One of the benefits of gardening in raised beds is that you can reach out to plant and weed. You are not walking in the garden, compacting the soil. This means your garden soil stays well, loose and crumbly.
Choose the best soil you can afford to fill your raised beds with. When I built all my raised beds, I ordered a truckload of a good triple mix made for veggies. It is also possible to mix your own special soil for growing vegetables.
I spread about two inches of organic compost on all raised beds. I also put compost back into my raised beds mid-season and add nutrients back to the soil when I pull out some spring crops.
Before you dig in, pay attention to which direction the sun is coming from—you don't want your tall plants to block anything behind them. I once planted zinnias in front of my raised bed without looking at the seed packets. The flowers grow to be about three to four feet tall! They are clearly not a good, low breed. You'll want to make sure that the heat-loving fruits and vegetables you're growing -- tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, squash, etc. -- get at least 6 to 8 hours of sun a day (closer to 8 is best).
You've built raised beds, or upcycled old items into the perfect vegetable garden. Now for the fun part: filling it up - of course, and then enjoying your harvest later in the season. We partnered with Earthasy, a company that provides information and products for sustainable living, including natural cedar planting garden beds, to provide some tips on growing planting beds.
One of the benefits of gardening in raised beds is that you can reach out to plant and weed. You are not walking in the garden, compacting the soil. This means your garden soil stays well, loose and crumbly.
Choose the best soil you can afford to fill your raised beds with. When I built all my raised beds, I ordered a truckload of a good triple mix made for veggies. It is also possible to mix your own special soil for growing vegetables.
I spread about two inches of organic compost on all raised beds. I also put compost back into my raised beds mid-season and add nutrients back to the soil when I pull out some spring crops.
One of the benefits of growing in raised beds is that you can control all the rich organic matter that goes into it. This is especially necessary if you have firm soil or clay, or soil filled with adjacent tree roots.
One of the benefits of growing in raised beds is that you can control all the rich organic matter that goes into it. This is especially necessary if you have firm soil or clay, or soil filled with adjacent tree roots. Image courtesy of Earthasy
Before you dig in, pay attention to which direction the sun is coming from—you don't want your tall plants to block anything behind them. I once planted zinnias in front of my raised bed without looking at the seed packets. The flowers grow to be about three to four feet tall! They are clearly not a good, low breed. You'll want to make sure that the heat-loving fruits and vegetables you're growing -- tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, squash, etc. -- get at least 6 to 8 hours of sun a day (closer to 8 is best).
Whether you're planting seeds or growing seedlings, be sure to read the seed package or plant label carefully so you know what your plant needs to thrive. For example, when growing root vegetables, you will need to follow the instructions for thinning once the sprouts start to pierce the soil. While it might seem wasteful to pull them out, beet sprouts, for example, can be saved and thrown into salads. Carrot seedlings, on the other hand, should be buried, as explained in this article on carrot thinning. Thinning beets, carrots, radishes, radishes, and other root vegetables will promote healthy root growth and larger vegetables.
With some plants, such as tomatoes, you need to give them enough space so that air can circulate between the plants. This helps prevent disease. You also want the light to be able to reach the plants and fruit. However, you don't want to space the tomatoes too far apart, as this will allow the weeds to spread. Keep these tips in mind for other nightshade vegetables like peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes.
Be sure to create a regular watering schedule so you don't forget to hydrate your tender plants. A bell or row cover can be used to protect them from late spring frost.
