Garden Questions?

[mpushia]

I am new to starting my own vegetable garden and have some questions that I believe you experts can help me with.

What is an estimated cost for putting a raised bed together? (Like boxing, soil, mulch and others.) I called my local lumber company thinking that it would not cost as much and found out that for 2x12 treated ACQ wood at 12’ for $22.80 I would like to make about 10 boxes maybe 5’4” so I figured I would need about 5 2x12 about $120 plus $95 to deliver. Wow! I just wanted to start a garden being that it is my first time doing one as reasonable as possible. So I then found this “Valley View Professional Edging, 20 Ft. 5 in.” Please copy and paste in url address box to view http://www.geocities.com/mpush/Garden_Edging.jpg. Now my question about this product is. Will this be sufficient enough to do a raised bed being that it is only 5 in. and is it safe to plant vegetables with?

The vegetables that I would like to plant are Green beans (String beans,) Okra, and Squash and also Watermelon and Cucumber. I am getting a late start at this I am in the planning period, just had an operation and on my last two weeks of recovery maybe by the end of May I can start planting. Is this to late for South Carolina? I really need to do something being that I’ll be at home and my four children will be out of school also they will help me.

[Mel-icious]

First welcome to the board. :D

Second, do not, I repeat do NOT use treated lumber to build a veggie bed. The chemicals used to treat that lumber will leach into your soil, and into your veggies, the chemicals most likely are toxic. Not good.

Use untreated lumber, its cheaper. I wouldn't go any lower than 6"-8" deep. I don't think its to expensive at the Home Depot or Lowes if you have one close. Get some 2 x 6 's and they should cut them to the size you want free. For soil I would use 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 compost. I read a book called square foot gardening, and know of a few people who used the method, the above mix worked awesome for growing their veggies and it came highly recommended.

Your growing season is a bit longer than mine since I am in PA. I don't plant out until May 31st here to be sure of no chances of frost, so yes I think you still have plenty of time for your veggies.

Be warned, squash and cuke plants take up ALOT of room. As does watermelon, so if you have limited space, grow smaller varieties, and give them lots of room. Also don't place them anywhere near your green beans, they will smother them out and you won't get a crop. Also for your green beans, if you are doing raised beds you need to decide if you want bush or pole beans. Bush won't need anything to climb, but pole will, hence the name. I'm doing both and my hubby is builiding me a frame for them out of electrical pipe.

[mpushia]

Mel-icious - I was told that the treated ACQ lumber was safe, but I was not sure about it. I wish I had a home depot near that would really be the answer to getting the 2x6 and much cheaper. If I had a truck to haul them in I would go the 60 miles to get them. I guess I will have to find out the price at my local lumber company. Thank you for the soil information. When you say 1/3 how do I measure it like 1/3 measuring cup or something else? I may have to plant the watermelon from the ground because I wanted to plant the super-sweet red ones which is large. I thought maybe if I put only two in each box (2 boxes) that should be enough but then maybe not since they may not replenish after picking them. So I will have to see about those. I will just plant maybe 2 or 3 squash a box (1 box.) I am planning on planting bush beans in two boxes by themselves. Again thank you for your help.