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Fri, Mar 2, 07 at 14:58
| I'm trying this as an experiment this summer.
Because I have limited space to garden in, I decided to build a couple of raised beds on a concrete parking pad in my back yard. This spot will get full sun all day. I used 80 cinder blocks. Layered the bottom with about 5 inches of hay (1 hay bale per bed). Then filled it up with mostly finished compost from my pile. I'll put another layer of finished compost, soil and sand on top of the un-finished compost. Hopefully, these beds will be better protected from cutworms and vine borers. I'll even plant marigolds in the holes in the cinderblocks. I'll be growing tomatos, peppers, and some strawberrys. In the fall, I can make a hoop house cover over each of these beds for salad crops. My back is real damn sore right now though. 
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Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by calamity_j z7bc (My Page) on Thu, Mar 22, 07 at 12:08
| I'm new to gardening but that sure looks great to me!!! I have only been doing perennial flowers and strawberries and raspberries but plan on trying to grow from seed instead of buying mature plants so I am glad to have noticed this forum! You've done a lot of good work and I'm sure it will pay off!!! Jane |
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- Posted by linda_schreiber z5/6 MI (My Page) on Thu, Apr 19, 07 at 20:44
| Sorry to be late...... This looks terrific! Hope your back is better by now |
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| I feel for ya bro.. I did something similar a couple days ago in my little back yard... though with free, discarded cinder blocks and bricks. The idea is to use the cattle panel trellis arch for cucumbers and melons and then cover it with plastic in the winter for an early growing start on some seedlings. I put marigolds in the cinder block holes ($1 for 16-plants on clearance at the neighborhood Kroger grocery store) as well. Got any newer pics to show how it is coming along?
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- Posted by happycthulhu 7 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 21, 07 at 11:01
| Everything is coming along just fine. My tomatoes are getting big and I added some squash plants in between the toms since they'd stay low and I had the room. The only regret I have is not over filling the beds. The compost compacted down to a little less that two thirds from the top of the beds. Now I have to water a little more often. Oh well, I can always top it off at the end of this season. Here's some pics.... 
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| Wow, I couldn't be more excited to find your posting. I am a long time gardener but a first time homeowner (hooray) who just bought a house whose whole sunny side yard is an RV pad. I've been waiting years 'till I owned a home to plant crops that take a couple of years to really yield, like aspargus and rhubarb. I was doing a search about the possibility of building raised beds right on top of that pad and Bingo-there you were-wonderful pictures and all. One of my big concerns was how deep I would need to make the beds to grow a variety of veggies as well as melons next summer. I'd appreciate your telling me how things are working out for you. (it certainly looks wonderful) and the actual dimensions of your beds which look about 4'wide and 3' tall to me. Would you change them? I will note your advise on overfilling the beds and wonder if you have any other advise for someone who is just setting up? This is my first time in this kind of format so excuse me if my postings are too long etc. while I get a feel for this new community I am joining. Thanks. |
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- Posted by happycthulhu 7 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 18, 07 at 13:15
| hatzigirl, The raised beds turned out great. Even with the compost settling to about half the depth of the bed, the tomatoes and peppers produced like crazy. I did have to water more because of it being on the concrete pad, but I just did that when I was watering the lawn. As for the measurements of the beds, they are only 16 inches deep (the height of 2 blocks), about 2 and a half feet wide (inside measurement), and just as long as I could make it. I'll be adding a lot more fresh compost to refill the beds soon, and maybe some more in the spring as that settles. I did have a disaster happen though. During a storm, my huge pecan tree dropped a main branch right on top of both beds. Well, next year ought to be better since I had the whole pecan tree cut down. Now my back yard is in full sun instead of mostly shade. I also plan on placing a 55 gallon barrel at the top of each bed, attaching a spigot and soaker hose, and using collected rain water to water next summer. |
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- Posted by Jeanne Sarah 97214(jeannesarah@hotmail.com) onMon, May 30, 11 at 18:38
| Hi, This looks wonderful and thanks for sharing your tips and learnings. I've been thinking of doing the same with a garage-size concrete pad I have in my garden (there used to be a garage but now it's fully uncovered. My worry: how does the drainage work? I live in Portland so there is a lot of rain, and my fear is that the rain would evacuate and run out to the sides of the raised bed, leaving the rest of the concrete building up moss. Have you had any experience with water leaking outside of the concrete raised bed? Thanks, Jeanne |
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- Posted by purpleinopp 8b AL (My Page) on Wed, Jun 1, 11 at 11:40
| Jeanne, you may want to start your own discussion. |
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- Posted by happycthulhu 7 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 1, 11 at 15:22
| Jeanne, my pad is on a slope so yes the beds do drain. However, I believe that would happen in any case. Raised beds always drain faster than a garden that's not. |
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- Posted by cearbhaill Zone 6b Eastern KY (My Page) on Mon, Jun 20, 11 at 13:52
| Doesn't all that concrete leach into the soil and raise the pH too much?? |
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| Wow! I know this is a very, very old thread, but I had to comment. I recently learned I cannot dig my garden and have been seriously contemplating a layered type garden. I love the block idea... |
Here is a link that might be useful: LinderCroft
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- Posted by happycthulhu 7 (My Page) on Tue, Jun 19, 12 at 11:00
| Well, the beds are still going strong. I do have to top them off every year with some fresh compost and give them a good turn. But, it doesn't cost me anything since I make my own compost. |
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| Yes, the concrete blocks will raise pH alot. Study by Univ. of FL showed that soil next to walls (if new concrete) will raise pH from 5.6 to 9.0. This would make growing difficult longer term. Most plants prefer 6-7 pH. In our compost production we can't produce our soil with an ideal pH, if it is touching concrete walls (piled next to). On the bright side though - if the leaching from these blocks for raising pH doesn't raise it too much to prevent plant growth. It is a good way for adding a Calcium supplement. (lime in concrete is calcium bicarbonate and calcium oxide). Looking at some of the compost that was added in the pics .... I'm guessing the materials added have a pretty low natural pH. The only way to know for sure though it to test :) |
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