…… Galvanized raised beds for gardens.

Macgyver

Macgyver

Has No Life - Lives on TB
So I know durability is going to be questionable because they are all from China.

Do they hold up?

A few of my current 2x6 pressure treated beds are toast. And it seems like these can be had for about 90-100 bucks for 2 that are 1x4x8". So same size I have just deeper.

The wood ones I have are probably 10 years old at this point.

I haven't priced lumber lately but it's probably cheaper than rebuilding with wood.
 
T

Terrwyn

Veteran Member
Somebody I saw one time ages ago was using old bathtubs. I used a rusting out wheelbarrow for greens and they did so good in it. We also just used large wood raised beds so I wouldn't have to bend. They are still in good shape a shame I can't garden anymore.
 
M

moldy

Veteran Member
I'm using old tractor tires. I know some people freak out about it, but when the tread is almost gone, I figure most of the icky stuff has leached out. I use them for my perennials like rhubarb, motherwort, basil (not a perineal here, but anyway), asparagus, etc.
 
paxsim2

paxsim2

Senior Member
I have 4 10 year ones and are fine. We also have 7 made from cedar fence posts. Everything is great.
 
D

Deena in GA

Administrator
_______________
Terrwyn said:
Somebody I saw one time ages ago was using old bathtubs. I used a rusting out wheelbarrow for greens and they did so good in it. We also just used large wood raised beds so I wouldn't have to bend. They are still in good shape a shame I can't garden anymore.
Click to expand...
We have family that do this. They went to a place that sells used things for building homes and found some cheap. Went home and built some wood frames for them. They look great and do the job!
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I am trying several ways. The beds that I bought are getting a primer layer onside to help give them some more protection.

I am also going to make a set out of steel drums cut on half and painted for protection.
 
W

Wildwood

Veteran Member
Some of the youtube garden channels swear by them. They've used them for years and they seem to hold up ok. My two big raised beds are made from reclaimed barn tin and the tin part is holding up great....some of the wood needs replaced but we knew it would when we made them. We just didn't have enough cedar to do the whole thing at the time.

I'm thinking about adding some of the premade ones later. I'd like a big strawberry bed. Here is a video from James Prigioni, one of my favorite youtube gardeners and his new prefab raised beds. It's just to give you ideas. He's selling these now but I'm not suggesting you buy from him, he just has a lot of good ideas.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAf33IlmjkM&ab_channel=TheGardeningChannelWithJamesPrigioni


As we get older, this may keep us gardening and I'm all for that.
 
TxGal

TxGal

Day by day
We have the galvanized raised beds, can't recall where we got them but we have eight, I think, with a few more to put up. They're holding up great, no signs at all of wear and tear. We've had ours about 4-5 years.
 
StefanieQ

StefanieQ

StefanieQ
For those of you that have the galvanized metal beds, do they heat up more in the sun (being metal) than wood? And thus require more watering?
 
B

bracketquant

Veteran Member
A 3 inch layer of mulch on top of raised beds keeps the soil cooler, and means less watering.

And, don't go looking for bargains on very old (20+ year old) treated wood. It may have been treated with CCA.
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I got the 19" ones. I am planning on putting plastic drums, cut in half, in the bottom for water catchment. And packing around them with wood and debris from around the yard. Then ground cloth, followed by soil.
 
Jackalope

Jackalope

Irregular
tech said:
If you're in the South forget wood. Termites will ruin them.

Galvanized lifespan is about 10-15 years.

Trying 100 gal Rubbermaid horse troughs. So far they still look new after 4 years.
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We're using the Rubbermaid containers too. We placed ours on top of some concrete blocks with cap blocks, they're elevated higher, so we don't have to bend over.

We also use the galvanized raised beds in our green house. They've been in use 5 years and still look new. I think both the Rubbermaid containers and the galvanized raised beds will last decades.
 
W

WOS

Veteran Member
I'm also considering using couple of galvanized beds in a greenhouse. This outfit sells "do it yourself" kits of various sizes...
They advertise a 20 year lifespan for their product...

www.ollegardens.com

Olle Galvanized Raised Garden Bed

Olle metal garden bed 42" round is a great solution for a space saving garden using only 6 curved corrugated galvanized panels. The space efficient Olle raised garden bed provides a food grade safe environment for growing all your vegetables, fruits and herbs along with seasonal flowers.Olle...
www.ollegardens.com www.ollegardens.com
 
paxsim2

paxsim2

Senior Member
I also have 2 Birdies from Epic Gardening that I bought on sale. These are good quality and come in different sizes and shapes. epicgardening.com.
 
Night Owl

Night Owl

Veteran Member
I have raised beds made of wood, amd bought metal. I also have some I had made from the metal roofing. They can be custom sized to fit in L shape for around corners or area. If you now how to build wood and can screw metal with corner edges you can probable make them yourself. I love that I can have one crop in a bed and not deal with speading.
 
CapeCMom

CapeCMom

Veteran Member
I just bought two 4x8 Vego raised beds and am anxious to see how they do this year. I still do a lot of container gardening. My middle son used to work for a local landscaper and regularly brought home the pots from planting projects. Up here you have to pay to dispose of them so they were happy to let me have them. I have stacks of 18-25 gallon pots that work great for tomatoes and peppers. All of my starts go in the small pots until ready to plant out. I bet if you contact your local landscaper they would let you do the same if you went to pick them up.
 
K

ktrapper

Veteran Member
Galvanized stock tanks should work nicely.
2x2x6 from Tractor Supply run $239.
Drill holes in the bottom for drainage.

2 foot x 4 foot x 1 foot deep sheep watering tanks are $159 at TS

If you are handy with tools just use galvanized steel studs and galv. roof metal. You can make a whole frame with the steel studs.

We use the left over protein tubs from the ranch where my daughter works. The size of the bottom is about 1/3 of a 55 gallon drum.

We have also used the $8 black totes with the yellow lids from Costco.
Drill holes in the bottom for drainage.
I use a 4 inch hole saw and make two holes in the lids to plat the plants through.
The lid acts as a rain catch, slows drying of the soil and is weed deterrent.
 
T

Taco Salad

Contributing Member
We have 5 that we bought from Sportsman's Guide about 4 years ago and I bought my mom a couple from there 2-3 years ago. No issues with any of them at all and they still look great.
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
ktrapper said:
If you are handy with tools just use galvanized steel studs and galv. roof metal. You can make a whole frame with the steel studs.
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The studs... that was what I was looking for and couldn't find. My brain couldn't remember what they were called so I couldn't find them. Or the specific corner pieces that go with them. Thank you.
 
B

Border Collie Dad

Flat Earther
Personally, I wouldn't use treated lumber on anything I was going to eat.

I have used regular lumber and get 6+ years.

I, also, use cement blocks.
My first ones were made out of 8" and 10" that I salvaged.
The last couple I got 4" seconds from the block plant.

They will outlast all of the above.
 
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