Surprise from DH!

Saturday afternoon, I sat down to plan out my raised bed for the year. I'm trying a few cold-season items this year, so am trying to be a bit more formal in the planning and organization. My raised bed that we built in '05 is 5' x 5'. When I made my list of veggies I'd like to be trying this year, I had 20 entries! Considering that we'll have at least 10 tomato plants, I realized that I don't have enough room in my box.

When I got home from work on Sunday (after a 16 hour shift, I might add), I found the most lovely surprise waiting for me from my DH - a second raised bed, complete with "poles" and hooks for hanging something. Still have to finish it with vermiculite and compost (Mostly composted Sweet Peet, actually) and peat moss, but we're on our way!

Here's a pic of the new box:

Another pic of the new with the old, original (and dilapidated) raised bed. It looks pathetic, but we love it anyway...

Your DH is a keeper. I like the rustic, well used look of the old one just fine. The new wood will soon weather and you'll have a matching pair.

What a wonderful surprise! Sounds like your DH is a great guy. :)

Hopefully you do not have any challenges with the size of that 5 x 5 bed. Most people cannot reach 2 1/2 feet into the middle of the bed without having to put their foot in the bed or stand in the bed which compacts the soil. I built my first garden bed 6 x 16 and I had to put my foot in the middle of the bed all the time to be able to reach in and tend to the plants. I redid that as two 3 foot wide beds with an aisle in between and it's so much better.

My favorite garden bed sizes are 3 x 12, 4 x 8, or 4 x 16 but really anything no wider than 4 feet is my recommendation.

Best of luck to you and glad you have a helpful DH. :)

This message was edited Mar 31, 2009 2:13 PM

Haven't had any issues in the first four years. If it does become a problem, I will just plant my marigolds in the middle. :)

looks good.

That is so sweet! :D :D We love our raised beds. We're doing square foot gardening, all 4 x 4 boxes with a trellis on one side.