Because I only have a tiny garden I want to be able to make it as productive as possible. My first summer in this house I bought chickens. The second I installed a couple of raised beds. I experimented with a normal raised bed and an adapted keyhole bed. I hadn't planned on the second bed but I seem to remember in a fit of energy one evening I decided to make use of a raised bed frame I already owned.
This was the bed when it was first put together and planted up.
The idea is that the central basket functions as a compost heap which delivers water and nutrients to the soil around it. Normally a keyhole bed is basically circular, but I used what I had. Despite the orderly manner that it seems to be planted up here, it basically became a "shove stuff in" bed. I planted it up badly, but we learn from our mistakes. I think I will make it more productive next year. Despite the hot dry weather this last summer I didn't water this bed once. I don't think I've ever grown tomatoes before that didn't need regular watering (although I did need to regularly add stuff to the basket).
This style of bed means that it doesn't need water, saving me effort and water.
preppingsu wrote:What a great idea for a small garden.
Thank you for sharing and maybe give some members an idea of what they can do with a small space.
sue you beat me to it, ive been looking for ideas for a small raised bed planter for a while, but something that i dont need to water as often as a conventional bed. i would love to know more.
You put the basket in place as you build up the soil. I filled the frame up with some soiled sawdust I had, and then some farm manure and then compost. This is all build up around the basket in situ. I part filled the bottom of the basket with some newspaper to prevent all the soil falling in. And then I just add to the basket as I might the compost heap, only with less "browns".
Hi Steviesun, I'd like to know a bit more of what you used? what sort of wood was it, was it treated? will it rott? have you painted it with anything to make it last? another thing is have you put wood blocks on the inner corners and screwed them to support the frame or does it not need it? and lastly (sort of goes with the first question) have you put any lets say tarp inside it to protect the wood from the soil or anything?
The frame was a bought one. It's actually 8 pieces which fix together so there are no stakes. I haven't tried to protect it in anyway, but judging by the last year it will last a good few years more. It was just what I had on hand.
