There are many benefits to building an outdoor vegetable garden - increased yield, elevated soil, fresh herbs and more. But digging a big hole is time-consuming and uncomfortable for the backside! Luckily for me, there's Raised Garden Bed gardening. In this article you will find detailed information about all of the pros and cons of going with a raised bed garden as well as tips on how to build your own and the type of vegetables that will grow well in these spaces.
Introduction to the Raised Bed Gardening System
There are plenty of benefits of gardening using a raised bed. Not only can you enjoy fresh produce all year long, but you'll also be able to save on water, time, and labor. Raised beds are easy to build, maintain, and customize to your specific needs.
Let's take a closer look at some of the benefits of raised bed gardening:
You'll Save Time and Water: One of the main benefits of raised bed gardening is that it saves you time and water. When you garden in a container or on the ground, you have to water regularly and for large areas. With a raised bed system, all you need to do is water when the soil becomes dry. This also allows you to cultivate intensively in areas where space would otherwise be limited.
You'll Enjoy Better Produce: A raised bed system gives you the ability to grow larger plants than if you were gardening in a container or on the ground. This means that you'll be able to enjoy better-quality produce, regardless of the season. The more nutrients that your plants extract from the soil, the tastier their fruits and vegetables will be!
You'll Have More Control Over Your Gard
Benefits of Raised Beds
Raised bed gardening is becoming more popular due to the many benefits it offers. Here are just a few:
*It's easy to maintain: Just remove weeds and replace the soil every season, and you're done.
*It's low-maintenance: You don't have to water or fertilize your plants, which saves you time and energy.
*It's Ideal for Poor Soil: A raised bed garden is great for poor soil because the extra depth allows water and nutrients to reach the roots more easily.
*You Can Grow More Varied Species: Raised beds make it easy to grow a range of different types of plants together, whether you're looking for crops that would typically require separate space, such as tomatoes and peppers, or flowers that can share a container, such as daffodils and Hyacinths.
Basic Instructions for Building a Raised Bed
Raised bed gardening is becoming more popular every year as it offers many benefits over traditional gardening methods. In this guide, we will outline some of the basics for building a raised bed, as well as some of the benefits of doing so.
- Choose the right size and shape:
The first decision you will need to make is the size and shape of your raised bed. You should decide what you want your bed to look like, and then measure the area you want to cover. Remember to allow space for the planting roots to grow down into the soil below! Once you have decided on the size and shape, draw a sketch or take photos of your proposed bed so that you have a reference when construction begins.
- Get the supplies ready:
Now that you know the basics, it’s time to gather your supplies. For the frame of your bed, you will need a sturdy piece of lumber at least 4 feet wide by 8 feet long. Cut two pieces specifically for your raised bed- one 12 inches shorter than the other so that they can overlap in the center. Attach each end of the short piece to one side of the longer
Growing Food in a Raised Bed
In article “Raised bed gardening: All the Benefits”, Kari Reinartz discusses the benefits of raised bed gardening, including a more efficient use of soil minerals, easier water management, better air circulation, and reduced weed populations.
If you’re looking for an organic way to garden that’s both easy and efficient, raised bed gardening is definitely worth considering. Not only does it allow you to garden in close proximity to your food (a big perk if you have a small space), but it also makes use of every inch of available space, resulting in increased yields. Here are some other reasons why raising your vegetables in a bed instead of in a traditional garden is such a smart idea:
Raised beds are more efficient at using soil minerals – When you Garden in a traditional way, the topsoil is exposed to soil erosion and weathering which can lead to depleted nutrients and less fertile soil. But because your plants are confined to the edges of the bed while the rest of the soil stays untouched, raised bed gardening allows for more even distribution of nutrients which means better crop production.
Reduced weed populations – Often times weedy plants will take over gardens
Conclusion
It can be hard enough keeping a garden alive year-round without having to worry about proper soil moisture levels and planting depths. But imagine trying to keep an organic garden thriving in the face of periodic drought or flooding — that’s what upcycling rainwater harvesting containers into raised beds is all about. In this article, we will discuss some of the benefits of raised bed gardening, including increased yields, more diverse plants and lessens dependence on expensive irrigation systems. If you are interested in trying out raised bed gardening for yourself, be sure to read our guide first so that you know what resources (and supplies) you will need.