One of the benefits of gardening on a raised bed is that you can reach out for planting and weeding. You are not walking through the garden, compacting the soil. This means your garden soil is well maintained, loose and brittle.
Choose the best soil you can afford to fill your raised bed. When I built all my raised beds, I ordered a truckload of a premium triple mix formulated for veggies. You can also mix your own special soil to grow vegetables.
I top all my raised beds with about two inches of organic compost. I also add the compost back to my raised beds mid-season and add nutrients back to the soil when I pull out some spring crops.
Before you dig deeper, pay attention to which direction the sun is coming from - you don't want your tall plants to shade anything behind them. I once planted zinnias in front of my raised bed without looking at the seed pack. The flowers grow to about three to four feet tall! They are clearly not a good, low breed. You want to make sure that the heat-loving fruits and vegetables you grow—tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, squash, etc.—receive at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day (preferably closer to 8).
You've built raised beds, or upgraded old items into the perfect vegetable garden. Now comes the fun part: fill it up - of course, then enjoy your harvest later in the season. We partnered with Eartheasy, a company that provides information and products for sustainable living, including natural cedar raised garden beds, for some tips on growing raised beds.
One of the benefits of gardening on a raised bed is that you can reach out for planting and weeding. You are not walking through the garden, compacting the soil. This means your garden soil is well maintained, loose and brittle.
Choose the best soil you can afford to fill your raised bed. When I built all my raised beds, I ordered a truckload of a premium triple mix formulated for veggies. You can also mix your own special soil to grow vegetables.
I top all my raised beds with about two inches of organic compost. I also add the compost back to 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 a raised bed is that you can control all the rich organic matter that gets into it. This is especially necessary if you have hard soil or clay, or soil that is full of adjacent tree roots.
One of the benefits of growing in a raised bed is that you can control all the rich organic matter that gets into it. This is especially necessary if you have hard soil or clay, or soil that is full of adjacent tree roots. Image courtesy of Eartheasy
Before you dig deeper, pay attention to which direction the sun is coming from - you don't want your tall plants to shade anything behind them. I once planted zinnias in front of my raised bed without looking at the seed pack. The flowers grow to about three to four feet tall! They are clearly not a good, low breed. You want to make sure that the heat-loving fruits and vegetables you grow—tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, squash, etc.—receive at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day (preferably closer to 8).
Whether you're planting seeds or seedlings, be sure to read the seed packet or plant label carefully so you know what your plants need to thrive. For example, when planting root vegetables, you'll want to follow the directions for thinning once the sprouts start to pierce the soil. While it may seem like a waste when you pull them out, beet sprouts, for example, can be saved and thrown into salads. On the other hand, carrot seedlings should be buried, as explained in this article on carrot sparseness. Thinning out beets, carrots, turnips, turnips, and other root vegetables will promote healthy root growth and larger vegetables.
For some plants, like tomatoes, you want to give them enough space so that air can circulate between the plants. This helps prevent disease. You also want the light to reach the plants and fruits. However, you don't want to space your tomatoes too far apart, as this can cause weeds to spread. For other nightshade vegetables like peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes, keep these tips in mind.
Be sure to develop a regular watering schedule so you don't forget to rehydrate your tender plants. Bell or row covers can be used to protect them from late spring frosts.
