Growing vegetables and soft fruit in raised beds has many advantages. They can be used to grow food on a patio, or where the soil is poor and shallow in depth. Raised beds can be filled with perfect soil thereby making it easy for the gardener to get maximum yields of quality produce. The handy D.I.Y. grower can buy materials (often sourcing second hand timber) and make his own raised beds. However for the less skilled and those in a hurry there are a range of raised bed kits on the market in a variety of materials, sizes and prices.
Raised Bed Kits Made from Rigid U.P.V.C Boards
Probably the most established moulded plastic raised bed kit is the Link-a-bord which is made from green, rigid, double-skinned recycled U.P.V.C boards.
Plus Points of This System
- The boards don't fade or rot.
- The double skinned boards give a high level of insulation and helps the soil warm up quickly in spring.
- The 1 metre long boards slot together easily with the special linking joints to make either 1m square beds or beds 1m wide and 2, 3, 4 or more m in length.
- Each board is 15cm high and they can be joined vertically to make a double tier or 30cm high bed.
Minus Points of This System
- The plastic look is not to everyone's taste.
- Bed height is limited to 30cm.
Costs for Plastic Board Kits
- Sutton's sell a single 1m square Link-a-bord kit for £22.95 or two for £35.90.
- Marshall's Garland plastic raised bed kit which is also 1m square costs £24.95.
- Alternatively Two Wests and Elliot offer similar, but black injection moulded kits which measure approximately 1m long by 44cm wide and 25cm high for £26.95.
Timber Raised Bed Kits
Many of the timber kits on the market are made from pressure treated wood from sustainable forests.
Plus Points of Timber Kits
- Made from an attractive natural material.
- Timber is warm, a good insulator and being heavier than plastic less likely to move in strong winds.
- Timber raised bed kits can bought in various heights up to 81cm.
Minus Points of Timber Kits
- Heavier than plastic.
- Sections have to screwed together.
- Top of the range kits are expensive.
Costs for Timber Raised Bed Kits
Harrod Horticultural offer a good range of timber kits in a variety of shapes and sizes including triangular corner beds, square and rectangular beds. Each board is 15cm high and kits are available in multiplies up to 81cm depending on the model chosen. Most suitable for the grow-your-own gardener is their Allotment Timber raised Bed Kit measuring 1.2m x 1.2m and 15cm tall costing £22. The 45cm tall version costs £62. Kits which have a 5 year structural guarantee include pre-drilled planks, internal wooden corner fixing posts and zinc plated screws.
Marshall's timber kits are made from redwood timber sourced from managed Scandanavian forests. Pressure treated they come with a 10 year guarantee, but a 1.2m square kit from them costs more at £39.95
The Recycle works sells single starter kit raised beds measuring 90cm x 90cm by 15cm high for £22.99
Woodbloxc make quality raised bed kits designed and guaranteed to last for 20 years. Made from accredited timber sourced from sustainable forests the timber blocks are joined together using dowels and wedges molded from re-cycled plastic. The quality of these superior products is reflected in the price. A complete kit to make a bed measuring 1.25m x 0.75m x 200m high costs £77.51 on line. With these kits it's possible to build raised beds in many shapes, sizes and heights.
Which Raised Bed Kit to Choose
Choice boils down to budget and location. For the allotment keeping costs in check is the over -riding consideration, so the cheapest kit per square m of ground covered is the answer for most growers. Where aesthetics are a major consideration and money allows then top of the range timber kits are a must. Always remember that the higher the bed the wide the variety of crops which can be grown.
David Haigh - David Haigh is a 'Master of Horticulture', a qualification awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society. He spent almost 40 years as a ...
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