You know, I was just re-reading Liz Zorab's books, and in both she mentions mistakenly thinking that her projects will be simple and take no time at all, only to find that they take hours. You're not alone, JB.
Hey JB I am on clay too and have used scaffold boards for my raised beds. The first ones we made in March 2020 have just started to go now. One has rotted at the back, probably because that is the wet end of the bed. I am not too unhappy with nearly 5 years' worth of use out of the scaffold boards and I didn't membrane mine either. The back crumbled on one after i planted my garlic, which was so annoying. I propped it back up with bricks, and when the garlic comes out, I will be replacing it with two rectangle metal ones. We also made one huge bed in 2020 and I regretted it after one season like you. We converted it to a fruit cage which also hasnt worked either, its such a wasted space. We will be trying a u shape now, a bit like Jessie's in her poly tunnel. Yours do look amazing JB. It was worth it 👌 and the entertainment value for this video is 💯 keeping it real 😊❤
Well done in powering through. I'm sure you'll get some nice crops this year out of The Three Bastards. For seed storage, you could look out for an old discarded fridge to keep them in, like Bob Flowerdew does. I've read that it's changes in temperature that damages seed viability, and the insulation of an old fridge takes care of that pretty well.
I suffer from Raynaud’s disease and I found using a teaspoon of cinnamon every morning in smoothies, cereals or oats has helped loads. I’ve been using cinnamon for 2 years now.
Hi JB, a system that has worked well for me (getting on for 70) making things REALLY easy.. imagine an upside down bed, short legs sticking up, lay the bed on a few layers of cardboard (overlapping so it covers the pathways as well) fill paths with woodchip then beds with compost/soil/manure, topping up regularly , as the beds and paths fill up... pull the beds up using the legs/handles, level off by pushing the woodchip or the compost under till they are level.. no digging, no need for plastic as the wood, (cheap old decking boards in my case) are only holding back the top inch or two.. minimal rot so far and dead easy to replace when they do as they are practically on the surface..
Love watching the progress on your plot.... you are getting on so much better than i. Scaffold boards never last long outside in the elements. They are OK for a short term measure and then replace them. You can also get some wood preservatives that make them last longer but then that leaches into the soil too. Pressure treated timber is the way to go or metal planters. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
@JBNat I managed to get some free of charge from various places but none of them lasted very long. Now just replacing them slowly with pressure treated stuff.....they are handy though to define the beds and have slightly raised beds. Find them better than nothing at all.
I’ve had a plot for 32 years found that decking raised slightly on damp coarse membrane wrapped around and also capping the scaffold plank works well. I’ve just got a 1000 block pavers of gum tree which I’m going to glue together to make rot proof beds. I tried it last year on a small bed and it worked really well.
i’m going down the corrugated iron beds as i don’t want to change them again in a few years- those boards look like they are creating a great habitat for the mycelium
Well done on battling your scaffolding planks, the beds look far easier to manage now. Re the plastic lining... Terry King recommends never wrapping your wooden sides over the top as he says the wood will always get wet but be unable to dry out. He cuts his plastic like you had it before, just at the edges for ventilation. Myself, at the base, I always put my plastic liner facing into the beds on the ground for the same reason, as the plastic will hold the moisture against the wood if it is fitted undermeath the planks. You could always puncture the plastic around the base with a screwdriver to provide some drainage on yours along edges. I have shed envy now ;) Mind your boiling water on your paste table - they have a habit of collapsing. Looking forward to a much better year ahead. 🌻
They look good. Easier to work with. Perhap a bag or two of grit worked into the clay at the bottom before you put the lovely stuff on top. Rome wasn't built in a day. Happy new year!
At the end of the day, unless you build your beds from bricks or slabs, wood will rot. I don’t think it’s worth stressing about. Use what you’ve got for now and give yourself time to decide what to use next time.
Yes definitely the right outlook - I had just expected a little longer! I was thankful when I realised that the mycelium was actually only on the surface - it hasn't properly set into the wood yet which is a great sign.
Hi JB, it is annoying when you have paid a lot of money out for wood, but it is what it is. I have pallett collars, which I have lined with black plastic, and stapled it over the edges on the tops and bottom too. Hopefully it will help with them lasting longer. My hubby and I bought each other a circular metal bed as a christmas gift and are going to give one a go on our plots. My top edges are stapled over the top so the water runs away from the edge Into the soil. I would say, make do with what you have and basically replace the wood when you really need too, hang in there I know its disappointing but, you will get there. We have totally been there over the years, its normal and a learning curve. We have to make mistakes, we don't know everything, thats why growing is a challenge sometimes. Some jobs take longer than others, don't beat yourself up. I bet next time you go to your plot, you will get lots done. I have spent the whole day sowing seeds, a walk to the allotment for more compost & pots, through the snow ❄️ but, home now, bracing myself to finish the seeds i intended to finish this morning 😊 you have done a great job on resizing your raised beds, they are a much better size, well done 😊 wonky gives them character, nothing is perfect. Great video Thanks for sharing and take care 😊
I wrapped three beds and was then told to leave them as the membrane holds the moisture on the wood .Seems they were right .Seven years on the unwrapped beds are still fine and they weren't even thick like scaffold planks JB .
I painted my scaffolding wood and other planks with linseed oil, the normal natural oil that is also given to horses. Do it on a warm day and then twice.
I got in contact with a double glazing company they were happy for me to go through their skip I cut double glazing windows frames into steaks and use heavy Duty window seals the best ones are the ones that go along the bottom of patio doors they are about 10 inches wide underside is 2 or 3 patio doors I painted them black they look ok and don't Rot Away and are designed to stay outside all year round
You have discovered on raised beds when the plastic does not wrap the top of the board water runs down the side and the board rots. If you staple plastic up a bit on the bottom, the EXACT SAME THING will happen - except it will rot even more quickly as the rain water will pool on the bottom.
Hi JB could you possibly add a thin layer of gravel under the boards so they are not sitting directly on the clay soil. A bit more work but it might give a few more years to the life of your boards. End result looks good.
I use slats from old fence panels on my plot, which is on a slope. I only use them on the downward side to hold back the soil/compost. I know they won’t last for long but that’s just how life goes.
I find polishing the ends of the scaffolding boards with an angle grinder is o e method of making them last longer and basically burning the wood ends off so no moisture is absorbed.
Hi JB. Unfortunately scaffold boards are not treated so will rot super quick if wet. Wrapping them in plastic only works if ALL exposed wooden surfaces are wrapped. Any exposed upper surfaces will still allow rain water to go into the gap between board and plastic and be retained, leading to quick rot conditions. The only real solution is to use a non-wood material or completely seal the timber. In the UK we seem to be obsessed with doing raised beds out of stuff that rots. Charles Dowding has it right; no raised beds, for various reasons.
Jb, store you're seeds in a plastic tub with a lid, as for scaffolding boards a no go, use logs to define the outline of raised beds, natural, and also slugs n snails less attracted, hope this heelps
Hi JB, Happy New Year to you. Good job reorganizing the raised bed. Will be much easier to to maintain. Yep, costs a fortune to keep renewing the wood every few years. I'm thinking of using breeze blocks when its time to replace mine. Just a thought, fixing your drawer unit to the end of your shelving would save you more space, even if you decide to store something else in them other than seeds. The new shed looks like a real Bobby Dazzler.
Your vids are excellent 👌🏼 allotment looks lovely. Ill have my own soon fingers 🤞🏼 the wait lists are unbelievable 😂😂 Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing your experiences
Talk about "Think, it, Feel it, Say it!", I was sat watching thinking 'poor Jess', as I'm sure she heard all about it! 🤣🤣 I'm exactly the same and often wonder what the neighbours must think, hearing my 'frustrations' over the garden fence! 🤣 I never lined my boards, I don't think it makes that much a difference when they are sat on clay, moisture gets trapped between the wood and the membrane no matter what you do. They will rot, but it's just the way it is. You could tray removing the boards in a season or two, by which time the soil will be 'bedded in'- the way Charles D does his. I'm on a slope so that doesn't work for me, I've just accepted they will need replacing. I used gravel boards, as they are cheaper. It looks great though JB...and you have a kettle...😃
We all have these frustrations JB. Patron perseverance bed will be you’re favourite bed - blood & sweat won’t 🤣 but a cuppa fixes everything & no flask needed anymore!!! Remember those frustrating days 😂 you’ve come far 🤣🤣
This time last year most of the country was saturated and the ground never really had a chance to 'dry out' which I imagine has not helped. I would put lots and lots of puncture holes in the membrane and see how that goes.
My lined wooden raised beds rotted at the same speed as the beds not lined. I think the lining traps the moisture. For me I'm fed up replacing wood every few years so have turned to metal. Appreciate the cost on an allotment would be higher versus my home set up.
Well done JB, they look really neat now, they’ll look smashing when they’re filled. I’m still in two minds over beds, sides, paths etc for maintenance, cost, weed prevention, slug habitat / use of your space - even after 20 years of having the plot. Just go with what you can manage at the time and see what you can live with - everything has pros and cons and you’re never tied in to any one particular choice. Think of it as being able to do a constant plot upgrade 😉 All the best, Andy!
Cheers Andy. It's always a bit of a question isn't it. I've had people commenting for years telling me to do DPM and raised beds and then as soon as you do it people share their negative experiences with it.. Just one of those things! Learn as you go.
Hi JB, I wrap my plastic over the top and bottom edge; working on the assumption that the wood will breath outwards. I also ensure that the bottom of the raised beds is above the paths so soil/ wood chip, etc. does not sit against the outside of the beds. I used old bricks. Up to now, three years in… still ok.
Stay warm JB.. I think that wooden box from mom n dad would be better for hardware, your screws, bolts, nails ect.. always love watching your videos, much love from Indian River County Fl 🌱🌳
Looks great. The only beds I have that haven't rotted are made from old house bricks. They are great but harbour slugs and snails. I have one thats wood from an old fence that has lasted, but god knows what it was painted with - that is now leaching into my soil!!
Try linseed oil for your scaffold boards. The difficulty may be that you'll need 2 coats at least but each takes 2-3 days to dry (at summer temperatures). At lower temperatures may take longer between the coats. Suggestion: experiment with one bed (with the worst boards). Paint from outside, board tops, board cuts where you used saw & 1/2 inside (temporarily heap compost soil to the center). Let the board dry as long as it takes. Closer to spring turn the bed frame upside down & treat the remaining inside & bottom part. I would remove membrane from inside & bottom of this one frame just for comparison with others. With your damp soil it works as a poultice & keeps boards wet even in dry weather. When linseed oil hardens it creates water resistent film over the board which clogs wood pores. It's not an ultimate cure but it's cheap & will help to extend boards longevity for couple more seasons.🤞 🤗 BTW high pile of compost sitting in the middle of the bed during winter frosts helps to kill most harmful pests. 🦠🐛😜
I’m sorry this was so hard on you. Keep in mind that wood will rot. I’ve used cedar fence boards for my beds. They are cheap, and they usually last a few years. 4 or 5. Each year I replace one or two beds with found/reclaimed stones or bricks. I don’t use cement, just pile them up. This last fall we moved into a new house and are starting over. It will be one bed at a time until I get things the way I like. I’ve even used a log or four to make a raised bed. That works too.
If you want to store your seeds at the allotment, you could put some sillica bags in the drawers - you know the ones there’s sometimes in the packaging when you buy clothes, or shoes, or bags and such. 🙂
i have put raised beds into my plot i haven't wrapped them in any membrane the older allotment plot holders said not to as it just increases rot when moisture gets in it has no where to go. After clearing my plot i found on that the previous owner had wrapped and there was shedredded plastic in with written wood from the raised bed i have been picking the plastic out for the last 4 years and counting. I haven't used anything to treat the raised beds i have put in as i didn't want to put any chemical on and the safer more natural oils to protect just arent in my budget, when they rot the wood will go onto my compost and the cycle continues.
Yes it's a great debate about whether to cover or not. I wish I'd done 50/50 as an experiment. Shredded plastic is an absolute nightmare though, I made sure to use heavy duty DPM. I like your philosophy :)
I think wood around raised beds are always going to rot. It's only a matter of time, and any plastic may be just as likely to do harm than good. I made some beds 12 years ago and they are on their last year. In the spring I'm going to change the layout and rebuild them, but not as high. I have decided that I want the "soil" that they are full of (mostly organic matter) less deep so that the plants can get their roots right down into the ground. I have fairly clayish soil too, under the beds. They have always been too dry, and tend to get hydrophobic in summer. I think the nutrients are just washing down to the clay. So I'm planning only the height of a 2x4. The wood will only serve to keep them looking orderly. I guess after my experience I suggest that you consider the rotting wood to be adding organic matter, and use second hand wood if possible so you don't have to worry about the cost as much.
Just put the seeds into sandwich bags then inside the box.. I have whiskey barrel planters and this year have loads of mushrooms growing around the edges on inside.
your seed storage JB- why not pop the unit in a sealed plastic bag to keep moisture out? Another thing to keep in mid is that sheds can get very hot in summer and a lot of heat is also bad for seed viability. We wrapped ourv raised beds in damp proof membrane, ( ie. the4 inside and the top, and painted the outside and base touching the soil, of the beds with a moisture resistant wood paint. I guess you could use butyl pond liner if you are concerned about the breakdown of the membrane over time. Happy growing 🙂
Hi JB I enjoyed watching your first vlog so much,I am now another subscriber. I got my first allotment just after retirement,I was so excited. Decided to go No Dig. I had amazing results,others on Tue plot have followed my example last year. I'm sharing your frustration. If it was me,I would get rid of the beds in 2026. I like being able to walk around with no restrictions,I can also be more imaginative without the box surround. Something to consider. Love listening to you,find you amusing and quite delightful. 😊
Thanks christina and thanks for subscribing! I only put the beds in last year after 3 to 4 years without any. My main issue is trouble growing in the soil, so my aim is to build up a nice raised bed full of high quality soil/compost.
Hello, new subscriber here 😊 I just got an allotment plot May last year, after loosing my dad in May it was a slow start but I’m super excited to get growing this year after a move. I have gained a shed to start seed sowing, and I’m hoping to collect a poly tunnel near me to take to the allotment. I’m hoping to share the journey here will see! But it’s so lovely to follow you and see how you are building up your space. The physical diy work I struggle with, but I’m eager to learn more of the diy stuff and use more tools 😂
welcome aboard! So sorry to hear about your Dad. One of the wonderful things about allotments is the way they tune you into the changes of the season, and each spring feels like a completely new start. Good luck with the polytunnel, you'll become confident with the DIY in no time!
hahahaha thankfully the videos are like therapy so Jess doesn't have to put up with me talking about the plot too much!! I think you're probably right about the clay.
When I first did raised beds about 15yr's ago they where all scaffolding boards not new ( my brother was a scaffolding inspector which was handy 😂) I didn't cover any of them lasted me about 7 to 8 years , then i thought bugger this and started collecting box profile people where getting rid off they're sheds BRILLIANT I'LL HAVE THEM 😂 I love them and I have a few made with facia boards all scavenged 😊 I only have to walk up the street and someone is shouting Liz do you want this 😂😂😂 of course I do 😂😂😂 I personally think when the boards are covered they still get wet but don't dry out as quick as they hold the moisture behind the plastic 🤔 just a thought 🤔
@JBNat well I like them did the first ones about 8 - 9 years ago could be longer 🤔 and they still look like the day I put them in , did some with corrugated sheets as well what ever I could get really 👍
It wasn't the wood that split thankfully, it was the screw head which popped off. Unfortunately the way these brackets are designed they have to go on the outside to work properly. They do work well, just tricky if the wood doesn't want to come together!
Sooo many jobs s/b EZ. However, once dug in it's apparent that's not the case. Then comes that job you dread, and it's soooo EZ. Then I wonder why I dreaded and put it off.
Would builders plastic be better (on 3 sides) of the raised beds? The weed membrane allows water through that will rot the wood whereas the plastic won't allow water to get to the wood. You also need to leave at least one side open to the air to allow the wood to breathe
I did consider this too actually but it makes barrowing quite tricky, and i just know I would have fallen over the sides of the bed at some point 😂 I would have really needed to reinforce the sides over time as the material built up too - they would have bulged like mad.
That's amazing! I have some pallet collars which were on this plot when I took it on. They're okay but I've not really filled them up yet. When the wood rots I was thinking I'd salvage the brackets and use them on something else.
You should have screwed them with a couple of long screws to pull them together before fixing the brackets easy for me to say being a chippy I suppose, don't staple the bottom let water drain out wood needs to breathe or it rots quickly
Yes that was my thinking too which is why I hadn't stapled the bottom, but tricky as I don't think it will breathe much with wet soil against it. I don't think there's a perfect solution!
@ it absolutely doesn’t! We are long past the era of silent movies! I felt for you but it was also amusing to see someone react exactly how we all would. Must admit I was expecting you to teach me some new vocabulary at one point 😂🤭
They do actually work yes, they're very good but you need to do a lot of research about how to fill them and what to put inside. I'm not diligent or dedicated enough to get the best results
Hi JB it always, always takes longer to get jobs done in the garden,. It rarely goes to plan for me,. Looking back at your long bed would you have considered putting 2paths with mulch in that bed and not taking out the long side.very disappointing to see that the sleepers were not holding up to the conditions of your garden,.happy Nollaig Na mBan (women Christmas or little Christmas) 6 January. It’s a day when women get the day off and celebrate with other women!! Happy new year to you and all your family ,. Good growing for 2025 💐🪴🎄☘️☘️
You know, I was just re-reading Liz Zorab's books, and in both she mentions mistakenly thinking that her projects will be simple and take no time at all, only to find that they take hours. You're not alone, JB.
Hey JB I am on clay too and have used scaffold boards for my raised beds. The first ones we made in March 2020 have just started to go now. One has rotted at the back, probably because that is the wet end of the bed. I am not too unhappy with nearly 5 years' worth of use out of the scaffold boards and I didn't membrane mine either.
The back crumbled on one after i planted my garlic, which was so annoying. I propped it back up with bricks, and when the garlic comes out, I will be replacing it with two rectangle metal ones.
We also made one huge bed in 2020 and I regretted it after one season like you. We converted it to a fruit cage which also hasnt worked either, its such a wasted space. We will be trying a u shape now, a bit like Jessie's in her poly tunnel.
Yours do look amazing JB. It was worth it 👌 and the entertainment value for this video is 💯 keeping it real 😊❤
Well done in powering through. I'm sure you'll get some nice crops this year out of The Three Bastards.
For seed storage, you could look out for an old discarded fridge to keep them in, like Bob Flowerdew does. I've read that it's changes in temperature that damages seed viability, and the insulation of an old fridge takes care of that pretty well.
The Three Bastards hahahahahahahaha
I suffer from Raynaud’s disease and I found using a teaspoon of cinnamon every morning in smoothies, cereals or oats has helped loads. I’ve been using cinnamon for 2 years now.
JB, get an old fridge or freezer in your shed for storing stuff, 100% air tight 🙏👍
Hi JB, a system that has worked well for me (getting on for 70) making things REALLY easy.. imagine an upside down bed, short legs sticking up, lay the bed on a few layers of cardboard (overlapping so it covers the pathways as well) fill paths with woodchip then beds with compost/soil/manure, topping up regularly , as the beds and paths fill up... pull the beds up using the legs/handles, level off by pushing the woodchip or the compost under till they are level.. no digging, no need for plastic as the wood, (cheap old decking boards in my case) are only holding back the top inch or two.. minimal rot so far and dead easy to replace when they do as they are practically on the surface..
Love watching the progress on your plot.... you are getting on so much better than i. Scaffold boards never last long outside in the elements. They are OK for a short term measure and then replace them. You can also get some wood preservatives that make them last longer but then that leaches into the soil too. Pressure treated timber is the way to go or metal planters. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
no need for apologies, very useful thank you! I've heard tale that they're meant to last years and years, but maybe they're not all the same quality.
@JBNat I managed to get some free of charge from various places but none of them lasted very long. Now just replacing them slowly with pressure treated stuff.....they are handy though to define the beds and have slightly raised beds. Find them better than nothing at all.
I’ve had a plot for 32 years found that decking raised slightly on damp coarse membrane wrapped around and also capping the scaffold plank works well. I’ve just got a 1000 block pavers of gum tree which I’m going to glue together to make rot proof beds. I tried it last year on a small bed and it worked really well.
i’m going down the corrugated iron beds as i don’t want to change them again in a few years- those boards look like they are creating a great habitat for the mycelium
JB A tip for your gas cannister, pop it inside your coat / pocket so it absorbs some body heat for 10 mins, then flame will burn higher. Take care.
Well done on battling your scaffolding planks, the beds look far easier to manage now. Re the plastic lining... Terry King recommends never wrapping your wooden sides over the top as he says the wood will always get wet but be unable to dry out. He cuts his plastic like you had it before, just at the edges for ventilation. Myself, at the base, I always put my plastic liner facing into the beds on the ground for the same reason, as the plastic will hold the moisture against the wood if it is fitted undermeath the planks. You could always puncture the plastic around the base with a screwdriver to provide some drainage on yours along edges. I have shed envy now ;) Mind your boiling water on your paste table - they have a habit of collapsing. Looking forward to a much better year ahead. 🌻
They look good. Easier to work with. Perhap a bag or two of grit worked into the clay at the bottom before you put the lovely stuff on top. Rome wasn't built in a day. Happy new year!
At the end of the day, unless you build your beds from bricks or slabs, wood will rot. I don’t think it’s worth stressing about. Use what you’ve got for now and give yourself time to decide what to use next time.
Yes definitely the right outlook - I had just expected a little longer! I was thankful when I realised that the mycelium was actually only on the surface - it hasn't properly set into the wood yet which is a great sign.
Hi JB, it is annoying when you have paid a lot of money out for wood, but it is what it is. I have pallett collars, which I have lined with black plastic, and stapled it over the edges on the tops and bottom too. Hopefully it will help with them lasting longer. My hubby and I bought each other a circular metal bed as a christmas gift and are going to give one a go on our plots. My top edges are stapled over the top so the water runs away from the edge Into the soil. I would say, make do with what you have and basically replace the wood when you really need too, hang in there I know its disappointing but, you will get there. We have totally been there over the years, its normal and a learning curve. We have to make mistakes, we don't know everything, thats why growing is a challenge sometimes. Some jobs take longer than others, don't beat yourself up. I bet next time you go to your plot, you will get lots done. I have spent the whole day sowing seeds, a walk to the allotment for more compost & pots, through the snow ❄️ but, home now, bracing myself to finish the seeds i intended to finish this morning 😊 you have done a great job on resizing your raised beds, they are a much better size, well done 😊 wonky gives them character, nothing is perfect. Great video Thanks for sharing and take care 😊
I wrapped three beds and was then told to leave them as the membrane holds the moisture on the wood .Seems they were right .Seven years on the unwrapped beds are still fine and they weren't even thick like scaffold planks JB .
That's really interesting, thanks Susie!
Good morning JB , cracking day there. All the best for the year ahead🐞
I painted my scaffolding wood and other planks with linseed oil, the normal natural oil that is also given to horses. Do it on a warm day and then twice.
oooh very nice, how long have they lasted for you?
This year my third year.
In my clay soil in Canada, I have given up on wood and replaced with metal. Easy to install and will last longer than me!
Well done JB for sticking at it. Job done all worth it👍
I got in contact with a double glazing company they were happy for me to go through their skip I cut double glazing windows frames into steaks and use heavy Duty window seals the best ones are the ones that go along the bottom of patio doors they are about 10 inches wide underside is 2 or 3 patio doors I painted them black they look ok and don't Rot Away and are designed to stay outside all year round
You have discovered on raised beds when the plastic does not wrap the top of the board water runs down the side and the board rots. If you staple plastic up a bit on the bottom, the EXACT SAME THING will happen - except it will rot even more quickly as the rain water will pool on the bottom.
Hi JB could you possibly add a thin layer of gravel under the boards so they are not sitting directly on the clay soil. A bit more work but it might give a few more years to the life of your boards. End result looks good.
I use slats from old fence panels on my plot, which is on a slope. I only use them on the downward side to hold back the soil/compost. I know they won’t last for long but that’s just how life goes.
I find polishing the ends of the scaffolding boards with an angle grinder is o e method of making them last longer and basically burning the wood ends off so no moisture is absorbed.
Hi JB. Unfortunately scaffold boards are not treated so will rot super quick if wet. Wrapping them in plastic only works if ALL exposed wooden surfaces are wrapped. Any exposed upper surfaces will still allow rain water to go into the gap between board and plastic and be retained, leading to quick rot conditions. The only real solution is to use a non-wood material or completely seal the timber. In the UK we seem to be obsessed with doing raised beds out of stuff that rots. Charles Dowding has it right; no raised beds, for various reasons.
Stay positive,you’ll enjoy those beds in the summer and laugh thinking about that day 😊
Jb, store you're seeds in a plastic tub with a lid, as for scaffolding boards a no go, use logs to define the outline of raised beds, natural, and also slugs n snails less attracted, hope this heelps
try using just mounded raised beds, my Mum used this method all her life and Charles Dowding also
What you like 😂😂😂 they are fine… they just hold soil … perfection not required but tbf they look bloody good to me JB 🎉🎉
Hi JB, Happy New Year to you. Good job reorganizing the raised bed. Will be much easier to to maintain. Yep, costs a fortune to keep renewing the wood every few years. I'm thinking of using breeze blocks when its time to replace mine. Just a thought, fixing your drawer unit to the end of your shelving would save you more space, even if you decide to store something else in them other than seeds. The new shed looks like a real Bobby Dazzler.
Your vids are excellent 👌🏼 allotment looks lovely. Ill have my own soon fingers 🤞🏼 the wait lists are unbelievable 😂😂
Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing your experiences
Talk about "Think, it, Feel it, Say it!", I was sat watching thinking 'poor Jess', as I'm sure she heard all about it! 🤣🤣 I'm exactly the same and often wonder what the neighbours must think, hearing my 'frustrations' over the garden fence! 🤣 I never lined my boards, I don't think it makes that much a difference when they are sat on clay, moisture gets trapped between the wood and the membrane no matter what you do. They will rot, but it's just the way it is. You could tray removing the boards in a season or two, by which time the soil will be 'bedded in'- the way Charles D does his. I'm on a slope so that doesn't work for me, I've just accepted they will need replacing. I used gravel boards, as they are cheaper. It looks great though JB...and you have a kettle...😃
We all have these frustrations JB. Patron perseverance bed will be you’re favourite bed - blood & sweat won’t 🤣 but a cuppa fixes everything & no flask needed anymore!!! Remember those frustrating days 😂 you’ve come far 🤣🤣
You have done a good job😊
This time last year most of the country was saturated and the ground never really had a chance to 'dry out' which I imagine has not helped. I would put lots and lots of puncture holes in the membrane and see how that goes.
My lined wooden raised beds rotted at the same speed as the beds not lined. I think the lining traps the moisture.
For me I'm fed up replacing wood every few years so have turned to metal. Appreciate the cost on an allotment would be higher versus my home set up.
Well done JB, they look really neat now, they’ll look smashing when they’re filled. I’m still in two minds over beds, sides, paths etc for maintenance, cost, weed prevention, slug habitat / use of your space - even after 20 years of having the plot. Just go with what you can manage at the time and see what you can live with - everything has pros and cons and you’re never tied in to any one particular choice. Think of it as being able to do a constant plot upgrade 😉 All the best, Andy!
Cheers Andy. It's always a bit of a question isn't it. I've had people commenting for years telling me to do DPM and raised beds and then as soon as you do it people share their negative experiences with it.. Just one of those things! Learn as you go.
Hi JB, I wrap my plastic over the top and bottom edge; working on the assumption that the wood will breath outwards. I also ensure that the bottom of the raised beds is above the paths so soil/ wood chip, etc. does not sit against the outside of the beds. I used old bricks. Up to now, three years in… still ok.
Stay warm JB.. I think that wooden box from mom n dad would be better for hardware, your screws, bolts, nails ect.. always love watching your videos, much love from Indian River County Fl 🌱🌳
Looks great. The only beds I have that haven't rotted are made from old house bricks. They are great but harbour slugs and snails. I have one thats wood from an old fence that has lasted, but god knows what it was painted with - that is now leaching into my soil!!
Try linseed oil for your scaffold boards. The difficulty may be that you'll need 2 coats at least but each takes 2-3 days to dry (at summer temperatures). At lower temperatures may take longer between the coats. Suggestion: experiment with one bed (with the worst boards). Paint from outside, board tops, board cuts where you used saw & 1/2 inside (temporarily heap compost soil to the center). Let the board dry as long as it takes. Closer to spring turn the bed frame upside down & treat the remaining inside & bottom part. I would remove membrane from inside & bottom of this one frame just for comparison with others. With your damp soil it works as a poultice & keeps boards wet even in dry weather. When linseed oil hardens it creates water resistent film over the board which clogs wood pores. It's not an ultimate cure but it's cheap & will help to extend boards longevity for couple more seasons.🤞 🤗
BTW high pile of compost sitting in the middle of the bed during winter frosts helps to kill most harmful pests. 🦠🐛😜
Might of took longer and been harder, but when all done, you can look back and see how great it looks. Well done.
I’m sorry this was so hard on you. Keep in mind that wood will rot. I’ve used cedar fence boards for my beds. They are cheap, and they usually last a few years. 4 or 5. Each year I replace one or two beds with found/reclaimed stones or bricks. I don’t use cement, just pile them up. This last fall we moved into a new house and are starting over. It will be one bed at a time until I get things the way I like. I’ve even used a log or four to make a raised bed. That works too.
If you want to store your seeds at the allotment, you could put some sillica bags in the drawers - you know the ones there’s sometimes in the packaging when you buy clothes, or shoes, or bags and such. 🙂
I;ve just had my first 'depressed' mood on the plot, due to illness too, but I know it will get better as will yours
Totally normal to have ups and downs with the plot, so long as you keep going you'll enjoy it in the long run 😊
i have put raised beds into my plot i haven't wrapped them in any membrane the older allotment plot holders said not to as it just increases rot when moisture gets in it has no where to go. After clearing my plot i found on that the previous owner had wrapped and there was shedredded plastic in with written wood from the raised bed i have been picking the plastic out for the last 4 years and counting. I haven't used anything to treat the raised beds i have put in as i didn't want to put any chemical on and the safer more natural oils to protect just arent in my budget, when they rot the wood will go onto my compost and the cycle continues.
Yes it's a great debate about whether to cover or not. I wish I'd done 50/50 as an experiment. Shredded plastic is an absolute nightmare though, I made sure to use heavy duty DPM. I like your philosophy :)
I think wood around raised beds are always going to rot. It's only a matter of time, and any plastic may be just as likely to do harm than good. I made some beds 12 years ago and they are on their last year. In the spring I'm going to change the layout and rebuild them, but not as high. I have decided that I want the "soil" that they are full of (mostly organic matter) less deep so that the plants can get their roots right down into the ground. I have fairly clayish soil too, under the beds. They have always been too dry, and tend to get hydrophobic in summer. I think the nutrients are just washing down to the clay. So I'm planning only the height of a 2x4. The wood will only serve to keep them looking orderly.
I guess after my experience I suggest that you consider the rotting wood to be adding organic matter, and use second hand wood if possible so you don't have to worry about the cost as much.
Just put the seeds into sandwich bags then inside the box.. I have whiskey barrel planters and this year have loads of mushrooms growing around the edges on inside.
Use silica packets to keep moisture under control
You know JB is stressed when he starts begging wooden sleepers to sit properly and slams it into place 😂!
Well done for powering through! 💪🏻
hahahahaha yes, not my finest moment but it did make me laugh when editing
your seed storage JB- why not pop the unit in a sealed plastic bag to keep moisture out? Another thing to keep in mid is that sheds can get very hot in summer and a lot of heat is also bad for seed viability. We wrapped ourv raised beds in damp proof membrane, ( ie. the4 inside and the top, and painted the outside and base touching the soil, of the beds with a moisture resistant wood paint. I guess you could use butyl pond liner if you are concerned about the breakdown of the membrane over time. Happy growing 🙂
This gives me flashbacks of building my own raised beds a few years ago. Fighting to get them level an all!
It's great for soil, not so great for timber though
Personally, I think it's looking great!
i use the wooden gravel board 6ft long never had a prob with them
I wonder if seeds could be stored in a picnic cooler, or a mini fridge not turned on, like a broken discarded one.
Happy New Year to you both
Hi JB
I enjoyed watching your first vlog so much,I am now another subscriber.
I got my first allotment just after retirement,I was so excited.
Decided to go No Dig.
I had amazing results,others on Tue plot have followed my example last year.
I'm sharing your frustration.
If it was me,I would get rid of the beds in 2026.
I like being able to walk around with no restrictions,I can also be more imaginative without the box surround.
Something to consider.
Love listening to you,find you amusing and quite delightful.
😊
Thanks christina and thanks for subscribing! I only put the beds in last year after 3 to 4 years without any. My main issue is trouble growing in the soil, so my aim is to build up a nice raised bed full of high quality soil/compost.
Well done JB. Love your videos that show the reality of plot life😂
Exactly what I aim for, even if it's not always pretty ha!
Hello, new subscriber here 😊 I just got an allotment plot May last year, after loosing my dad in May it was a slow start but I’m super excited to get growing this year after a move. I have gained a shed to start seed sowing, and I’m hoping to collect a poly tunnel near me to take to the allotment. I’m hoping to share the journey here will see! But it’s so lovely to follow you and see how you are building up your space. The physical diy work I struggle with, but I’m eager to learn more of the diy stuff and use more tools 😂
welcome aboard! So sorry to hear about your Dad. One of the wonderful things about allotments is the way they tune you into the changes of the season, and each spring feels like a completely new start. Good luck with the polytunnel, you'll become confident with the DIY in no time!
JB, have you thought about painting the wood with fence paint.. can't remember the name now! to stop things rotting?? Might be an option. Helen x
hahahaha thankfully the videos are like therapy so Jess doesn't have to put up with me talking about the plot too much!! I think you're probably right about the clay.
Errrr
When I first did raised beds about 15yr's ago they where all scaffolding boards not new ( my brother was a scaffolding inspector which was handy 😂) I didn't cover any of them lasted me about 7 to 8 years , then i thought bugger this and started collecting box profile people where getting rid off they're sheds BRILLIANT I'LL HAVE THEM 😂 I love them and I have a few made with facia boards all scavenged 😊 I only have to walk up the street and someone is shouting Liz do you want this 😂😂😂 of course I do 😂😂😂
I personally think when the boards are covered they still get wet but don't dry out as quick as they hold the moisture behind the plastic 🤔 just a thought 🤔
Box profile as raised beds sounds like a really good idea!
@JBNat well I like them did the first ones about 8 - 9 years ago could be longer 🤔 and they still look like the day I put them in , did some with corrugated sheets as well what ever I could get really 👍
JB, you should use the brackets on the inside of the beds then the screws won't be too near the edge of the wood causing it to split
It wasn't the wood that split thankfully, it was the screw head which popped off. Unfortunately the way these brackets are designed they have to go on the outside to work properly. They do work well, just tricky if the wood doesn't want to come together!
Fantastisch Good work jb the bed Top looks great Good weekend fried 👍☕️🧣🦺🌡🧤🧢🌤
For the seed boxes, what if you put packets of dessicant in the drawers? That would at least help with the moisture.
Sooo many jobs s/b EZ. However, once dug in it's apparent that's not the case.
Then comes that job you dread, and it's soooo EZ. Then I wonder why I dreaded and put it off.
Would builders plastic be better (on 3 sides) of the raised beds? The weed membrane allows water through that will rot the wood whereas the plastic won't allow water to get to the wood. You also need to leave at least one side open to the air to allow the wood to breathe
Yes it is builders plastic / damp proof membrane :)
I would have just made the two paths in the big raised bed, and left the sides as is.
I did consider this too actually but it makes barrowing quite tricky, and i just know I would have fallen over the sides of the bed at some point 😂 I would have really needed to reinforce the sides over time as the material built up too - they would have bulged like mad.
I keep my seeds in chinese tubs in my shed no problem
Don't have any raised beds for all the reasons you are discovering, expensive to build, fill and maintenance. Looks good though 😅.
Pallet collars last years for me & It's wet up the lakes
That's amazing! I have some pallet collars which were on this plot when I took it on. They're okay but I've not really filled them up yet. When the wood rots I was thinking I'd salvage the brackets and use them on something else.
You should have screwed them with a couple of long screws to pull them together before fixing the brackets easy for me to say being a chippy I suppose, don't staple the bottom let water drain out wood needs to breathe or it rots quickly
Yes that was my thinking too which is why I hadn't stapled the bottom, but tricky as I don't think it will breathe much with wet soil against it. I don't think there's a perfect solution!
Plastic on wood isn’t a great combinations as it traps any moisture, I’ve painted all my beds with shed paint and they’re fine 😊
I felt the frustration there.. looks good though! Well done for not giving up. You’re like me.. don’t believe in suffering in silence do you? 😝😂
hahahaa suffering in silence doesn't make for a very good video now does it!!
@ it absolutely doesn’t! We are long past the era of silent movies! I felt for you but it was also amusing to see someone react exactly how we all would. Must admit I was expecting you to teach me some new vocabulary at one point 😂🤭
JB, do hot bin composters actually work? Do they need to be in the sun? I’m considering a small one for the garden 🤔🤔🤔
They do actually work yes, they're very good but you need to do a lot of research about how to fill them and what to put inside. I'm not diligent or dedicated enough to get the best results
Please name one area or bed that is deserving PITA. , for Pain In The As* ( Ive got a few with that name), lol. ❤
i thought mycellium is okay for soil etc
I think that you did an excellent job. Your moaning and groaning was cracking me up, but you really put in some hard work, with great results.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi JB it always, always takes longer to get jobs done in the garden,. It rarely goes to plan for me,. Looking back at your long bed would you have considered putting 2paths with mulch in that bed and not taking out the long side.very disappointing to see that the sleepers were not holding up to the conditions of your garden,.happy Nollaig Na mBan (women Christmas or little Christmas) 6 January. It’s a day when women get the day off and celebrate with other women!! Happy new year to you and all your family ,. Good growing for 2025 💐🪴🎄☘️☘️