Raised Vegie Patches

[Feralbilly]

Hi All.
I am thinking of putting in some raised beds for vegies. I was going to use H4 treated sleepers but the thought ocurred to me that will the crap used to treat the sleepers leach out into the soil and contaminate the vegies?
Anybody know if this is likely?

Bill

[ernknot]

Bill,
You can use treated sleepers as long as you cover the inside and underside with black plastic sheeting. I have done this and don't have any problems.

[scooter]

Bill, the timber treatment isn't supposed (:rolleyes: ) to leach out, I wouldn't be too concerned.


Cheers.................Sean

[HappyHammer]

Bill,
You can use treated sleepers as long as you cover the inside and underside with black plastic sheeting. I have done this and don't have any problems.

I did this too, even tucked it under and the kids haven't grown two heads yet.:D

HH.

[Bluegum]

i'm about to build my next lot of vegie patches here at home. I was told it would be almost impossible for the CCA to penetrate the soil let alone your veggies.

[Feralbilly]

Thanks Guys.

Will go ahead with the sleepers but will use the black plastic to be on the ultra safe side.

Bill

[Tonyz]

ever thought about a wood frame and corrogated iron sides works great. Tonto

[Buzza]

I think the modern treated logs etc; are safe enough, and made that way for kids to play on.

However, I have done lots of these raised garden beds, for well over twenty years, and there is something to watch in the leaching department. Animal manures from places that do their on vetinary or lots of vetinary work is carried out therein, will leach anti-biotics into your fruit and vegetables. (Racehorses, pigs, etc).

The safest and best is pigeon manure. Flyers apparently do not treat their birds with anti-biotics, as they prefer the hawks to take care of weaklings rather than breed from them. Pigeon Poop has the highest NPK as well, and best of all, it is usually FREE.

Buzza.

[fxst]

my simple solution was to cut a galv rainwater tank that was past its use by date into 3 sections and used them work well and no drainage or leaching probs.
Pete