Gardening In Raised Beds With Gardener's Supply Company
To use raised beds or not? We say yes!
Raised beds are a form of gardening where the planting bed sits on top of the existing soil and is raised from the ground.
Usually, it is enclosed in three- to four-foot-wide containment units, mostly made of wood lumber. But they can also be made with stone, bricks, or concrete. It is then filled with good-quality soil and compost for optimal growing conditions.
We have always preferred to grow all our vegetables in raised beds, as they have so many advantages and work best for our needs and environment.
Scroll down to learn more about the advantages of raised beds, which materials to choose, size suggestions, tips, and some of my favorite options from Gardener's.
Advantages of raised beds
You control the soil
Your native soil may be too clay, silt, or rocky, and contaminated with pesticides and weeds. With raised beds, you can fill the container with your ideal soil mixture for successful, healthy growth.
More accessible
It is easier on the back and knees when your beds are raised. For people with mobility problems, higher raised beds are easier to access, but remember to keep it to 3 feet wide to reach everywhere.
STANDING GARDEN BEDS WORK SO WELL IN OUR GREENHOUSE!
More pest-resistant
Having raised beds makes it harder for pests such as snails, slugs, and rabbits to reach. Burrowing pests like gophers and moles can also be blocked from below if you have a solid bottom like concrete.
Easier to control weeds
Raised beds make it easier to notice and contain weeds, and borders make it more difficult for weeds to creep in. It also helps if your bed is filled with weed-free soil, where native soil has a significant chance of containing weed seeds.
Save space
Raised beds can save you space when you use, for example, 3-tier raised beds. This terraced planter strawberry bed is sized to fit 25 strawberry plants for a big yield in a small space. It also works great for growing flowers, herbs, and salad greens!
3-TIER RAISED STRAWBERRY BEDS
It can be placed anywhere
Raised beds allow you to garden anywhere and work great for people with limited space and options. You can garden on your patio, balcony, or rooftop!
Longer growing season
Raised beds warm up quicker in the spring, allowing for a longer growing season. This means you can get planting and growing earlier.
Beautiful aesthetically
They're available in various materials, so there will be something to complement your home and landscape style. It also makes the garden look tidier and more organized.
We just got some of these beautiful Craftsbury Raised Beds for our garden. I love their detail and decorative cross-pieces that add extra structure. I also like that I can place my mug, gloves, or garden tools on the extended top lips.
CRAFTSBURY RAISED BEDS
the best vegetables for raised beds
I always say you should plant what you want and what your family enjoys eating. Technically, all vegetables can be grown in raised beds, but the following crops will grow especially well in raised beds:
Bush beans
Bush cucumbers
Brassicas
Carrots with compact roots like Chantenay, baby, and Parisian.
Determinate tomatoes
Herbs
Leafy greens
Onions
Sweet and hot peppers
READ MORE: Determinate vs. Indeterminate tomatoes
SO EXCITED TO PLANT IN THESE BEAUTIFUL BEDS.
ideal sizes for raised beds
Height
A 6" to 8" soil depth is fine for most vegetables. However, the most popular height for raised beds is 12″, especially for root vegetables and tomatoes, which provides sufficient drainage for most crops.
For optimal growing conditions, there should be another 12″ or more of good soil below the bed, giving your plants at least 18 – 20″ of soil.
The more soil depth you have, the more freely plant roots can grow. Deeper beds or soil also hold more moisture, requiring less frequent watering.
Installing a raised bed on poor or compacted soil or even concrete is possible. If this is your situation, buy the deepest bed you can afford.
Width
Choose a width that allows you to reach all plants without stepping into the bed, which causes soil compaction.
A 3" to 4" width is best to reach plants from both sides. If you can only access it from one side, consider a 2' wide raised bed.
Length
Beds between 4" and 8" long are the most common, with paths between beds for easy tending.
Gardener's Lifetime Raised Bed Corners and In-Line Connectors let you customize your set-up and length as you wish.
How many?
If your space or time to manage is limited, start with just one bed. If you want to grow many fresh vegetables, you will need at least three or four beds.
Use Gardener's free online Kitchen Garden Planner to select and place the crops you want in each bed. This will help you determine how many beds you'll need to grow everything you want.
READ MORE: How much to plant per person in the vegetable garden
Raised beds material options
Choosing the best material for raised beds will depend on what you are growing, your growing zone and climate, your garden style, longevity, aesthetics, and price. Wood, metal, and composite are some of the top options.
Pine/ Cypress/ Cedar Wood
Raw pine is the most economical choice for wood and is a good choice for first-time raised bed gardeners. However, pine has limited natural rot resistance, but you can increase its longevity by treating it with a nontoxic preservative.
Cypress and cedar wood are denser than pine and naturally resistant to rot and insect and fungi invasion, making it a longer-lasting choice. Though they will provide more extended longevity and are aesthetically beautiful, they are more expensive.
We choose not to use pressure-treated wood due to the risk of copper leaching into the soil and our plants.
Wood Composites
Wood composites are made from a blend of synthetic materials such as polyethylene and wood particles, making them resist rot and last longer than natural wood. Some composites even mimic natural wood's beauty with textures and patterns and don't require staining or oiling. You can also find composites made from recycled wood, making them an especially earth-friendly choice.
Metal
Galvanized steel is a weatherproof, rust-resistant material that is exceptionally rigid and sturdy. It is relatively light in weight, too.
Powder-coated metal adds an additional layer of protection and creates a smooth, durable finish that is more resistant to chips and scratches compared to painted surfaces.
Aluminum is, by nature, water-tight and rust-resistant, making it ideal for landscape uses.
POWDER-COATED METAL RAISED BEDS MAKE FOR A FUN, UNIQUE LOOK!
Raised beds gardening tips
Place your raised beds where they will get plenty of sun, ideally 8 hours daily. The more sun, the better.
High-quality, nutrient-rich soil is the key to bountiful, healthy harvests. Raised beds allow you to use soil that's superior to the native soil in your yard, so make the best of it. Here’s our favorite organic soil recipe.
Raised beds should be planted intensively and to the max. A full raise bed will retain soil moisture better and minimize open space for prospective weeds. But don't be tempted to squeeze in too many plants, as this can hinder their growth due to competing for root space, nutrients, and poor air circulation.
Raised beds (especially those on stands) can dry out quickly. Monitor soil moisture with your hands by sticking a finger down into the soil (about 3" deep); it should feel slightly damp. If not, it's time to water!
Remember to fertilize. Veggies, annual flowers, and crops that take three or four months to mature will benefit from a midseason boost of fertilizer.
Some plants, like pole beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes, need a cage, trellis, or other support to grow properly and produce a good crop.
Growing vertically with sturdy structures helps prevent overloaded stems from snapping, increases air circulation between leaves, minimizes disease spread between plants, and makes it easier to access plants for harvesting.
Some of my favorite support structures include the Jardin Rose Arch and the Wooden Obelisk.
I hope I have inspired you to try out gardening in raised beds. You really get so many beautiful and practical options these days, making gardening accessible for everyone!
You may find these blogs helpful too:
Raised beds vs. in-ground garden beds - which is best for your garden?
Vertical gardening plants, benefits, and tips for a gorgeous vertical garden
What we are planting in 2023, and all your gardening questions answered!
Love, Annette xx
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