Hi Folks, My two cents worth: I had the lowering soil level problem, starting 3 years ago, in a 5 year old box bed that houses my Allium 'Purple Sensation'. I have topped it up with and a couple of inches of sea soil or home grown compost for the last 3 years in early spring and the Alliums are just as good as they ever were. And the alpine strawberries are very happy too! With best wishes, Valerie Melanson, Qualicum Beach, B.C. Valerie Melanson, melanson.valerie@gmail.com On Thu, Jun 29, 2017 at 9:39 AM, Michael Mace <michaelcmace@gmail.com> wrote: > Congratulations on that Brunsvigia, Nick! > > David, your question reminded me of something I've been wondering about. > You wrote: > > > Perhaps people have tips on how to create self sustaining ecosystems. > > I don't know if it counts as an ecosystem, but I'd like to ask for advice > on how to keep a raised bed of bulbs healthy and productive while delaying > re-digging for as long as possible. > > I ask because I've been on a raised bed kick for the last several years. > My 800-plus pots are just too much work to repot every three years, and I'm > hoping to get the bulbs into a situation where they can thrive without as > much maintenance. So far I've built four raised beds, with two more on the > way this summer. They're working very nicely to date: The bulbs grow better > there than they do in pots, and so far I've seen no drop-off in vitality in > the oldest bed, which is three years old. > > The effect I want to get is what Nick got with his Brunsvigia: I leave the > beds more or less alone, but the bulbs still grow reasonably well. > > More experienced PBS members have told me that beds eventually start to > decline and have to be dug out and renewed. I'd like to hold that off for > as long as possible. > > Is there any maintenance or other work I should be doing to keep the beds > viable? Any thoughts on how long I should expect a raised bed to thrive > without intervention? > > For example, I have noticed that the soil level in the oldest bed has > gradually declined, probably because the soil was 1/3 organic and that part > is breaking down (the soil is equal parts sand, pea gravel, and planting > mix). If I top-dress the bed with some organic matter, will that help to > renew the soil, or am I kidding myself? > > Any advice? > > Thanks, > > Mike > San Jose, CA (zone 9, min temp 20F / -7C) > > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > <div dir="ltr">Hi Folks,<div>My two cents worth:<br><div>I had the lowering soil level problem, starting 3 years ago, in a 5 year old box bed that houses my Allium 'Purple Sensation'. I have topped it up with and a couple of inches of sea soil or home grown compost for the last 3 years in early spring and the Alliums are just as good as they ever were. And the alpine strawberries are very happy too!</div><div>With best wishes,</div><div>Valerie Melanson, Qualicum Beach, B.C.</div><div><br></div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Valerie Melanson,<div><a href="mailto:melanson.valerie@gmail.com" target="_blank">melanson.valerie@gmail.com</a></div></div></div> <br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Jun 29, 2017 at 9:39 AM, Michael Mace <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:michaelcmace@gmail.com" target="_blank">michaelcmace@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:///1px/ #ccc solid;padding-left:///1ex/">Congratulations on that Brunsvigia, Nick!<br> <br> David, your question reminded me of something I've been wondering about. You wrote:<br> <br> > Perhaps people have tips on how to create self sustaining ecosystems.<br> <br> I don't know if it counts as an ecosystem, but I'd like to ask for advice on how to keep a raised bed of bulbs healthy and productive while delaying re-digging for as long as possible.<br> <br> I ask because I've been on a raised bed kick for the last several years. My 800-plus pots are just too much work to repot every three years, and I'm hoping to get the bulbs into a situation where they can thrive without as much maintenance. So far I've built four raised beds, with two more on the way this summer. They're working very nicely to date: The bulbs grow better there than they do in pots, and so far I've seen no drop-off in vitality in the oldest bed, which is three years old.<br> <br> The effect I want to get is what Nick got with his Brunsvigia: I leave the beds more or less alone, but the bulbs still grow reasonably well.<br> <br> More experienced PBS members have told me that beds eventually start to decline and have to be dug out and renewed. I'd like to hold that off for as long as possible.<br> <br> Is there any maintenance or other work I should be doing to keep the beds viable? Any thoughts on how long I should expect a raised bed to thrive without intervention?<br> <br> For example, I have noticed that the soil level in the oldest bed has gradually declined, probably because the soil was 1/3 organic and that part is breaking down (the soil is equal parts sand, pea gravel, and planting mix). If I top-dress the bed with some organic matter, will that help to renew the soil, or am I kidding myself?<br> <br> Any advice?<br> <br> Thanks,<br> <br> Mike<br> San Jose, CA (zone 9, min temp 20F / -7C)<br> <br> <br> <br> ______________________________<wbr>_________________<br> pbs mailing list<br> <a href="mailto:pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net">pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.<wbr>net</a><br> <a href="http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.com/.<wbr>http://pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-/<wbr>bin/mailman/listinfo/pbs</a><br> </blockquote></div><br></div> _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…