Here, if rocks are a few inches below my lawn, grass doesn't grow there. He's right. To have an herb bed with a layer of rocks a few inches down isn't very good to grow herbs in. Also, adding peat moss isn't good for a starting soil medium. If you can dig down and remove the rocks and have at least 6-8 inches of good soil above it, your better off.

You have to provide something the roots will grow into. Rocks won't do it.

hmmm. I'm confused.

When I pot herbs and plants in a pot inside. I always put some rocks in the bottom then add soil. When I transplant to a bigger pot, the roots are always surrounding the rocks.

The frame of the (whatever was there) comes up a few inches and I was going to FILL that with peat moss/soil.

The rocks are probably, well here.....let me go take a pic.

If this won't work, what if I got some railroad ties. Could I leave the rocks there??

thanks again,

Bernie

I bet if you put railroad ties up you'd be ok.

I'm sorry, but I may just disagree with y'all. But before I do I must ask how deep do these rock go down? If this is just surface rocks I'd plant right in it, If it's deep then I'd go with soil.... but don't add the peat. Herbs, as a rule, like rocky poorish soil... and sun. If the soil is too rich or too shady the herbs won't make their protective oils that taste sooooo good. (There are a few exceptions like dill, basil and parsley.)

One caution: If this was indeed the base of shed, what might have been spilled that would either keep your herbs from growing OR contaminate them?

Judging by the framing, it apears that a small greenhouse was there. Many greenhouses use a rocky base for water drainage. My dad used some patio blocks inside his and its raised above the soil, almost exactly like what you have. I suspect that the rocks dont go very far down, but I would still remove some, so that you have about 6 inches of good soil. Some herbs grow well in terrible soil, while others like lots of rich soil. When I pulled up my dill, it had thick roots about 3 or more inches, and probably even longer as thinner ones. The dill got to almost 5 feet tall. The dill was growing on top of saffron crocus bulbs, which will soon be sending up some greens, then blossoming in late fall. Adding a small amount of rocks in a pot, just gives a bit more drainage, and was the norm years ago, when pots had little drainage by themselves. Today, with ceramics, clay, and even plasic, that offer many shapes and sizes of pots, you usually don't need to add any rocks. Sometimes just a single small flat rock to help prevent soil from falling out of the drain holes. Stay away from peat, it will break down after about 3 years, and there isn't much left after that. Most plants like soil moreso than rocks. An exception is an orchid. It can grow in a few chunks of wood chips.

Avoid railway ties. Many used preservatives like creosote, or PCPs. Today, these are deemed very hazardous materials, and very dangerous to use. Even telephone poles are not good for any garden, as they contain the same nasty stuff.

Wow. Good points on the contaminates. I hadn't pondered that. I never new that herbs disliked peat either. Man I should have joined this forum years ago. I've always been kind of a makeshift gardener just having fun trying to see what I could grow.

So, I'm guessing I should just scrap the frame, dig out the rocks, and fill with topsoil. And I thought I had such a good, frugal, practical idea by reusing the frame.

Thanks to all who replied. This experience is going to keep me coming back.

---Bernie

The frame may be just fine, it looks like concrete and wood, or metal. That would not be as concerning as the many rocks are. The rocks, because they loook white, seem to look like they are high in calcium, or chemicals that will raise soil pH if it was above them. JUst take a few inches of rocks away and then add some good quality compost and soil. Forget planting anything there this year, but if you spend time preparing the area, you should be able to grow almost anything next year. The rusting metal frame, should not have lead paint applied (can you get it tested for lead?). If it does, remove it, if not, let it rust, as it will break down into natural minerals, especially iron.

Well I don't have the money for any lead testing.

The MSU surplus store has a whole pallet of gardening bricks for sale for 25 dollars so maybe I'll just rip up the frame, strip the rocks and frame a nice garden in bricks.

What's the best way to get filler for it? The compost & soil that is. Landscaping supply??

Thnaks,

Bernie

Lead testing is a very inexpensive item. You can usually find these test kits in paint stores. It just requires removing a small chip, and dosing it with a chemical that will show a visual indicator. Here, houses that are up for sale, must have certifications regarding lead paints (in any), and any lead based paints must be removed prior to sale. Yes, a landscaper would be the least costly and probably much better than a bagged product from the local Home Depot. If you do go with a brick raised bed, be sure to make it bigger so it can cover all those weeds (?) behind the area..