Raised Bed Gardening - Why Raised Beds Can Improve Your Gardening

 

Maximizing Garden Space in Small Space: Number 1 Benefit of having a Raised Bed

 

Vertical Expansion

Raised gardens offer the opportunity to build upwards, effectively utilizing vertical space that traditional gardens can't tap into. With raised beds, you can layer plants according to their height, ensuring that even the smallest corner becomes a thriving green haven.

Optimized Layout

By creating defined borders and pathways, raised gardens allow for efficient organization and planning. You can strategically arrange plants based on their sunlight and water requirements, minimizing wasted space and maximizing overall productivity.

Intensive Planting 

In raised gardens, plants can be placed closer together without competing for nutrients and space. This intensive planting method not only conserves space but also promotes healthier growth by creating a microclimate that encourages strong root development and efficient nutrient uptake.

Accessibility

Raised gardens are easily accessible from all sides, eliminating the need to step into the planting area and risk compacting the soil. This accessibility not only makes gardening more comfortable but also ensures that every corner of your garden is within reach, allowing for convenient maintenance and harvesting.

Extend Growing Season

Raised gardens warm up more quickly in the spring, allowing for earlier planting and extending the growing season well into the fall. This means you can enjoy fresh produce for a longer period, maximizing your garden's productivity throughout the year.

How Raised Beds Help Soil Quality and Weed Suppression

 

Enhanced Drainage

Raised gardens offer superior drainage compared to traditional garden beds. With raised beds, excess water is less likely to accumulate, preventing waterlogging and root rot. This means healthier, happier plants that thrive in well-drained soil conditions.

Better Aeration

The loose, friable soil found in raised beds promotes improved aeration, allowing roots to breathe and access vital oxygen. This encourages robust root development and enhances nutrient uptake, leading to stronger, more resilient plants with higher yields.

Controlled Soil Composition

In raised gardens, you have complete control over the soil composition, allowing you to tailor it to the specific needs of your plants. You can amend the soil with organic matter, compost, and other nutrients to create a fertile growing environment that supports optimal plant growth and vitality.

 

Ensure your raised bed is filled with loose, well-draining soil. I first filled my raised bed with a layer of wet leaves and sticks. These leaves add volume, and eventually will slowly break down over time, which will result in added nutrients to the soil. I then fill up the raised bed with organic raised bed soil and mushroom compost. 

Weed Suppression

Raised beds create a distinct barrier between your garden soil and the surrounding ground, making it more difficult for weeds to infiltrate. By minimizing weed competition, raised gardens reduce the need for herbicides and manual weeding, resulting in a cleaner, more manageable garden space.

Season Extender

The improved soil quality in raised beds can also extend your gardening season. Warmer soil temperatures in raised beds allow for earlier planting in the spring and later harvesting in the fall, maximizing your garden's productivity throughout the year. Some raised beds also come with tarps that can be placed over your raised bed when frost may accumulate. 

 

How To Plant Onions in a Raised Bed

 

Prepare the Raised Bed

Ensure your raised bed is filled with loose, well-draining soil. I first filled my raised bed with a layer of wet leaves and sticks. These leaves add volume, and eventually will slowly break down over time, which will result in added nutrients to the soil. I then fill up the raised bed with organic raised bed soil and mushroom compost. 

Choose Onion Varieties

Select onion varieties that are well-suited to your climate and growing conditions. Consider whether you prefer short-day, intermediate-day, or long-day onions based on your location.

Planting Time

Plant onion seeds, sets or onion transplants in early spring, as soon as the soil is workable. This year I started my onions by seed in middle February, which will be ready by fall. 

Planting Depth

Plant onion sets or transplants just below the soil surface, with the tops of the bulbs level with the soil. Press the soil gently around the bulbs to secure them in place. If starting by seed, plant in a raised bed by making rows and sprinkling the seeds. Cover lighlty with soil. Space the onion seeds, sets or transplants according to the variety's recommended spacing, typically 4-6 inches apart in rows spaced 12-18 inches apart. 

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged throughout the growing season. Onions require consistent moisture to develop healthy bulbs, especially during the bulbing stage.

Fertilization

Fertilize onions periodically with a balanced fertilizer to provide essential nutrients for growth. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they can promote excessive leaf growth at the expense of bulb development. Use a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium to promote large healthy bulbs.

Weed Control

Keep the raised bed free of weeds to minimize competition and ensure optimal onion growth. Mulching, laying hay on top of the raised bed around the onion plants can help suppress weeds and conserve soil moisture.

Harvesting

Harvest onions when the tops have turned yellow and fallen over. Carefully lift the onions from the soil and allow them to dry in a well-ventilated area for a few days to a week before storing them in a cool, dry place. This process is called curing the onions and is essential if you want the onions to last for a few months. 

How to plant potatoes in a raised bed

 

Prepare the Raised Bed 

Ensure your raised bed is filled with loose, well-draining soil. I first filled my raised bed with a layer of wet leaves and sticks. These leaves add volume, and eventually will slowly break down over time, which will result in added nutrients to the soil. I then fill up the raised bed with organic raised bed soil and mushroom compost. 

Choose Potato Varieties

Select potato varieties suited to your climate and growing conditions. Consider whether you want to grow early, mid-season, or late-season potatoes based on your region's climate and the desired harvest time.

Seed Preparation

Plant seed potatoes that are starting to form eyes. These eyes look like extremely thick roots. If your potato has multiple eyes, the potato can be cut in to pieces which will develop multiple potato plants. However, sometimes planting the whole potato can ensure a larger, healthier plant.

Planting Time 

Plant seed potatoes in early spring after the last frost date for your area. Place the seed potatoes in the prepared raised bed, spacing them 10-12 inches apart in rows spaced 2-3 feet apart.

Planting Depth

Plant the seed potatoes about 4 inches deep in the soil with the eyes facing upward. Cover the seed potatoes with soil, leaving a slight depression to help retain moisture.

Hilling

As the potato plants grow, gradually mound soil around the base of the plants to cover the lower stems. Hilling helps protect developing tubers from sunlight, prevents greening, and encourages additional tuber formation.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged throughout the growing season. Adequate moisture is essential for healthy potato growth and the development of large, well-formed tubers.

Fertilization

Potatoes are heavy feeders and benefit from regular fertilization. Apply a balanced fertilizer or organic compost to the soil before planting and side-dress with additional fertilizer as needed during the growing season.

Weed Control

Keep the raised bed free of weeds to reduce competition and ensure optimal potato growth. Mulching around the potato plants can help suppress weeds and conserve soil moisture.

Harvesting

Harvest potatoes when the plants begin to flower and the foliage starts to yellow and die back. Carefully dig up the potatoes with a garden fork, being careful not to damage the tubers. Allow the harvested potatoes to cure in a cool, dark place for a few days before storing them in a cool, dry location.

 

Planting carrots, kohlrabi, and turnips in a raised bed

 

 

Planting carrots, kohlrabi, and turnips in a raised bed can yield a diverse and delicious harvest, enriching your garden with vibrant colors and flavors. Here's how to plant these root vegetables in a raised bed:

Prepare the Raised Bed

Ensure your raised bed is filled with loose, well-draining soil. Root vegetables like carrots, kohlrabi, and turnips require soil that is free of rocks and debris to promote straight, uniform growth.

Choose Varieties

Select carrot, kohlrabi, and turnip varieties suited to your climate and growing conditions. Over 10 different carrot varieties can be found here on my 2024 Vegetable Variety Guide - Every Species for Your Beginner Garden. Consider factors such as maturity dates, size, and flavor preferences when choosing varieties for your raised bed.

Planting Time

Plant carrots, kohlrabi, and turnips in early spring or late summer for a fall harvest. Follow the recommended planting dates for your specific region to ensure optimal growth and development. For more in depth determinations on how to determine start and transplant dates visit Ultimate Guide to Beginner Gardening with Summer 2023 Journey.

Spacing

Space carrot seeds or seedlings about 2 inches apart in rows spaced 12-18 inches apart. For kohlrabi and turnips, plant seeds or seedlings 4-6 inches apart in rows spaced 12-18 inches apart.

Planting Depth

Plant carrot seeds shallowly, about 1/4 inch deep, and cover lightly with soil. For kohlrabi and turnip seeds, plant them approximately 1/2 inch deep and cover with soil.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged throughout the growing season, especially during hot, dry periods. Adequate moisture is essential for root development and overall plant health.

Thinning

Thin carrot seedlings to ensure proper spacing and prevent overcrowding. Once the carrot seedlings have emerged, thin them to about 2-3 inches apart to allow room for root expansion.

Fertilization

Prior to planting, amend the soil in your raised bed with compost or well-aged manure to provide essential nutrients for root development. Use a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium to promote large healthy rootss. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizers, as they can promote excessive foliage growth at the expense of root development.

Weed Control

Keep the raised bed free of weeds to reduce competition and ensure optimal growth for your root vegetables. Mulching around the plants can help suppress weeds and conserve soil moisture.

Harvesting

Harvest carrots, kohlrabi, and turnips when they reach maturity and have reached the desired size. For carrots, gently pull them from the soil when they are bright orange and firm. For kohlrabi and turnips, use a sharp knife to cut the vegetables from the stem just above the soil line.