Deep Boxes?

mkrewson 3/30/2015, 1:00 pm

After reading the All New SFG book in the fall, I just finished building my raised bed and filling it with Mel's mix. I'm excited to try growing a variety of things this year! One area that I found unclear in the book is what things need a "top hat" or additional depth in the garden bed. I know that carrots need 12", but what about beets or onions? Do they need 12" or are they ok with 6"? Any other plants that need additional depth that I am missing?

Thanks!

**donnainzone5** 3/30/2015, 1:50 pm

Congratulations on starting your garden!

Onions and beets, but not potatoes or leeks or parsnips, thrive in just 6" of Mel's Mix.

Please keep us informed of your progress. We do love pictures.

mkrewson 3/30/2015, 2:19 pm

I'm glad to hear that onions are ok in 6"...I got excited and already planted some before thinking about it Smile

So, plants that need 12" depth:

Carrots
Potatoes
Leeks
Parsnips

Any others? What about shallots? I already planted those in 6" depth as well, but it would be nice to know for next year!

**AtlantaMarie** 3/30/2015, 2:33 pm

I've got my shallots in 6". They seem very happy...

Windmere 3/30/2015, 2:50 pm

I have found that Danvers carrots are well suited for more shallow depths. Here's a pretty good image of what they look like:

Deep Boxes? Danver10

**donnainzone5** 3/30/2015, 3:00 pm

Marie is correct.

Shallots will do well in 6", and there are quite a few carrot varieties that are only 4" - 6" long. If one of these does keep growing, though, it will make an "L" turn to make room for itself.

mkrewson 3/30/2015, 3:06 pm

Those are some beautiful carrots! It may be easier to look for those carrot seeds than to build a "top hat" for my first year...I think I saw some in the local discount store. Thanks for the tip!

**sanderson** 3/30/2015, 5:44 pm

Mkrewson, Some folks use other containers for veggies that need extra depth, or add an extra layer of wood framing on half of a box to make a giant top hat. This year I have potatoes in a wire cage lined with weed fabric (and wrapped in cardboard against my dry, hot summer) and sweet potatoes in storage tote boxes. I got these ideas from other folks on the forum. I am also trying half of the tomatoes in 5-gallon buckets. There are 3/4" holes drilled in the bottoms of the buckets and totes for drainage.

So, plants that need or like ~~12" depth~~ more than 6" of Mel's Mix:

Carrots
Potatoes
Leeks
Parsnips

I would add sweet potatoes and asparagus. Folks, anything else?

**camprn** 3/30/2015, 7:11 pm

beets and onions are fine in the 6" of MM.

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