What to do with raised beds over winter

[Richard]

I installed some raised beds last spring and they've been very productive over the growing season. Most of them will be out of action over winter and I'm wondering what the best thing to do for them is? I've read various bits of advice ranging from covering them with old carpet through to sowing a green manure. Any thoughts would be appreciated....thanks

[Christine Hooper]

Hello Richard, You can sow some Broad Beans now and they will be ready in the Spring. Christine

[Sandra Barnett]

Thanks for that Christine - will maybe give that a go!

[Debby Lockey]

Hi richard - I think its too late to sow green manure now _ the days are too short. The best thing is to cover them with old carpet/newspaper/straw, anything that will exclude light so you'll deter the weeds growing. It will also protect your soil so it won't be washed away with the rain. Best to mulch after rain - dry soil isn't good for the organisms in the soil. If you really want to improve the condition and nutrients of your soil you could try sheet mulching where you put layers of discarded vegetation, compost, wet newspaper, more compost, woodshavings etc so you let everything compost in situ . Then when you come to plant in spring you just push the top layer aside and plant straight into the compost/soil layer beneath. Good luck

Debby

[Richard]

Wonderful - many thanks Debby - will start loading them up with sheet mulch....v helpful!

[Caroline Gregg]

Debby - this sheet muching sounds brilliant - sounds like actually cutting out the having to put everything into the compost bin. We have lots of veg peelings, read a lot of newspapers and the mouse (pet in cage) provides the shavings. I have sort of done this already with the not quite decomposed compost I put on there a few weeks ago, but will try this for the next couple of months. Thanks.

[David Aylieff-sansom]

Hi Richard
We are busy covering our raised beds with hoops made out of water pipes and bent tubes to give some protection and extend the season a bit. Transplanting winter salad leaves and planting shallots under them as well.

[Richard]

Nice one David - what covering do you use?

[David Aylieff-sansom]

Anything we can find,fleece, environ mesh or just polythene, if using the later a cunning way of securing is required with ropes and hooks are essential.