By leaving the plot ‘open’,
each planting can follow on from its neighbour with just a narrow walkway left
in between. Walkways themselves will
also move across the plot, in line with the sowing pattern, which means that
all parts of the plot (and the nutrients they contain) will be used over
time. Conversely, paths between raised
beds will never be used and will be inevitably wider, if only to permit the
passage of a wheelbarrow, something that wouldn’t happen in ‘open’ format where
barrows will be left at the sides of the plot without undue inconvenience.
I agree, it’s a very gentle slope, unless the photo is very deceiving so I don’t think you need to go to the expense of constructing raised beds unless you really want them - or the soil is very shallow and you need to build up the depth, which is why I have them. They do offer some advantages, such as the soil warming up faster in Spring, but the disadvantage is that they need more maintenance and dry out faster.
If you do want to level the ground up, you might get away with a long series of scaffolding boards or similar pegged along the longer, lower edge, perhaps with a short 90º return both ends, wedged slightly into the ground.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
That's definitely not what I pictured as a slope, either. I agree with @Nollie - we use raised beds on my land because it's all stone and rock ledge, so it's easier to build up than to dig down. You could go either way with that piece of ground, it seems.
New England, USA
Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
Oh same here @CrankyYankee, steep rocky terraces with a thin layer of tough soil - my spade hits rock within a foot apart from in a few pockets. I didn’t make my raised beds that high though, but the total depth of 18”/45cm is sufficient to grow most vegetables. Here’s mine:
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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By leaving the plot ‘open’, each planting can follow on from its neighbour with just a narrow walkway left in between. Walkways themselves will also move across the plot, in line with the sowing pattern, which means that all parts of the plot (and the nutrients they contain) will be used over time. Conversely, paths between raised beds will never be used and will be inevitably wider, if only to permit the passage of a wheelbarrow, something that wouldn’t happen in ‘open’ format where barrows will be left at the sides of the plot without undue inconvenience.
My thoughts. Individual decision.Just place your beds where you want them.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If you do want to level the ground up, you might get away with a long series of scaffolding boards or similar pegged along the longer, lower edge, perhaps with a short 90º return both ends, wedged slightly into the ground.