I finally made my raised bed planters for vegetable. I know, I know, I am too late for this year but at least they are done and I have a few seasons to enrich the soil before I plant my first crop. It is nice to see them in the garden just outside my bedroom so when I wake up and look out I feel I've achieved something that adds a bit more interest to my garden than just grass.
I'll need more soil to fill them, which I am looking for at the moment. I wanted raised beds because the soil in the garden is not great and as I get older I want to make it old-person accessible. It will also make an interesting little area with some sort of feature in the centre. Maybe a sundial or water feature. We'll see.
I had to work with the slant of the garden which made it difficult to level them all but it was the best place with lots of light and surrounded by my fruit trees on the west and east side.
Speaking of fruit trees the fruit is doing well but my sweet apple appears to be a bit sick. The leaves a the end of the branch are curling up and dying. The rest of the tree seems healthy enough with the fruit getting bigger each day and healthy-looking leaves. I thought it was a lack of water but I give it a good soak at least once a week if there hasn't been rain.
Maybe some of the gardeners of Hive know what is going on. I'm pretty new to all this and I really thought this would be plug and play.
Everything else in the garden is doing well and I hope this tree will somehow get better. Maybe it is a first-year teething problem. Any advice is welcome.
i find getting soil in for the raised beds the hardest for sure. all ours are well out the back and through the house. Every bit needs to be carried in by hand. (other than what we get out of the compost.) Do you have a compost spot? even if you don't get much you could make on of them a composting spot for a few months to make compost for the other three? start adding grass clippings and kitchen scraps?
its what we did with the 4th of our beds to help feed the other three.
what are you planting in them come "planting time"
good luck!
BLINGIT
Thanks @blingit. Finding soil was the most difficult part. I dug what will become a pond to get some and will recycle some soil that I get from work I am doing for an office plant company. I have started a compost heap also and will get some goodness from there later. I still have time.
I hope to make a salad veg garden and maybe experiment with some berries.
yeah compost is the best!!
nothing like fresh leaves from the garden for salads and things. thats what we grow so much of. salad greens and herbs (and all the other things, but we use the greens every day)
keep us posted on the progress!!
They are some good looking raised beds you got there. It gets too dry where I am to justify making them, as watering gets more difficult to source as the summer progresses.
The curling leaves could be due to nutrient deficiency in the soil or a pest.
If you look at what is growing around them, it can give you a good indication of how your soil is. Good luck xx
I put a fabric under the planters to try and help them retain water. Hopefully, it will work. The soil in the garden is not great but I will mix in some composite with these.
I am starting to think the apple illness is due to Blossom Wilt some fungal infection. I am going to get a pro to look at it.
vegetable beds look nice
some pests curl the leaves when feeding
so you may check the curled leaves if they have any pest to rule out that possibility
I don't think it is pests, I haven't seen any. I will get out my magnifying glass and check more.
I'm happy with the planters although they will be sitting empty its next spring.
I’m sure your garden will be filled with beautiful plants because it is obvious that you’re set for it.
Also, what do you mean by enriching the soil?
I hope to fill it with colour and easy-to-manage plants. The soil is not great and when I say enrich I mean add compost and make it more fertile so the plants have lots to eat before I eat them.
The garden is very well organized, it looks great. I don't think it's that late, there's always time. :)
I think it is too late for veg planting here in Ireland. But I'll be ready next year.
So great you're planning ahead for future seasons. As for your apple tree, maybe it needs some specific nutrients or pruning I don't know 🤔. Best of wishes for your garden's continued success dear friend
Having fresh veg from the garden will be great, especially if the world continues to go in the direction it appears to be going.
Would love to create my garden too now hehehehe
I don't know much about apples but I think it could be something like thrips. I would start by googling about orchard pests, there is a lot of info out there.
Looking good otherwise!
My climate is unsuitable for raised beds or boxes, they dry out too fast but yours should do well, it's a pleasure to have vegetables on hand on the garden. I did my vegetables the old, hard way: digging and sieving and lots of compost. It takes a few seasons but you get there. I add compost constantly and I am slowly developing good soil
It is coming together. I have searched a bit and it could be a fungus called Blossom wilt. I need to get a professional to check it out. Luckily my brother and sister inlaw are gardeners.
I added a woven mess cloth under my planters to try and help them retain water better. We will see how it goes.
It's good you are all set for the gardening season. The ones already planted are doing alright, except for the apple tree. Maybe you should try describing the problem in Google search and see if any useful answers come up. In my experience a lot of things could be responsible like pests or overwatering of the plants etc. I'm sure the internet can help out. Goodluck with your gardening efforts. Have a great day.
I'll check Google, I have a few friends and family who are gardeners and will probably know for sure, I don't think it is pests or overwatering.