1. Choose the correct location:
When choosing the right location for a loft bed, it is important to consider several factors, including sunlight, water availability, and aesthetic harmony. Make sure to choose a location that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight and is near a water source. You may also want to place raised beds where they blend in with the rest of the garden, or where they are considered unattractive and need light. Make sure your plants are protected from extreme wind and heat. It's important to remember that plants such as cucumbers and zucchini need shelter from the wind in the garden, while plants such as tomatoes and peppers are less sensitive. Leafy greens like lettuce and spinach are also shade tolerant, so you can grow them in less sun.
2. Understand the needs of plants:
It is often recommended that beginners start with herbs because they are hardy and easy to grow. Other plants, such as tomatoes, can be more difficult to grow and require additional monitoring and maintenance. Once you're ready to grow more challenging plants, be sure to properly research their needs, keeping factors like sun amount in mind and adding necessary soil amendments. Transplanting is the process of removing plants and relocating them to another location. Most warm-season plants, such as tomatoes, should be transplanted, while most cool-season plants should be seeded.
3. Planting in advance:
When plants are grown under aluminum foil or glass, they are able to grow earlier because the heated, moist air enclosed in the walls promotes faster, earlier growth. This is essential not only in the spring, but also for continuous sowing the rest of the year. You can combine cool frames with raised garden beds to ensure a bountiful harvest. Many plants grow better in raised garden beds, produce more, and are ready for harvest earlier than plants grown in the ground. Make sure not to plant too early, as this will stunt the plant's growth. When the nighttime temperature is around 40 degrees, you can start planting crops.
4. Fill with the correct soil:
To ensure higher yields, it is important to fill your raised garden beds with good quality soil. You should avoid using native soil in your yard because it may be contaminated or have poor composition. The ideal soil type is sandy loam, which is naturally loose, well-drained, and rich in organic matter. You can buy special raised garden bed soil bags designed for raised garden beds, or you can try mixing potting soil and garden soil yourself.
If you want to save money, we recommend trying megaponics, a process of building mounds of decaying wood and organic materials to replicate the ideal natural environment for your crops. You can reuse existing logs and branches located around your property for this method. Avoid fertilizers that are not specifically labeled for use on fruits and vegetables, as they may contain the wrong nutrients and reduce your harvest.
5. Add compost:
Compost is an important ingredient in any garden, often providing key nutrients to the soil. To keep the soil healthy, add a layer of compost that is at least 1-2 inches thick. This is an important step if you want to plan ahead for next year's harvest. Adding compost to your garden beds along with a layer of organic mulch after the plants have stopped growing will ensure that organic nutrients are added to the soil for spring planting. You can also replenish the soil with compost when storms are eroding the soil, when trees and vegetables are blooming, and when you notice the soil is dense, sandy, or full of clay. After your garden beds have been topped with a layer of garden soil, add a layer of compost. It is important to fill the raised bed below the edge so that it does not overflow,
Be careful adding too much commercial compost, as high salinity can cause plants to wilt. Nutritious homemade compost is recommended as an alternative. Remember, only suggestions can be made when it comes to filling raised garden beds properly, as it ultimately depends on your budget and the materials you have available.
6. Choose the right material:
Choosing the right material for your garden beds is very important, especially if you are looking for long-lasting options. Wooden beds break down faster than metal beds and are less durable and less resistant to weathering. Opting for metal raised garden beds with modular components will greatly reduce the setup and maintenance work involved in building your own garden beds. Plus, they last longer and don't carry the same risk of chemical leaching as treated wood.
7. Wrap foam foil around the bed:
Some people decide to wrap foam foil around their raised beds in the spring or fall. This helps retain heat in the bed and promotes decomposition, which helps warm the soil and allows you to propagate plants earlier or harvest longer.
8. Add an overlay layer:
Add a layer of mulch at the end of the growing season to protect the soil from winter cold weather. After planting your plants, you should also add mulch this season to retain soil moisture and keep weeds from growing. Keeping the soil cool throughout the winter will help maintain healthy soil in the spring. For best results, apply an even 2-inch layer and press lightly.
9. Rooting aquatic plants:
You should water at the base of the plant, rather than using a sprinkler or sprayer, which tends to spray onto the leaves. This can increase the likelihood of fungal disease or cause oversaturation. Consider using a soaker hose or installing a drip irrigation system to deliver water in the ground.
All of our raised garden beds are modular and can be as small as 2'x3. 5' or as large as 8'x4' or larger, giving plants plenty of room to grow and establish a deep root system. Our beds are large enough to accommodate at least two rows of plants. If you want to have a beautiful and productive garden, you should definitely try our raised beds.
