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Tall man raised garden bed for vegetables

I just finished my "tall man" vege garden box and we will start to plant this weekend. All timber, tools and accessories were bought from either the Keperra or Brendale stores. It turned out better than I hoped considering I have never worked with large pieces of Timber before only ever small wooden projects. Thanks Bunnings!

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Planting and Growing

Comments

Jason

Looks fantastic @mdstorrs. Well done! Many thanks for sharing.

Let me also extend a very warm welcome to the Workshop community. We look forward to seeing more of your projects and reading about your future plans. Feel free to post whenever you need a hand or have something to share. And please let me know if you ever need help getting the most from the site or have any feedback about how we can improve Workshop for you.

All the best,

Jason

22Jill

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/5363#Comment_5363

Hi Jason! Thanks for helping us with our dreamed of Veggie Patches, much appreciated.

I understand it's a very difficult maneuver for most, but down here on the Mornington Peninsula in good old Vic., 'Possums' in a word!

They are my dreaded concern whilst wanting to build a hopefully still attractive and very fruitful VERY 'high rise' Garden Bed.

I'm 5'10"!! 😁

But boy those 'first land owners' can leap. After they ate my newly planted shrubs (A cocktail party with one each @ my three new fresh plants) I had to grin really! In the early hours I peeked outside and there they were, all 3 up on hind legs munching away on a whole plant each - all gone! We took care of a disabled Possum (one of her front paws was congenitally impaired) for 8 years who was great mates growing up with our burnt, sick and injured Rescue Cat from the Black Saturday Bush Fires in 2009 and I think the others figured it was a free for all after Barney very sadly moved on to another life, no longer to visit our lounge room.

Back to the Veggie Garden -

Without having to consider covering the whole thing with mesh, wire or the like, how can I stop these lovable cuties from climbing up the walls and munching on my hopeful creations we are growing to sustain us - not them?

My lifes Motto has always been - "There is ALWAYS a way, we've just gotta find it" - I just haven't yet.

I understand Quassia Chips have been helpful for some, but concerned about how to use them when I do outsmart the Possums.

Either way, chatting with this great community, I have already learnt a whole lot so here's hoping...

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/65454#Comment_65454

Hi @22Jill,

Many thanks for joining in the discussion. We're really pleased to have you join the community.

Sorry to read of your possum troubles. Here's some previous Workshop discussions and articles that you might find helpful to get some ideas and inspiration:

Your tips for keeping possums away

Top 10 most popular raised garden beds

How to build a raised garden bed

Summer vege patch project

Raised garden bed cover

Home made shade hoop house

Hope that helps kick things off. Feel free to post anytime you need a hand or have something to share. We have loads of helpful members sharing helpful advice and amazing project inspiration every day.

Jason

Jessa

What timber did you use ?

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/7857#Comment_7857

Hi @Jessa,

Welcome to the Workshop community. It's great to have you join us!

Let me tag member @mdstorrs so they are alerted to your question about what timber they used in their raised garden bed. Are you planning on building something similar? Have you seen the step-by-step article How to build a raised garden bed by @Adam_W? It includes a full list of tools and materials, and Adam provides some advice about what timber to use when growing food. I trust you'll find it very informative.

Jason

mdstorrs

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/7857#Comment_7857

Hi @Jessa.

I used the H4 Microshades timber. 200mm x 50mm. It was probably overkill for the job. The final product probably weighs over a tonne.

I lined the walls with black plastic to reduce long term water damage and to stop any chemicals coming back into the soil. Even though I think the H4 microshades is a safer option. No arsenic.

I hope that helps.

Michael

Jessa

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/66106#Comment_66106

Awsome! did you sand back and stain ?

bluemoonskye

The only problem I found with this is how much soil it needs. I had one full, the other 3/4 full. It took forever, but it wasn’t all potting mix, it was garden soil too. And most of the plants were top dwellers & so the depth was not necessary. Except to say it was built that way to save my back from unnecessary pain. I have fibromyalgia & it’s very trying on my spine.

What type of fill did did you use to fill it?

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/7924#Comment_7924

Hey again @bluemoonskye.

Workshop member @Aussie-Garden recently faced the same challenge and came up with this - https://www.workshop.com.au/t5/Garden/My-version-of-a-Hugelkultur-raised-garden-bed/td-p/37130

Let me also tag @mdstorrs for you to see how they filled their fantastic raised bed.

Jason

mdstorrs

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/7924#Comment_7924

Hi @bluemoonskye and @Jason

The team of boffins at my work thought hard and long over this. It was hard getting enough material no matter what I used to fill the bottom and only leave 30cm at the top.

The final result was to build a fake bottom and put some drainage grids in. I covered the grids with weed matting so the didn't let too much else through. The weed matting also goes up the walls of the garden.

It seems to work. The garden drains at a good rate and the soil with plenty of compost seems to hold the moisture well. I feel we have it right.

mdstorrs

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95810#Comment_95810

Hi @Jessa

I didn't sand back and stain. It looks pretty good as is. It's god a great colour and texture for the backyard,

mdstorrs

It's been 15 months now, so I thought I would upload a few photos from my success. I won't horrify you with the failures.

13kg of Sweet Potatoes in our first season. Only 5kg in the second because of the drought.

Plenty of Beautiful Pakchoy. We could barely keep up.

Plenty of very healthy pak choy. more than we could cope with.

Look at this specimen. The first season of corn was amazing. Perfect weather. The drought made it hard for the second.

I have since got in water tanks and proper irrigation.

The first season corn was a huge success. This season with all the rain, they were riddled with pests.

This is the pak choy growing, with some failed beans in the foreground.

This is the pak choy growing. With some shallots.

Strawberries were a huge success. About 2 or 3 punnets a week from just two plants

This is the sweet potato growing.

The start of our second season of Sweet potatoes

the latest shot , you can see I have herbs, pak choy, zucchini and a heap of new gardens in the backbround.

the smaller gardens don't need as much attention.

This is the most recent photo. Zucchini, pakchoy, lots of herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary.

The lettuce was a huge success until the heat came and they all bolted.

we had so many zucchinis, I am still eating them. Just two plants.

We had sooo much zucchini. I am still eating zucchini slice. Thank god I worked out how to freeze it.

I have just planted some broccoli and cauliflower. I hope the insects stay away.

I just added some proper irrigation and you can see it working here with my broccoli and cauliflower

Carrots were fun, but the soil didn't have enough organic material, so the carrots would bend

We had a lot of carrots, but the soil was too hard, so they were all bent.

@Jason @Jessa @bluemoonskye @22Jill

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/7927#Comment_7927

So good to see your bountiful harvest! Brilliant stuff @mdstorrs. One positive from the current difficulties we are facing has been that more people are becoming interested in growing their own food. I'm sure this post will provide plenty of inspiration!

Well done,

Jason

bluemoonskye

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/66141#Comment_66141

Awesome idea!

Kermit

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/7927#Comment_7927

Those carrots look pretty straight to me @mdstorrs. When I've tried to grow them I get all sorts of gnarly ones...

mdstorrs

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/66227#Comment_66227

I've really loosened up the soil this time and I've added extra compost. Let's hope I get even straighter ones. @Kermit

Rustikman

Am I able to use Marri instead of Jarrah for a raised garden bed

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/8286#Comment_8286

Hi @Rustikman. Welcome to the Workshop community.

Let me tag @mdstorrs so they are alerted to your question. I suspect Marri would be fine as it is a hardwood and appears to be suitable for such applications.

Please feel free to post anytime you needed a hand or had a project you wished to share with the community.

Mitchell

mdstorrs

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/8286#Comment_8286

Hi @Rustikman

I didn't use hardwood on mine, as the whole thing weighs over 1500 kg. The treated pine sleepers are quite heavy, so I imagine the hardwood would be even more so. With that said, hardwood may last longer. Not that mine is showing any sign of breaking down any time soon.

As long as the wood is suitable for vege gardens and doesn't leech anything back into the soil, then I say, go for it!

Rustikman

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/66333#Comment_66333

Thanks @mdstorrs

We are doing one garden bed using a similar build to your main bed. It wont be moved again probably. Does yours drain onto the ground or do you have a drainage tray under the false base

Cheers

mdstorrs

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95911#Comment_95911

Hi @Rustikman

Straight onto the ground. We do have good drainage in the back yard, but even so, I have never seen water come out the bottom and just sit around.

I don't think I push enough water through the garden to cause that problem. Maybe I need to have a closer look next time.

The legs of the box are sitting up on pavers so they are not sitting directly on the wet ground, if that helps.

Regards

Michael

Rustikman

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/114538#Comment_114538

Hi Michael

I am 67 and my son (Rustikman) Is building this for me. I logged him in so he could see what others are doing. We found some jarrah at auction and will just build a bed 1800x900 with around 400cm for actual garden height and bed at 800cm so that I don't need to bend. Will be using your design so thanks so much. It will certainly save on fill. Will post when we get started. Then if that works. The garden's my oyster!!

Dougal_McBear

Wow @mdstorrs that's stunning. Looks like nice timber.

I'm tall and have had four back operations. I can't stand/bend forward for long, so the raised beds are great. I have two mini (2400L x 1020D x 820H) Colourbond water tanks.

Looking to build some as well.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/12065#Comment_12065

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Dougal_McBear. It's fantastic to have you join us and many thanks for jumping into the conversation.

It would be an excellent idea to use your existing water tanks as veggie gardens. Their height would be perfect for not having to bend over too far.

I look forward to following your project and encourage you to let us know if you need assistance or have something to share. I trust you'll find loads of inspirational projects within the community just like this one as our fabulous members contribute their ideas here all the time.

Mitchell

Dougal_McBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/68470#Comment_68470

Hi Mitchell and members...

The beds are specially made as raised beds by Kingspan. Their tanks are top of the food chain. Very high quality.

I'm off grid water/power/septic/satellite internet. WE have two 60KL water tanks. 360 x M10 nuts/bolts in each!!!

I'm a serious Bunnings advocate.

Doug

mdstorrs

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/12065#Comment_12065

Hi @Dougal_McBear

I have also had a back operation. Hence why I built the tall garden.

Your water tanks are a perfect size. Large tanks may be too wide with a back like ours, you can only "easily" work within 60 to 80cm of the edge of the garden. So if you can get it from either side, the maximum total width would be about 120cm to 150 at the very most.

Keep in mind that it is hard to fill up a large area with soil. You can put in a fake bottom or fill it will old tree stumps etc.

I have built another 5 vege gardens since I built this one. I use the Birdies ones from bunnings and I just make sure I plant stuff that doesn't require too much digging or bending.

I recently made some covers for the more delicate plants. Something to consider.

I hope this helps. I hope your back is well at the moment. Mine has just started to play up again.

Short garden. Tall plants

Low Birdies, tall Plants

New vege garden covers for the more delicate plants

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/68482#Comment_68482

It's great to hear of your garden progress @mdstorrs. Those covers look sensational!

Many thanks for sharing.

Mitchell

Dougal_McBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/68482#Comment_68482

Hi @mdstorrs.

My back is shot. L2-3-4 fused. T10-11-12 fused. T11 had completely disintegrated. Nothing left except a little lump squashing my spinal cord. Removed it from the front after hacking out half a rib and squishing my lung out of the way 😬 He wanted to fuse S1-T8, but the bones are so bad, they won't hold the screws! Still I'm having fun in the garden, I just have to sit regularly.

It's all new to me. I have planted veges and herbs in the past but nothing this serious.

I feel silly not thinking of just using rubbish to fill the bottom half. It's so obvious. We have 100 acres of wilderness and plenty of dead trees to use. It's 9 gullies / creek heads with 6 freeform clearings, so plenty of scope. I was having some earthworks done and had the excavator half fill the bottom with clay. We put some gypsum in with the clay, so I hope it drains OK.

I've almost finished the irrigation and would be keen to know how you approached it.

I have 12mm poly coming to the centre of the bed then branching as attached. I'm concerned the drippers will spread water deeply but not horizontally, thereby missing some plants. I think I will put more drippers along the central 12mm poly as well.

Your covers look great. I expect to need something to keep the birds and probably the wallabies.

Look after your back!

Irrigation

mdstorrs

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/97157#Comment_97157

I have tried almost everything @Dougal_McBear

And I am currently trying out a seeping hose. I bought a couple of 15m hoses and cut them in two. At the moment, they seem to be doing a pretty good job. And I plant closer to the hose when I can. (See photo below) ,but cover the hose with sugarcane mulch to really keep the moisture in.

I used 12mm dripper line, but I found the holes were too far apart and it left too many dry sections. But it's great for my cirtus trees, so it didn't go to waste.

If you use spray / mist irrigation, it can attract bugs and cause fungus. So I carefully choose where I use that. Nowhere near plants that are susceptible to powdery mildew.

I get a lot of great ideas from a local youtube guy (Brisbane) . His channel is called "Self Sufficient Me" It's worth a look.

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