I spent a lot of time looking at different setups and ended up doing my own with basic lumber from HD. I'm new to gardening so didn't want to make a bigger investment - I'll also probably want to change the layout in the future. I stink at carpentry but I did fairly good job in an afternoon with lumber cut at the store and a drill. Various sources report that this arrangement will last 3-5yr but others say shorter - it probably depends on the environment.

You should post this question to the square foot gardening forum - the whole approach is based on raised beds so you'll get a broader range of opinions.

Mark

Thank you! I didn't even know there was a sqft gardening board (du'h!)

I've been veggie gardening (organically) in raised beds for 22 years, and all my beds are constructed of 2"x8"x8' unfinished hemlock boards purchased at & cut to size by our local sawmill/lumber yard. The wood lasts on average 9-10 years. My two original beds (4'w x16'l x16" high) have been replaced twice, and the first bed is being replaced again this year, with #2 bed scheduled for next spring, and #3 bed for the year thereafter. These are the "heart" of the garden but I have 2 beds 30" x 5' x16"plus another 150' x 2' x 8" wrapped around both sides of the fence! Each year, I seem to need just a little more space...

The first couple of years I used Mel Bartholomew's square foot method, but being in the mountains, we live with a very short frost-free season (Memorial Day to Labor Day) which makes succession planting almost impossible. I'ts just better to count on only one planting per square foot.

Over the years, I've learned to be very strict about my rotations, to minimize disease. Also, spacing a little more generously than Mr. Bartholomew's suggestions to minimize fungi problems.