Cacti & Succulent Outdoor Raised Bed Project

[AnthonyT]

you did well to brave the elements to take photos. Hopefully the plants are OK and you can do a few repairs tomorrow.

Taken from inside the house luckily!

[AnthonyT]

So this is the view this morning..... Bugger!

Still got the occasional gust of wind here, so for now i will leave it as is, and replace the damaged bits this afternoon or tomorrow!

[juster]

Yes it's taken a bit of a battering! but, given the strength of the winds, probably could be worse. Good luck.

[MikeT]

My plan A at growing cacti in a cold frame on my garage roof (5 to 6" thick concrete, flat) ended in disaster after a gale blew the frame away. Having found the frames, straightened them out, and replaced the glass, plan B involved screwing the frames down to the concrete. Further gales have done no damage at all (yet).
Your plan B needs to be thought out in time for the next gale.
On the positive side, a learning experience...

[Paul in Essex]

What I discovered to my cost is that any covers must have VERY substantial frames that are EXCEEDINGLY well attached to the ground and - MOST importantly - have sufficient space at the ends and bottom of the sides for wind to pass through (yet still keep the worst of the weather off - a tricky balance. Otherwise you end up making a large kite. In my case, a 6m x 3m steel framed polytunnel kite that ended up flying around the garden during Storm Eleanor last year. Or, in the case of small covers like this, if the weather is windy but not overly wet or snowy, just remove it until the wind had passed.

[ragamala]

What are the dimensions of the base, Anthony?

[WayneM]

I've enjoyed this thread and thought I'd add my little bit.

I and my good friend Terry had a go this year at building a structure over my raised bed.
I had some decking boards left over and bought some Polycarbonate sheets.
Had the idea to use zip ties to fasten a board onto the Gabions for height and create a frame.

On when the sheeting. Whilst it ever win any awards for design, it is doing a fine job

I've attached some backing and it has a sort of curtain that I can leave up for airflow along the sides.

I have used it as a mini greenhouse, and its got Eucomis, Agapanthus plus Aeoniums as a experiment.
Hopefully come April all will come good.
Wayne

[AnthonyT]

Took a photo today, plants growing well.
lost an Aloe over winter, but that was to be expected as it wasn't a hardy variety, have noticed some regrowth from below ground though!

A few extra arty shots taken yesterday with a proper camera and not my phone!

Some of my other outdoor all year plants, still in the cold frame, with removeable front panel and opening lid.

[juster]

Very interesting to see the progress here Anthony and the plants look good.

[AnthonyT]

Some recent pics of the collection enjoying the snow! everything grew well over 2020, i removed the pink flowered Delosperma at the front of the bed in mid summer, as it constantly threatened to smother other plants.

And one from late last year