Author Topic: Raised Garden Built 4x12 (Read 10572 times)

blueblood · « **on:** May 09, 2014, 09:05:31 pm »

Before anyone asks, yes, it is treated lumber. I did my homework and will take my chances. 2003 was the year chromated copper arsenate was banned for residential use. The newest method for preserving wood is by Micronized Copper Quaternary. I won't be planting any root veggies either which is where, if any, chemicals would be stored by the plants. I suppose I am taking more chances with produce at the grocery. Lord only knows what was sprayed on them or how much E-coli from the field workers unwashed hands is on my food. Studies show there is very little to no leaching and if there is, the levels of ingestion are safe. If you have time, Google how much arsenic (which is not in treated lumber anymore) in the foods we eat now.

I pasted a few online pieces on the matter if you are interested.

http://www.gardeningblog.net/2009/04/12/using-pressure-treated-lumber-in-raised-garden-beds/
http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/is-treated-lumber-safe-for-building-raised-bed-vegetable-gardens/

Now, with that out of the way, but most likely the end of the discussion, here is the build: Six 2x10-12 secured by 2-1/2" blue coated Kreg screws via Kreg pocket hole system. I placed a weed screen down, old straw and then leaf compost. I will add some good garden soils to finalize it.

rcannon · « **Reply #1 on:** May 09, 2014, 09:17:17 pm »

Looks good,blue blood. I wouldn't worry about the treated lumber, like you said you're probably getting worse from the grocery store.

Perry · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2014, 06:54:24 am »

I love raised beds, the weeding is so much easier without everything creeping in.
I used rough cut hemlock just cause it was cheaper and easily available at my favourite mill.
The only downside we have found to raised beds are the neighbourhood cats. Now that we don't have a dog, they seem to think our garden is fair game.

Slowmodem · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2014, 07:07:51 am »

Quote from: Perry on May 10, 2014, 06:54:24 am

I love raised beds, the weeding is so much easier without everything creeping in.
I used rough cut hemlock just cause it was cheaper and easily available at my favourite mill.
The only downside we have found to raised beds are the neighbourhood cats. Now that we don't have a dog, they seem to think our garden is fair game.

That's why I can't lay on the beach. The cats keep trying to cover me up.

blueblood · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2014, 08:24:44 am »

rcannon · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2014, 09:10:51 pm »

blueblood · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2014, 10:00:15 pm »

Okay, topped the bed with a premium solid I purchased in bulk today. The business is owned by a retired fireman and his family. He gave me an extra 1/2 yard of it! I bought 1-1/2 yards for $45. I did the math on bagged soil and it would have cost me $240! The 1.5 cubic ft. bags I have bought at Walmart are $8.98/bag. This mix was a sandy, loamy mix. Nice!

I have most of my plants ready to set in place tomorrow.

Couldn't resist sinking the plants I bought before work today. I decided to go with 24" spacing with indeterminate tomatoes and 12"/block spacing for determinate (going to single stem them). I did 12" spacing for peppers, spinach and broccoli. I even placed one ever-bearing strawberry plant in there for fun. I still have plenty of room. Hmmm, what shall I plant next?

Perry · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2014, 07:00:48 am »

Zuchini, but get the kind that don't crawl (they take up too much room). Nothing beats steamed veggies.

blueblood · « **Reply #8 on:** May 13, 2014, 07:16:24 am »

Yeap, steamed veggies are yummy. I like them better swimming in steak juice. I am planting zuchs and cucs on the ground in my garden from last year with the asparagus. Take up too much real estate. My main drive for growing zuchs is my wife's zucchini bread....yum, yum, yum!

shinjak · « **Reply #9 on:** May 13, 2014, 08:26:27 am »

The screened bottom is a great idea, wish I had thought of that for my raised beds.

I too used rough cut untreated pine, but only because it's what I had laying around and it was the right price (free!!). This winter I turned the bed into a compost pile and put a chicken pen on top of it (with chickens). This spring it was full of earthworms.... and mice.... and great dirt!!

blueblood · « **Reply #10 on:** June 18, 2014, 01:05:35 am »

Constructed some tomato cages today out of ripped 2x4's. Tallest tomato plants are just now reaching 15-17 inches. However, I waited until a day or two after mother's day to plant.

riverbee · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2014, 01:23:48 am »

wow dave, very cool! we just planted our tomatoes last weekend, and the rest will go in this weekend. not wise to plant too much of anything up here until after memorial weekend, but many of our plants get a start in the living room.......

friends come over and our living room is pretty much void of furniture but has plenty of lighting.....

what types of tomatoes have you planted?

mamapoppybee · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2014, 07:57:21 am »

Your garden is looking really good blue! we got are first few tomatoes this weekend. Small but man did they taste good! Ill have to go water in a bit after the coffee gets going that is.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2014, 09:22:13 am »

That is one industrious fellow right there!
My Tomato plants CRUSHED my cages last year. I found some really heavy cages to try this year.. if that doesnt work I'll have to remember your method. Those look like they can hold a pretty hefty load of tomatoes!

blueblood · « **Reply #14 on:** June 18, 2014, 09:22:46 am »

River, I planted sweet 100's, roma, marglobe, early girls, better boy, celebrity and one goliath.

blueblood · « **Reply #15 on:** June 18, 2014, 09:30:29 am »

I am hoping they hold up Scott! It's amazing how heavy they can get. Plus, the wind doesn't help. This is my prototype and hope to build one out of more weather resistant wood and use an interlocking system via use of dado on the wood.

My next chore is to make a trellis for the cucumbers to climb. I have been looking for rope netting meant for that but I can't find it anywhere, tried Menards and Home Depot. Like this: http://www.boddingtonsonline.com/products/horticulture-gardening/plastic-mesh-netting/climbing-support-netting-plant-support.php

I suppose I could cut some sections of light gauge fencing I have rolled up.

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #16 on:** June 18, 2014, 10:39:55 am »

Cattle or hog panels work good for cucumbers, easy to store, and will longer than most of us.

Jack

blueblood · « **Reply #17 on:** June 18, 2014, 11:30:00 am »

Your right Jack, I need to see if I can buy short sections at Rural King. Otherwise, keep my eyes open at yard sales and such.

mamapoppybee · « **Reply #18 on:** June 18, 2014, 11:36:03 am »

You can buy one good section and cut to my trellis or arches

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #19 on:** June 18, 2014, 10:03:45 pm »

Quote from: brooksbeefarm on June 18, 2014, 10:39:55 am

Cattle or hog panels work good for cucumbers, easy to store, and will longer than most of us. Jack

Indeed! This has been my plan for the last couple of years for cukes, but I have not had the time to get it set up...
I want to "plant" some 4x4's and nail 2x4's to them to support a cattle panel I can walk under. Raise the cukes in a 5 gallon bucket and run the vines across the panel. the cukes will hang down rather than laying in the dirt... Once again, I have vines growing about all over the garden. maybe next year.........