Raised beds maximize your garden space and make tending to your plants much simpler, providing excellent drainage and nutrient-rich soil.
Search for quality lumber at your local lumberyard or supply store and avoid framing lumber that may contain chemical treatments that leach into the soil.
Choose a sunny location to place your raised bed. Vegetables need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day (dappled light is fine too).
Building the Frame
Raised vegetable gardens are improved areas of soil that are elevated above ground level, typically enclosed with boards or rigid materials and often enclosed by borders made of board. Kitchen gardeners utilize these raised beds for intensive planting of various herbs, vegetables and flowers in small spaces – typically 2-to-4-foot wide beds measuring 12-18in high are popular choices – though you could make yours any size you’d like! A typical raised bed spans 2- to 4-feet wide by 12- 18in in height – you decide the length!
When building a raised garden bed, use lumber that is rot-resistant. Avoid treated woods which could leach toxins into your vegetables over time; opt for cedar or redwood framework instead; pine and fir may provide good middle-of-the-road options but will likely last less long than hardwood options.
Before beginning assembly of your raised bed, draw out a plan outlining where it will go on the ground and mark its dimensions with spray paint. If building multiple raised beds at once, be sure to leave room between each for easy passage of plants without stepping on them accidentally.
Once you’ve completed your plan, cut two 2×6 boards to their final lengths and align their edges with framing angles on panels to form framing angles for framing angles on angle brackets using hex screws and washers. Repeat this process with all remaining framing angles and boards for creating an entire raised bed frame.
How high you decide to raise your bed will influence how much loosening of soil it requires. Root crops like carrots and radishes do well at 12 inches while deeper-rooting veggies such as kale and cabbage require 16-24 inch beds for proper growth. No matter the depth you build it at, be sure to line your raised bed with hardware cloth or chicken wire during construction to keep out gophers or any burrowing animals that might visit, and also improve drainage which is key to successful raised vegetable gardening.
Soil
Most vegetables have delicate roots that can easily be damaged by soil that is too heavy, too dry, or too compacted. Therefore, it’s wise not to simply dig up dirt from your landscape and use it to fill raised garden beds – instead select a mixture of garden soil and other materials specifically tailored towards vegetable gardening.
Ideal vegetable garden soil requires rich and loose conditions that permit ample airflow. Mulching with straw or wood chips helps preserve moisture and deter weeds while moderating temperature fluctuations. Compost and fertilizers will replenish soil nutrient levels to enhance plant growth while supporting strong root systems.
If you plan on growing vegetables in your raised garden, select locations with at least six hours of direct sunlight per day and ensure they are shielded from structures that cast shadows, such as garages, fences or sheds.
To create the ideal soil in your raised garden beds, mix compost or other organic matter with garden soil. Additionally, adding some commercial topsoil will provide essential extra nutrients.
Avoid garden soil that contains too much clay as this will make the ground too dense for growing vegetables. Instead, look for a blend that contains equal parts sand, silt and clay for best results.
Before planting in raised garden beds, ensure there is ample aeration by working the soil to a depth of six inches or deeper. Add other amendments like vermiculite to help retain moisture and perlite for aeration; rock dust; composted manures (rabbit, chicken, cow or horse), composted animal manures or composted poultry manures to increase organic matter and improve nutrient availability; alfalfa meal, kelp meal and fish emulsion are excellent sources of nitrogen while seaweed provides potassium; coconut coir organic materials are very effective at keeping soil moist – these and other amendments can be purchased locally or online.
Planting
When planting vegetables in raised beds, several key considerations must be kept in mind. First and foremost is sunlight exposure: your veggies require at least six hours per day of direct sun (full sun). Be sure that the bed receives this amount of natural illumination by positioning it away from trees, buildings, sheds or fences and in an area cool enough that frost does not form on their plants.
Ideal, raised bed preparation should include organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil quality, retain moisture, increase fertility and in turn support healthy crops.
Your choices for growing vegetables include planting seed directly in a raised bed or purchasing transplants from garden centers and farm stands. Plant transplants may shorten harvest times by up to one month or more in regions with shorter growing seasons.
Utilize a garden hose to water the planted area until the soil becomes moist, but not saturated, before applying a layer of mulch such as leaves, straw, pine needles or compost to limit evaporation and manage weeds.
Before planting your vegetable garden, create a scaled sketch of it first. This will allow you to determine the appropriate number of beds needed and give you an accurate impression of its appearance once completed.
When building a raised bed, it’s essential that its frame be strong and sturdy; otherwise, its sides could bow out when filled with soil, making it hard to reach and maintain. If working in a tight space, bracing may help stabilize corners. In addition, avoid treated lumber or old railroad ties which may leach harmful toxins into soil, as these materials could leach into it over time. Lastly, avoid building it too high as this makes roots harder to penetrate the bed’s depths.
Watering
If your garden soil doesn’t drain well or you have limited space or can’t bend and reach properly, a raised garden bed could be the solution. Build one to grow vegetables or herbs alone or construct multiple beds to form an extensive garden.
Gardens beds come in all shapes and sizes to fit your available space, while soil can be amended as necessary to help your vegetables flourish. Furthermore, beds give more control over the environment you’re growing in – particularly helpful in windy locations where soil may need amending or where rocks need clearing away first.
Raised bed designs provide an ideal space for root vegetables that require plenty of light, such as tomatoes. When planting root crops in raised beds, positioning it where the sunniest part of your yard – with 6 hours or more direct sunlight daily – is crucial. Furthermore, any structures like houses, tall sheds or fences must not cast shadows over it and be kept clear of windy locations or frost pockets to maximize yield and plant health.
Before beginning to build a garden, draw out your plan on paper to gain an estimate of how much wood will be necessary. This will help prevent you from exceeding budget, since it’s easy to underestimate just how much lumber will be necessary. Furthermore, this step ensures that the raised bed you create will meet all your desired vegetables or herb mixes.
Once your frame is constructed, fill it with either a mixture of compost and topsoil or soil from a local vendor mixed with compost (leaf gro, for instance). Vermiculite and perlite should be added for enhanced aeration and drainage in order to prevent water-logging according to Spoonemore.
Once your garden has been planted, cover it with a layer of mulch such as leaves, straw, pine needles or compost to retain moisture and inhibit weeds. While you might only require light fertilizing during its first year, later on vegetables will “eat up” most of its nutrients naturally from its beds.
So it’s crucial that we utilize high quality mulch, such as the ones mentioned here, in order to protect our soil from weeds and maintain moisture balance. The higher its quality is, the more effective it will be in keeping weeds at bay and keeping your soil moist.