LINK-A-BORD - SIZE MATTERS!
When purchasing your Link-a-Bord kits or components, it's important to remember that the actual dimensions of the assembled bed will be greater than the length of the boards. This is because the size of both the corner and straight links is added to the board length (which, incidentally, are exactly 0.5m or 1m in length). If you've plenty of space then you're probably not too bothered about a few centimetres here and there - but if you're trying to squeeze a bed into the tightest corner of the garden, it might make all the difference!
To help you plan you garden and ensure any kits you are interested in purchasing will fit, we've compiled this handy guide to the exact sizes of the four Link-a-Bord kits...
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Link-a-Bord Bed Size
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Internal Dimensions
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External Dimensions
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0.5m x 1m
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0.54m x 1.03m
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0.58m x 1.075m
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1m x 1m
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1.03m x 1.03m
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1.075m x 1.075m
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2m x 1m
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2.05m x 1.03m
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2.1m x 1.075m
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3m x 1m
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3.07m x 1.03m
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3.12m x 1.075m
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We haven't forgotten those of you who might be planning a bed using the individual components! As rough guide, add on 20mm to the internal size for every corner and straight link, and 40mm for each corner on the external and you shouldn't go far wrong!
We recommend the 1m internal support braces - which are not included with the kits but are available separately - on assemblies of 1.5m and over and extra height beds to enhance the aesthetics of the product. If you do not wish to use the support braces there maybe slight bowing of the beds but this will in no way affect their functionality. To fit the support brace the straight connectors will need to have a hole drilled in them to hook the support braces inside.
We recomend that Link-a-Bord beds are constructed to a maximum height of 45cm (3 tiers) and fitted with support braces to prevent bowing and board damage.
If creating a bed that is two or three tier in height, do not cut the dowels flush with the boards as shown in the video. Leave the length of them as they are until you have added your required tiers. Once this has been done, you can then cut the dowels flush’.
PLANTING INFORMATION
We've also compiled a quick guide to the depth of raised bed you'll need to grow favourite Kitchen Garden crops. This list is by no means definitive but if you're unsure of how many tiers to go for, the over-riding advice is to go deeper - this gives you the flexibility to grow a wider variation of vegetables in the future and also helps with crop rotation.
Here's that list;
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Vegetable Type
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Depth of Bed Required
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Number of Tiers
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Carrots
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30/40cm
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2 Tier at least
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Potatoes
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30/40cm
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2 Tier at least
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Parsnips
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30/40cm
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2 Tier at least
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Beans
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15/20cm
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1 Tier at least
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Peas
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15/20cm
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1 Tier at least
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Courgettes
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15/20cm
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1 Tier at least
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Beetroot
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30/40cm
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2 Tier at least
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