by Bob Wasson
Hey there, fellow gardeners!
Bob Wasson here, ready to guide you through the ins and outs of raised bed gardening. Whether you're looking to spice up your garden layout, combat poor (Indiana clay) soil conditions, or simply maximize your vegetable harvest,raised beds can be a game-changer. Let's dig into why raised beds have become a popular choice for gardeners of all skill levels and how you can get the most out of them.
Why Go for Raised Beds?
Raised bed gardening means growing plants in soil that's higher than the ground. Most raised beds are encased in frames made of wood or retaining wall stone. There are a handful of reasons why gardeners are drawn to this method:
- Better Drainage: Elevated soil allows water to drain more efficiently, preventing waterlogged roots.
- Enhanced Soil Conditions: You control the soil in your raised bed, tailoring it to suit your plants' needs.
- Ease of Access: Maybe this should have been the #1 reason, but regardless - say goodbye to back strain. Raised beds bring the garden to you, making planting, weeding, and harvesting easier.
Getting Started
Location is key. Choose a spot that gets at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily. Keep it close to a water source for easy watering. As for size, a width of 3 to 4 feet allows you to reach the center from either side, and length can be as long as your space allows. The height? Anywhere from 6 inches to waist-high, depending on your needs and mobility.
As far as building the actual raised bed, I’m not going to go into that here. There are many resources online -from kits to blueprints to YouTube videos that explain every step of the process. Once you know what you want to build, then you’re onto the next step of filling your raised bed with soil.
Soil and Planting: The Heart of Your Raised Bed
Fill your beds with a mix of compost, garden soil, and other organic materials to create a rich, loose, fertile environment for your plants. This is your chance to create the perfect home for your veggies! You need at least 6”-8” of loose soil for your new garden.
Creating the Perfect Soil Mix
There are many recommendations for soil mixtures in a raised garden. According to the “Square Foot Gardening” method a winning soil mix for raised beds usually follows a simple formula: 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 compost. Let's break down these components:
- Peat Moss: These materials help retain moisture in the soil.
- Vermiculite & Perlite: These minerals improve soil aeration and drainage. Vermiculite holds more water and nutrients, making it suitable for moisture-loving plants, whereas perlite enhances drainage, perfect for plants that prefer well-drained soil.
- Compost: The heart of any garden soil, compost provides essential nutrients and improves soil structure.
In my own recent raised bed creation, I used a similar mix which I felt did a really good job.
- 1 part Top Soil
- 1 part Compost
- 1 part Bagged Potting Soil
- A touch of sand
I used the bagged potting soil because it’s main ingredients are peat, vermiculite, and perlite.
Enhancing Soil Health Over Time
One of the advantages of raised bed gardening is the ease of maintaining and improving soil health year after year. Each season, replenish your soil by adding fresh compost. This not only replaces nutrients taken up by the previous year's plants but also continues to improve soil structure and fertility. Personally, I add in a few bags of Garden Magic Compost, and rent a small tiller to turn it into the existing soil. This loosens anything that was compacted over the winter and allows for the easiest planting ever. No shovels required, just use your hands!
What to Plant
Pretty much any vegetable you decide to plant will thrive in a raised bed, but some real stars include root vegetables like carrots and beets, leafy greens such as kale and spinach, and bulbs such as onions and garlic. Tomatoes, peppers, and herbs also love the well-draining, nutrient-rich conditions.
Maintenance Tips
Watering evenly and regularly is crucial, especially in the peak of summer. Did you know a mature tomato plant can use 2-3 gallons of water each day! Because in the earlier steps we designed the raised beds to have well draining soil for best growing conditions, this also means that you’ll need to water more frequently than if your garden was in the ground. Mulching with organic material can help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Wrapping Up
Raised bed gardening is a truly great way to grow your favorite veggies, herbs, and even flowers. With a bit of planning and creativity, you can design a productive, beautiful garden that's perfectly tailored to your needs.
At Wasson Nursery, we're here to help you every step of the way. From selecting the right materials for your raised beds to choosing the best plants for your garden, our team is eager to support your gardening journey. Stop by and share your plans with us!
Happy gardening, friends!
