Starting to grow for three families

[thecatsabsentcojones]

We've got quite a big garden and have decided this is the year to try and grow our own vegetables. A couple of my friends have expressed an interest in helping out too, so we're going to need enough space to grow quite a lot!

It's a woodland plot with clay soil so I thought the best option would be to do raised beds and buy top soil. What kind of size would everyone recommend and also what timber did you use to build yours? What kind of size plot per family would you recommend?

Also, I've been looking at building a greenhouse with reclaimed plastic bottles. Has anyone else does this and are they as good as glass ones?

Thanks!

Start one bed at a time.
8 foot by 4, single scaffolding plank round each one, cornered with "setting out pegs"
dig the soil, pile up, set the boards, level and top up.
Never walk on it again.

When that one is in use (see my newcomers thread) start the next one

What TalkinPeace said ! I haven’t sorted edging on my beds yet though and they function fine. Key bit is the never walking on it bit . Make sure your paths are wide enough to get a wheelbarrow down them. Get a compost heap on the go and if there’s a she£ or something you can get water butts attached to that would be good. Plan somewhere to sit so you can all enjoy it.

I had good success with area of my allotment that was grassy last year by flipping the turf upside down and dumping loads of manure and then a layer of compost on top. The manure was much to fresh really and I thought it would burn the plants but actually they were fine, it was a squash bed and was really productive.

Maybe this year rather than breaking it down into separate plots all work together to get the beds up and going as it is hard work importing all the soil. The size TIP said is good -any wider than 4 foot means hard ti work the middle from either side and any longer you’re tempted to take a short cut over rather than walk round.

Thanks both of you.

Also has anyone had any experience of gardening vertically? So having small beds against a retaining wall and training things like cucumbers upwards? I'm planning a seating area and thought it'd be nice to have productive beds at the sides.

Re compost, we've got chickens and live in a woodland plot so there are loads of wild animals around. Should this be a sealed chamber and does anyone use the ones you turn over?

I'd be wary of growing cucumbers against a wall, it can get very hot - too hot for plants bred to grow in the UK. They do go well up a trellis, so could you put one up a couple of feet in front of the wall? Vines, on the other hand, can do well on a wall.