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Date Posted

Partlow,Va

I would like really some input from ya'll. I am making a new tomato bed for next year and want to make sure I have dug it deep enough. Do you think having 14" below ground level and having my raised bed border 6" above is deep enough for maximum root potential?

11/30/2017 7:25:34 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Yes

11/30/2017 8:30:26 PM

Central NY

Yup...I dig mine 22"...and I wouldn't be afraid to put a few inches of chicken poop in the bottom of each hole ...stinkier the better

11/30/2017 9:44:01 PM

Partlow,Va

Thanks...and I do have some composted cow manure to use. The bed is right beside my hog lot with my 800lb pet named Thelma so I will put her contribution on the bottom lol. I also bought 10 bags of stuff called super fine soil builder(looks like ground up mulch)that I will mix in the bed as well.

12/2/2017 8:46:14 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

I have been trying to decide what to do about my 8 inch deep topsoil. Raised beds are a possibility. How wide did you make the bed?

12/2/2017 8:50:45 AM

Walla Walla Wa.

Be careful not to overdo it with the manure, you'll have beautiful plants but not big fruit, a little is good and a lot, is not better.
Bnot- I'd guess 3 to 4 feet would be good,maybe someone else that actually grows in raised beds can chime in here,I used too, and mine were 30" wide.

12/2/2017 11:54:00 AM

Partlow,Va

I understand on overdoing it with the manure,thanks. We used to put one shovel of manure at the bottom of the hole when setting out plants with my granddad. Just at the bottom.

For size I went with 3' wide X 18' long for 5 plants. I bought three 2x8x8 and two 2x8x10 pressure treated pine($50 cost)and had plenty of scrap treated wood already to make the stakes. I have moles everywhere so I installed 1/4" hardware cloth stapled to the inside of the 2x8 perimeter to a depth of 10" below grade to keep the moles out.

12/2/2017 9:18:42 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

I personally wouldn't use pressure treated,unless you don't plan on eating any of the tomatoes, plus I doubt that it would have a positive impact on the roots,your going to get contamination from water that will absorb into the wood then leach nasties out in your soil.just my .02

12/2/2017 10:22:48 PM

50 Acres

Go with cedar planks, non treated. Add sugar beet meal to soil. I've had more worms in my soil since I started using it. Jim

12/3/2017 8:39:56 AM

Grittyville, WA

re use old cedar fence boards sometimes people will let you haul for free. Build the beds square or rectangle... min dimension two and half ft / three is great. Wood stakes are ok for corners and side bracing. Use screws. Line inside with black plastic to conserve moisture and if any of the materials are treated this might help with that too. I'd try some in raised beds... they could be two ft high... and some in the ground. ...See if raised ones do any better. Moisture availability is the key to success?

1/20/2018 10:43:42 AM