How much Top Soil do I need for Vegetables.

[SlurrySlump]

I am putting in place a number of raised beds to grow vegetables. These will be about 6" high. I was also thinking of digging down about another 6" to give about 12" altogether. I will be rotating my crop every year. How much top soil is needed to grow a mixed variety of veg to include potatoes?

 

[Joe_90]

Depending on the nature of the soil underneath you may not need to replace it. Just and compost, organic matter and topsoil over it.

If you have a raised bed that is 2m long and 1m wide and 15cm high it would take .3 of a tonne of topsoil.

Check out www.giyireland.com

 

[flowerman]

Just want to revive this thread.

Leafmold is fantastic for veggie beds.And its also FREE too.
Add some into your soil and your veggies will love you for it.

 

[SoylentGreen]

Since the beginning of the year I have been collecting all my grass cuttings, small twigs, leaves, shredded and non shredded paper such as windowless envelopes etc, raw vegetable cuttings, tea bags, coffee grinds, other garden waste. These are composting away nicely in a corner of my garden. Once every 6 weeks or so I give it a bit of a turn. Around January, I will start spreading most of this stuff on top of my raised beds and allow it to break down further until circa March 17th when I will plant my seed potatoes. I always get a healthy crop of veggies.

 

[Seagull]

One issue is what kind of vegetables you're growing. You don't want to be giving all that goodness to carrots, or you wind up with really good top growth and small carrots.