Cinder Block Raised Garden Beds - Ask Extension
I was curious if you all can share your opinions on cinder block raised garden beds. My local Master Gardeners recommend it and say it is safe to use....
Knowledgebase
Cinder Block Raised Garden Beds #239282
Asked April 24, 2015, 10:35 AM EDT
I was curious if you all can share your opinions on cinder block raised garden beds. My local Master Gardeners recommend it and say it is safe to use. However, when I research this on the Internet people say that it can poison your crops. Not sure who to believe.
Somerset County New Jersey
Expert Response
We do not yet have the research or resulting data to make a determination on this yet.
The use of fly ash in the making of cinderblocks is what is at issue, and the EPA has yet to weigh in.
It is a decision that must be made by each individual. There are however, other materials that can be used (or none at all, just slope the edges) that can be used for raised vegetable beds.
cm
The use of fly ash in the making of cinderblocks is what is at issue, and the EPA has yet to weigh in.
It is a decision that must be made by each individual. There are however, other materials that can be used (or none at all, just slope the edges) that can be used for raised vegetable beds.
cm
Great! Thank you.
Would you consider concrete block to be safe?
Would you consider concrete block to be safe?
Although we have no research-based information on the potential dangers of using concrete blocks around raised vegetable beds, anecdotally, we have not only recommended concrete blocks, many of us on staff have used them successfully around raised garden beds for several years without any negative results.
Until legitimate research proves otherwise, we must encourage homeowners to err on the side of caution.
LS
Until legitimate research proves otherwise, we must encourage homeowners to err on the side of caution.
LS
