10") for large roots to prevent overcrowding and ensure good growth, keeping soil consistently moist.

So taking the smallest row size of 250mm 

     250mm x 100mm = 25,000 sq. mm = Small roots

     250mm x 150mm = 37,500 sq. mm = Medium roots

     250mm x 200mm = 50,000 sq. mm = Large roots

35 hole Planting Membrane with 150mm x 150mm = 22,500 sq.mm 

30 Hole Planting Membrane with 200mm x 150mm = 30,000 sq.mm 

24 Hole Planting Membrane with 200mm x 200mm = 40,000 sq.mm 

20 Hole Planting Membrane with 250mm x 200mm = 50,000 sq.mm 

Now Lets consider optimum spacing for Japanese Onions 

For Japanese onions in raised beds, aim for 100mm - 150mm (4"- 6") spacing between sets/ seedlings for good bulb size, with rows 250mm - 300mm (10"-12") apart for growth and weeding, though closer spacing (down to 5-10cm) yields smaller, bunching-style onions; plant sets with the tip just peeking above the soil in well-drained, compost-rich soil. 

So 250mm x 100mm = 25,000 sq. mm 

     250mm x 150mm = 37,500 sq. mm 

     300mm x 100mm = 30,000 sq. mm

     300mm x 150mm = 45,000 sq. mm 

Looking at the corner holes they will have a smaller area than the rest so I tweaked

the centres from 250mm to 240mm 

20 Hole Rev A Planting Membrane with 240mm x 200mm = 48,000 sq.mm

Bed 16 Second Trench Excavated

 

It looks like we are in for a 10 day dry spell, so it was off to the allotment this morning to carry on excavating the second trench. I excavated on the right and standing on the last trench back fill, the plastic shutter did lean forward and the backfill consolidated and dropped a little.  

So one I had excavated the humus material into the square flower buckets I placed them into the trench to hold the first trench backfill and stop the soil of what will become trench 3 from falling into the excavation. 

Having excavated enough material I dropped a second plastic shutter on the other side of the trench and then continued to bottom out the trench. I undermine the L shaped shutter so it could drop into place such that the lip was more near the surface of the bed.

The two square flower buckets were withdrawn and the shutter to the trench 1 backfilled face was removed. The trench was backfilled with rotted timbers from some of the 10 year old framed beds. 

Timber battens, branches from trees and raspberry canes that have been stacked on the top of the bed 15 raised beds were dropped in the trench. 

By the time I got this far, with a couple of water breaks it was 1:30 and I was flagging and needed to go home to get a late lunch. I should have given up around 12 :30 but wanted to try and at least get the trench excavation completed. 

I filled the trench with rotting timbers, branches and cuttings, next visit I need to get a couple of wheel barrow loads of wood chips and back fill trench 2 and top up trench 1. 

To get more than 50% of the existing bed excavated and into buckets will take another two trenches. It's hard work with my mobility issues and fatigue but little and often is making progress. 

Removing the Framework To Bed 16

A couple of hours on the allotment this afternoon dismantling bed 16 and find out the timbers will be no good for extending the narrow beds half beds between plot 1 and plot 1A so I will need a little rethink on that one.

I used a pile of brick as a pivot point and the garden fork as a fulcrum and levered up the frame and placed bricks under until I had it high enough so I could lift the fame on its side to unscrew the timbers.

Michelle who was also on site today came over to help me lift the frame and held it stable whilst I unscrewed the timbers.

The timbers that framed bed 16 have rotted too much to be used to extend the half width beds that denote the boundary between plot 1 and Plot 1A, and are now resting on the narrow bed and will be ripped up and used to line the bottom layer of the two new raised beds on the bed 16 footprint in a similar way as I did on the last bed 15 raised bed.

Bed 16 now frameless and ready to be uncovered and excavated into square flower buckets and potato buckets, to be then used to back fill the top half of the raised beds once constructed.

Square flower buckets stacked and ready to be filled with the excavated humus material from the bed 16 footprint starting at the rear end of the bed in this photo. The roots of the bindweed are visible in the void left from the removed timber framing and they will be weeded out as I excavate the footprint. 

Selma from plot 6 has stacked a load of rotting decking boards next to my plotting shed that I can used under the new raised beds, and in the bottom layer.

Path Between Raised Beds 16

Mega hot and sunny today so just a couple of hours on the allotment to work on the path between the two raised beds at either end of what was bed 16. The path is constructed using some of the paving slabs I picked up in the last couple of weeks from Freecycle.

Next work on the bed to excavate the soil out of the bed on the left into square flower buckets and then re fill with branches and woodchips up to the top of the first level of timbers.

Second Raised Bed On Bed 16

A visit to the allotment between 2pm and a little after 6pm working on the second raised bed on what was bed 16.

Weed membrane under the paving slabs exposed and the woodchip. mares tail and bindweed roots removed.

Weed membrane under the paving slabs exposed and the woodchip. mares tail and bindweed roots removed

Woodchip barrowed in from the car park and compacted around the outside of the new raised bed frame footprint.

Plastic barrier held in place with bricks so that the rear of the bed could be filled with woodchip and compacted

Bottom frame that was prepared earlier in true Blue Peter fashion was moved into place. Woodchip levelled out between the two raised beds and weed membrane laid on top.

Weed Membrane laid between the two raised beds and paving slabs laid and then washed off with the hose and given a scrub with the yard broom, as they were a little grubby when picked up.

Next visit the spoil heap in the frame needs to be decanted into the square flower buckets and then backfilled with woodchip up the path level then capped off with magic cardboard and more woodchip and branches added to the first frame of the raised bed.

Bed 16 Raised Bed Filled

A couple of hours on the allotment this afternoon filling the top level of bed 16 first raised bed with soil, weeding and removing glass fragments as I backfilled. I will be putting a covering mulch layer of soil improver on the bed once it has compacted a little.

The frame on top is the bottom frame for the other side of the 2.4m x 1.2m footprint.

I slipped the next raised bed frame off the filled raised bed, so I could visualise what they are going to look like better.

Trimming the path either side, exposing the weed membrane under the paths. Then reducing the level where the new path will go between the two smaller raised beds on the 2.4m x 1.2m footprint.

Slow Progress But Progress None The Less

Today, as there was a degree of cloud cover I visited the allotment in the morning and I managed to leaver up the 2.4m x 1.2m frame to this years parsnip bed and place one side on paving blocks. I then lifted the frame and as I did one of the 1.2m ends fell off, as it was half rotted away where it had been in the ground.

With the large bed fame moved over on the bed next door, I placed the first 1.2m x 0.9m raised bed frame in position.

I then lined the bottom with magic cardboard, and then filled the raised bed frame with the rotting timber from the old frame and three barrow loads of woodchip from the car park.

I watered the woodchip to assist the settlement and consolidation process.

Next visit I will top up the frame up again with woodchips, and make the next raised bed frame, then excavate the humus material from the other end of the 2.4m x 1.2m bed and fill the 2nd Raised bed frame with the spoil.

I also went around the beds & the patio with weed killer again, and gave the bindweed that had grown up a bamboo frame a good drenching.

By the time I had finished I was well and truly knackered, but it was a good kind of knackered. The kind that lets you know you have been busy and blessed that gradually you are getting your strength back, and on the road to a better level of fitness than last year.

Freecycle Pickup & Raised Bed Excavation

Today I picked up a shower chair off Freecycle that is the right height for me to be able to get on and off easily on the allotment. 

It's extremely light and will live in the potting shed and will be moved out when I visit. The green plastic garden chairs are too low and with the plastic degrading mark your clothes if you sit on them.

I trimmed around the hinges of the gates again, excavated a plan area in excess of the narrow raised beds 0.9m x 1.2m that I'm going to install either end of the existing 2.4m x 1.2m beds footprint.

Humus soil excavated on plan area larger than the width of the raised bed that will go either end. The soil was weeded and excavated into square flower buckets that are currently stacked behind the shovel in the photograph above.

I placed a section of plastic at the trench edge, then backfilled with three barrowloads of woodchips, levelled and then compacted with the rake. Then watered the woodchips in the excavation to help consolidate the pile.

This brings me back up to ground level, so the cunning plan is to get a plot neighbour or two to help me lift the 2.4m x 1.2m existing bed frame up and unscrew it as I want to use the materials to raise the long narrow beds on the boundary between plots 1 & 1A.

Then place the first new 1.2m x 0.9m raised bed frame on the woodchipped area and line the bottom with magic cardboard then fill it to the top with woodchips

I munched red and yellow raspberries off the plants each time I went out of the allotment into the carpark and returned with woodchips or to turn the water on and off. I feel like a gorilla feeding from my very own food forest this time of year.

Freecycle Decking Boards

Freecycle photograph 

I managed to win 60 number 2m long decking boards off Freecycle and went this morning to collect them. Tom and his son helped me get them into the car.

They were stacked nicely with the seatbelt around them until I went around the corner at the A217 and they slid sideways.

I managed to back the car through the gates and right up to the entrance of my plots and have stacked the boards on some paving block bearers to keep them off the ground until I can get around to cutting them up and making raised beds.

Wally turned up when I was about half way unloaded and gave me a hand, with the rest, and John gave me some runner beans as his didn't get wiped out by the slugs and snails and he has too many. I have some great plot neighbours and friends on the allotment site.

Finishing Off SFG Bed 1

 

Morning spent on the allotment as it was a little overcast and sun and 31C is forecast to be coming and I desperately need to get back in control of the paths and get the bind weed off the onions and the raspberries.

The grass from the tug was broken up and laid over the woodchip then the Mels Mix was emptied back into the raised bed. The hoops were re installed but need to be pushed further into the ground, but I'm finding that difficult because of the arthritis in my hands and wrists.

I also started to weed SFG Bed 2 and ants came from everywhere, looks like ants are going to be a challenge in these raised beds.

A couple of guys turned up to clear plot 3A and start grinding the stumps. I warned then about the debris under, One guy flicked a nail up which pierced his ear Trump style and grazed his head and that was with facial protection. He ended being taken to the hospital for stiches and Tetanus jab.

Stump Grinder 

Close up of the grinding wheel 

A couple of guys turned up to clear plot 3A and start grinding the stumps. I warned then about the debris under. One guy flicked a nail up with his trimmer which pierced his ear Trump style and grazed his head and that was with wearing facial protection. He ended being taken to the hospital for stiches and Tetanus jab.

He came back later in the day and continued working, but I'm informed by Wally on the plot next door to plot 3A that the grinder lifted and fired more buried steel items at the two operatives. 

The plot needs properly clearing of all debris before they consider grinding. Myself and other plot holders have warned them what's below the bind weed and brambles either end of that plot, which they still have not fully uncovered. The were informed it was going to be a days work, in reality it's 2 - 3 days work with a couple of two man teams.    

Lifting the netting up around the beds and trimming the weeds.

I so often forget to take a before photograph and only take an after photo that I took a few of the paths before trimming. Hopefully you will see the improvement in photos taken during the next 7 - 10 days.  

I will be raising the narrow beds up to make working and weeding easier in the future.

So much bind weed I'm going to have to take long handled sears to this bed to clear the path and the bed.

Beginning to look better just for the trimming of the weeds around the beds

This is the area where I will be replacing the long beds with two smaller raised beds to make maintenance easier 

 

Paths after trimming the weeds back, I need some good path quality woodchip and then to remove the woodchips that are now supporting life and replace them with path quality woodchips. 

I will let the sun dry up the weeds and then sweep them up on a future visit.

Jane will be visiting again in a couple of weeks to review the condition of the plots so I need to get Avalon looking in a better state than it is at the moment as last thing I want is a no cult notice. 

Filling the Raised SFG Bed

It's been a little while since I've been to the allotment, due to the rain and my damaged foot after the scaffold boards fell out of the wheel barrow onto it. But this afternoon I did a short visit to the allotment to continue filling the raised Square Foot Garden Bed with leafy woodchip before putting grass clippings and the Mels Mix back into the bed, I had to visit today as my sister wants to cut her grass again and needs the tugs back so I can have the next batch of grass clippings from her.

Also did some catching up with a couple of plot neighbours.