vegetable gardening

Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

The climate in your area is a big determining factor in the type of garden and plants and vegetables you can grow. If you expect many cool, wet days, then a raised bed vegetable garden is especially appropriate.

Building a raised bed vegetable garden allows extra water to drain out faster and the soil will become warmer quicker. With appropriate protection It also allows you to grow vegetables that you would not normally be able to grow due to the cold climate.

If you want to grow bigger and healthier vegetables and herbs, then you should consider incorporating a raised bed design into your garden plot. The extra depth of the soil in a raised bed is beneficial for your plants. The plant roots have extra room to grow and are more likely to produce large, hardy specimens than if they were in a crowded, shallow space.

A raised vegetable garden bed can be made by creating a planting area and mounding up the soil using a shovel or rake. You have the ability to decide how large you want this area to be, but it is usually around 21 inches across for easy access to individual plants. Soil used in vegetable garden beds should be of the best quality you can manage. High quality topsoil, or regular topsoil mixed with compost or manure is a good choice.

For small gardens with limited space it is a good idea to use wooden frames to assist with containing the soil. This will give you a way to space out the rows of vegetables between each one of the plants. The wood used are usually 2 x 10s or 2 x 12s and should be processed to hold up against the rain and bugs.

Some gardeners choose various containers for their vegetables rather than having a raised bed vegetable garden. A particularly good choice is an old tire. Yes, old tires make great containers for two reasons. Plants need water, but don't like soggy soil; tires can drain quickly. Tender plants need warmth, and tires are perfectly suited for this task. Their dark color absorbs the heat of the sun during the day and returns it to your plant at night.

You don't want your plants to be too wet or dry out too fast. As you prepare your soil, be on the lookout for low spots which could drain too slowly. If you spot any, be sure to add extra soil to build the level up. Even then, the depth can change with your first watering. Continue to build up low spots where you will plant your vegetables until you have a nice level spot for your plants.