Sunday, October 30, 2011

What Is Raised Bed Gardening?


!±8± What Is Raised Bed Gardening?

If you love to eat fresh, organic vegetables but don't like the idea of pulling weeds or running up a big water bill with a traditional row garden, then you're going to love square foot gardening. Square foot gardening is done in a 4 ft raised garden bed which consists of four side panels and no bottom. You will need to put down a weed barrier to create the bottom. Then you fill the bed with a special soil mix: three equal parts of vermiculite (to retain moisture), peat moss (to make the soil light and loose for drainage), and compost (for nutrients). You can find all of these at your nearest nursery or garden shop. If you're anxious to get started on your raised bed garden right away, just buy the commercial compost for now. But it would be well worth your time to start creating your own organic compost for later. It's a great way to utilize the nutrients in your kitchen vegetable scraps and lawn clippings, as well as save money on commercial fertilizer.

The most convenient way to make your own compost is in an enclosed compost tumbler. Then you don't have to deal with the unsightly mess, odor, and insects of an open compost heap. Look for a composter that is designed with a large, removable lid for easy access and an easy-to-turn crank. It takes a couple of months to break down organic scraps into a rich fertilizer for your plants, so you'll want to get your homemade compost started ASAP.

Now the fact that you've got your special soil mix contained within the walls of this raised bed means you will enjoy immediate and distinct advantages that you wouldn't get with traditional row gardening. The soil in this garden bed will never be walked upon or kneeled upon and therefore will not become compacted. This means several advantages for you. First of all, no rototilling will be necessary next season and less watering will be required. The loose soil will allow proper water drainage and moisture retention. Another advantage to having your plants contained in a 4 ft square bed is the fact that you can easily access any area of your garden from the side of the bed without entering the garden itself. Now isn't that a more practical way to lay out a garden?

Plant spacing in square foot gardening is done on a grid with each square foot containing a different type of plant. Before planting, it would be wise to mark off this grid with twine to ensure proper plant spacing. How many plants you put in each square depends on the size the plant will be when it has matured. For example, it is recommended to put only one tomato plant per square foot because it is a prolific vine plant. But you could put up to four strawberry plants in each square. Plants with runners that take up yards and yards of space, such as squash and cucumbers, need to be grown vertically on a very sturdy frame. For deep-rooted plants, such as potatoes or carrots, you'll want an extra-deep bed with at least 12 inches of soil.

You can build your own raised garden bed or you can buy a commercial kit. Commercial raised bed kits are convenient because the panels have been pre-measured and they include all the necessary hardware. If you're a beginner, you'll want to look for one that comes with a handy How To Guide of helpful advice and tips. These commercial kits are available with wooden or plastic side panels.

Raised Garden Bed kits made with plastic panels offer some advantages over wooden garden beds. They won't warp, rot, or attract insects. Plastic panels are conveniently lightweight and smooth and you don't have to watch out for splinters. A plastic raised garden bed with an interlocking panel design can be assembled in less than an hour. Some of them come with a clear vinyl "early start" enclosure, which is especially nice to have in areas with a short growing season. The beds in these raised garden kits can be used separately or double-stacked to create extra-deep beds. The interlocking design also allows you to easily dismantle the bed and relocate it if necessary.


What Is Raised Bed Gardening?

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