Henergy Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Last year was my first foray into veg - we built a raised bed, filled with multi-purpose compost & grew a few bits. My question is what do I do this year. The bed is about half full of compost. Do I just top up with multi-purpose or is there something else to use ? I went to the garden centre & got so confused with all the different composts, top soils, manures, that I came home empty handed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 I'd just top up with anything to hand - do you not have any home compost from your chicken run? I use last year's growbags and home compost to top mine up, mixed with a bit of multi-purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 some graded top soil wouldn't hurt this year if you haven't got any home made compost or part rotted chicken bedding run bedding from this winter as a mulch is ok just make sure the soil/compost is not dry but reasonable wet before you mulch. potting compost on it's own dosen't hold water very well once it starts to age so needs either mulching or a good amount of organic matter mixed in to hold the water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Did you have much success with your raised bed?, was there anything particularly successful? Have just ordered a table raised bed for my first foray into growing veg this year so have bought some little starter plants of cauli, cabbage and various seeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted April 3, 2012 Author Share Posted April 3, 2012 Thanks everyone. No I haven't any home-made compost because it doesn't seem to have decomposed yet (too dry I think now). Will get a small bag of top soil so it is not too light. The bed was quite successful - I did peas, carrots, salad leaves, herbs & spring onions. All was good. I grew tomatoes in a grobag too but they stayed green It was a good start I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Sounds good, love the idea of growing myself and having an omelette from the girls with home grown salad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 I just put anything to hand into my raised bed. Soil from the garden, home made compost, well rotted manure from the riding stables, spent compost from the tomato plants... Seems to have worked ok so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
