Building a raised bed

[curium]

Hi

I'm not a proper gardener but I do have a garden. Anyway I want to grow some Brussell Sprouts (long story) but we get lots of slugs in the garden in summer so after a bit of reading about it would seem that a raised bed may help.

So I'm after some advice on building a small raised bed roughly 2 sqft in area.

Can I buy a 'kit' or am I best off buying some timber from BnQ and some soil improver.

I've got a packet of seeds and some small containers for growing stuff from seed indoors. I then intend to transplant to the raised bed.

Tips welcome.

EDIT: If it's relevant we have clay soil.

Cheers!

 

[Thermo]

the easiest and cheapest way to do it is with either fencing gravel boards or old scaffold boards. Simply hammer in a stout wooden peg at each corner and screw the timber too it. Then backfill with plenty of nice compost.
You can by plastic kits from many online or garden centres but they are expensive

It wont stop the slugs or snails though

 

[EddieM]

after creating the raised bed, put crushed sea shells around it, and tack a copper strip around the edge. I won't necessarily eliminate, but will certainly reduce the number of slugs. Also sprinkle some slug pellets on the soil prior to filling the raised bed, then sprinkle some on top after filling the bed.

 

[ColJack]

porridge oats..

 

[EddieM]

2Ft sq area, presume you are growing 1 or 2 sprout plants THey're quite big y'know.

 

[dextrous]

For such small area a large flower pot will surely suffice.

 

[JamesA]

It's all about what wood you can find. The supply of cheap railway sleepers has gone.
I treated some old floorboards for mine.

Unless you want the plastic kits, you might as well make them yourself.

If it's that size you could buy a pot, or it might be nice to even fashion a Versailles planter around a large plastic tub or bin:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-make-your-own-versailles-planter.htm
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/gardening/1273826.html

I've still got some wood left from my old fencing and a broken pallet and am considering doing this.
It's a great way of using up old wood.