I am going to build a raised bed for my wife's first garden out of 8 foot landscape timbers.

The part I am unsure about is what stuff I should buy to put inside of it. Do I just fill it with bags of topsoil? Does it need peat moss or any of that other stuff?

It's just going to contain Tomatoes, onions and some herbs this year if that changes what needs to be in it.

Thanks in advance.

edit: I am just going to build it one landscape timber high since the soil underneath the container is good grass bearing soil.

well for a first year plot you're definitely going to need some sort of nutrients.

You got compost ?

Alx can probably ship you some :-)

If you're building it on good grass bearing soil, you may want to put some plastic under your planter. When that grass starts to come up with your tomatoes, it's almost impossible to pull. Guess how I know that.:whistle:

Louie filled her raised bed's with Miracle Grow soil from HD. Also add compost from my small ALX style compost bin.

i have square foot gardening by Mel Bartholomew, somewhere around here :noidea:

it has a recipe for "dirt" in it. i'll try and find it after supper :thumb:

they also make a landscape fabic to use in the bottom that will block grass but allow water to pass through.

link to the square foot gardening on amazon in case you are interested
http://www.amazon.com/All-New-Square-Foot-Gardening/dp/1591862027

If ya wanna follow old Mel's square foot gardening go 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite. Awesome soil!!

If ya wanna follow old Mel's square foot gardening go 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite. Awesome soil!!

phillip you are da man :thumb:

thanks a million

You're welcome! Good Luck!!

Marcus...I would go easy on the peat...it will bring the pH way down and then you'll be adding lime to try to get it back to somewhere neutral...I would just use some topsoil mixed with compost...Mel Bartholamew is a crackpot:whistle:

A crackpot he may be, but his methods seem to work.....

A crackpot he may be, but his methods seem to work.....

And a crackpot I am for sure:lol:
My methods work for me...:thumb:

You might see if your area has a community compost site. Usually you can get some compost there for cheap or free.

And a crackpot I am for sure:lol:
My methods work for me...:thumb:

Care to divulge your secrets? ;-)

Compost and topsoil always worked for us. But we have our garden in 25 gallon feed tubs and stacks of tires. Doubt that makes a difference. Tires work great for plants that need more water. The water that they collect pools up in the tires instead of passing through the dirt, so the plants root grow out and into the tires. Also helps to keep the roots cool. But the peaches & cream corn still goes in the ground.

Also, if anyone is interested I have the Mother Earth A-Z Gardening E-book. Its too big (40 MB) to attach here. If you want it, I'll need your email address. Its a pretty good guide on all kinds of vegetables.

Compost and topsoil always worked for us. But we have our garden in 25 gallon feed tubs and stacks of tires. Doubt that makes a difference. Tires work great for plants that need more water. The water that they collect pools up in the tires instead of passing through the dirt, so the plants root grow out and into the tires. Also helps to keep the roots cool. But the peaches & cream corn still goes in the ground.

Also, if anyone is interested I have the Mother Earth A-Z Gardening E-book. Its too big (40 MB) to attach here. If you want it, I'll need your email address. Its a pretty good guide on all kinds of vegetables.

Tires huh? That's a really good and unique idea. Thanx. As for type of soil. No offence to any of the good advice here, but you might want to check with your local nursery. They may know something particular to your climate that will impact your soil choice. Also good lanscape folks can give you some area specific info and have access to large quantities of dirt. For example our soil requires gypsum as an amendment. Pretty common around here. My two cents.

Didnt read...i retired....:thumb::welcome:

Got me hound dog...Naasty....:nana2:

cow manure & fish meal never hurt.:thumb::thumb:

Nurseries and landscape companies all good advice. Also your county extension officer.

Regardless of what dirt recipe you use, your gonna need some worm casings.

Didnt read...i retired....:thumb::welcome:

Got me hound dog...Naasty....:nana2:

ALX at 7:14 AM...:noidea::bounce:

My opinion is with well made compost you wont need too many soil amendments...Some well balanced organic fertilizer never hurt...

My take on the community compost is that I wouldnt use it on a food production operation...aka...garden...

I work in a feedmill that sends tons of "stuff" to the dump to be composted...Lots of that stuff does not belong in a compost pile....or an organic garden...Were talkin about lots of salt and urea and the like...Im not putting it on my garden...No way!

Your local community compost, however, may not be the same...

My opinion is with well made compost you wont need too many soil amendments...Some well balanced organic fertilizer never hurt...

My take on the community compost is that I wouldnt use it on a food production operation...aka...garden...

I work in a feedmill that sends tons of "stuff" to the dump to be composted...Lots of that stuff does not belong in a compost pile....or an organic garden...Were talkin about lots of salt and urea and the like...Im not putting it on my garden...No way!

Your local community compost, however, may not be the same...

I have seen them shred all kinds of nastie stuff at our county landfill compost section as well...I would assume it depends on quality control though...I am not big on pressure treated wood in my soil that i have seen them shred...


I would personaly get a compost program going and ammend this bed as you grow over years....I would concentrate on root-zone of plants for now...Dig a nice size hole for each plant and add some good soil and balanced fertilizer....The store-bought soil can be a crap shoot sometimes though...

Hey everyone thanks for the advice. I am a little slow getting on here the last couple days since work has been busy.

I live in the middle of nowhere so there are no community programs available to me.

I will consult the extension officer and see what they say incase there is anything special for my neck of the woods.

Thanks again everyone.