iGrowVeg

Veggy Plot Makeover / Upgrade

Posted on 09. Feb, 2008 by Tracey in How to Grow Veg, My Veg Plot

Today I was mostly giving my Veggy plot a well deserved makeover by upgrading the visual and practical parts of my 2 raised beds. As the start of the sowing season is upon us, I wanted to make my raised beds a little more appealing on the eye by removing the rocks holding down the side of the netting over the beds and not spending alot of money doing it.

Here’s What I bought:

• 2 x Pack of 4 Tenax Cane Joiners (or Build-a-ball’s) £3.49 per pack from Ebay,
• 2 x Pack of 10 – 6″ ground cover staples (or tent pegs) £2.99 per pack from Ebay,
• 10 Garden Canes (already had in garden),
• Enviromesh cover (already had over 2 raised beds).

How to build the support cages:

1. Cut 4 bamboo canes to the same height for the uprights of the support cage. I was restricted by the amount of enviromesh cover so my bamboo canes height reflected this.
2. Put the cane joiners carefully on top of the bamboo canes and place into your raised bed soil, one in every corner.
3. Slide the longer canes (and cut if required) into the holes on the side of the cane joiners to make the square above the uprights, you should now have now built your cane support cage.
4. Throw over the enviromesh or netting/fleece cover of your choice and secure into the soil at intervals with the ground staples.
5. Then place copper tape (slug protection) around the top of your raised beds on the wooden planks to prevent slugs from entering your raised bed.

I have also realised that the square cages of netting and bamboo will keep cats off my beds and tennis balls off my cabbages! so it was well worth all the fiddling with the cane joiners.