Using decent soil for growing veg.

[Booldawg]

I've recently made some raised beds for growing veg in. As advised on here I'm going to lay newspaper down and wet to stop weeds/grass growing through.

What kind of soil is best to use? I was thinking maybe topsoil. I have an unlimited supply of free manure from a local horseyard so what ratio of manure/soil do I need and do I mix it together or do I lay the manure down first?

Sorry for the multi-questions!

[brenda]

If youare using pretty decent topsoil I would put that in 1st , and then ad d your manure, ratio 2 to 1 of soil to manure anf then fork in really really well. Good luck with the veggies.

[Booldawg]

Thank you.

[Clanad]

Well, you've really made great progress, Booldawg... from the initial question concerning structure to now the soil.
Let me suggest that if you're going to use topsoil from some place on your property vs. having it hauled in by the cubic yard, I'd consider not using the horse manure. Here, on our ranch in the western U.S., we have a number of horses. If you look (as I have, for health of the horse determination!) at the horse apples you'd find that hey are largely undigested vegetation. This means any weed seeds (and there are thousands) are still in the manure. This applies to even "aged" manure. This, along with the inherent weed seeds in the resident topsoil will cause you a great deal of work.
Since you really don't need that much manure on good topsoil (for each cubic foot about 1/4 of that amount), Id use bagged manure from a garden supply store. It's been radiated to kill the weed seeds. (Make sure the bag says so!). I'm here to tell you that you could wake up one morning about two weeks after applying the soil with a vast extpanse of various and sundry weeds.
I'd also consider using bagged topsoil. Here, a bag containing 1 cubic foot is about 87 cents, U.S., which is quite reasonable and it's usually good quality.
If you choose to use your own, though, I'd mix in another 1/4 of the amount in sharp sand. Topsoil usually contains a mixture including clay. This needs to ameliorated and sand does a good job of that.
One other thing I've used successfully; for assuring proper watering, it's very easy to use lengths of "soaker hose" for the purpose. I'm sure you know this is an inexpensive product (I think you all call it hose pipe) made from recycled tires (tyres?). It leaks water evenly and does a really good job of keeping the soil moist without washing effect. Continued Good luck!

[Booldawg]

Thanks for the advice Clanad. Yep, all the woods in place and nice and sturdy ready to receive the soil. I went with 18 inches high in the end.

I'll be buying the topsoil in and do have several bags of compost left over from last year.

Its a bit difficult to guestimate how much I'll need but I think somewhere in the range of 2 metric tonnes will do. As some of this will be manure and compost then I may go for 1 tonne and work up from there.

Will be alot of wheelbarrowing action going on here over the next few weekends!

[tamborine]

How about using just the topsoil and forking over well so the frost can kill any parasites & seedlings. When topsoil is complete water well with tomato feeder instead of using manure.

If manure; it should be well rotted straw forked in with top-soil.

[Booldawg]

Just to let you know; I used 3 tonnes of 'border mix' which is topsoil mixed with manure. I also put about 2 inches of manure at the bottom.

As the 3 tonnes wasnt quite enough I finished with 4 inches of compost at the top.

[ericg]

on a similar subject, you could try mixing vermicast into a smaller part of the soil. vermicast is nature's finest compost made from worm castings! it's great for boosting all your plants. i got some from:
www.earth-essentials.co.uk
it's called Black Gold for a reason.