Creating a Raised Bed Garden
Raised beds are perfect for new gardeners and veterans alike! These allow you to assemble your soil, your plants, and accessories to what you need and like. Benefits include easier tending, planting earlier, garden anywhere, maximized space, better drainage, and a design to fit your lifestyle.
Location & Sizing
The size of your raised bed depends on what you are resting it on. Concrete or compact soil? More than a 12” deep is necessary. On tilled ground/grass? You can go as low as 6”. Our rule of thumb is that deeper is better for the plant’s roots, and will also require less watering.
If you are a beginner and have limited space or time, we recommend starting with one raised bed. If you are looking to completely grow your own kitchen, then you will need around 3-4 raised beds--it is a big job!
Lastly, most vegetables and herbs need a full day’s worth of sun-- 6+ hours at least. During the summer, watering could be as frequent as everyday, so make sure the location is reachable with a hose.
Soil
Soil makes or breaks your garden. The best advantage to a raised bed is you are in control of what you put in it, including the soil.
25% Topsoil
The Bottom Layer: for volume and filling in the lower areas
We recommend Mr. Gardener’s Top Soil
25% Compost
The Middle Layer: for additional nutrients and well-draining compost
Be sure to weed and till the location you are putting it at least 6-10” deep. This will improve drainage and room for your plants, and also add more depth to your bed.
We recommend Mr. Gardener’s Premium Leaf Humus or Cow Manure
50% Premium Organic Matter
The Top Layer: the best nutrient-rich soil to benefit your plants. This is also where you add fresh soil every year and till it in the old soil.
We love Organic Bumpercrop or Castine Organic Raised Bed Mix
Plants
Tomatoes & peppers need a 2 x2 foot area with a deep base. Leafy greens usually only need about a 1x1 area. Herbs can take as little as 6”x6” area. Try not to overwhelm your garden as this may impact yields. Less can be more.
When to Plant
Cool-weather veggies such as greens, broccoli, root veggies and can be started inside then put into your raised bed as early as March or you can sow seeds then. You can sow seeds for fall crops in August-september. Summer veggies such as tomatoes, peppers, etc can be started from seed in late April or plant seedlings in early May.
Fertilizing
Find a fertilizer that suits you. Best to go natural or organic for your edible beds. We recommend the Espoma line of organic granular fertilizers, like Garden Tone or Tomato Tone, every 6-8 weeks.