The raised bed garden system is a great option for growing vegetables because no matter where you live, you can use this system.
The raised bed garden can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. As long as you use the principles associated with this type of garden bed, you can expect excellent results with plenty of fresh, healthy vegetables.
Growing vegetables in raised beds
This type of garden is somewhat similar to growing vegetables in containers, only the ‘container’ can be much larger.
For growing vegetables, the soil does not need to be very deep as most vegetables do not have deep roots other than tubers, meaning a depth of about 12 to 15 inches or 30 to 40 centimeters is mostly sufficient. potatoes are fine as they grow.
Raised Garden Bed Sizes
You only need your garden bed to be raised about 12 to 15 inches. The length can be any length that suits you, and the width should be a comfortable reach so that you can reach the center from both sides without stepping on the bed.
The height of the bed should be the height that suits you best. If you don’t want to bend over while gardening, build your raised bed at a comfortable height that allows you to tend to your vegetables without bending your back.
Raised garden beds are ideal for people with disabilities or seniors who find it difficult to kneel down and, more importantly, get up after kneeling.
If you want to build your own raised beds, your options are many. You can use wood, cinder blocks, pavers for retaining walls, stone. If you do use wood, use only untreated wood like a cedar, as treated woods usually contain toxic substances that can leach into the ground and you will risk your vegetables absorbing the toxins.
There are also ready-made raised bed beds and kits that you can purchase and save time building your own. Check with your local nursery providers or search online.
It is also possible to have this type of garden without solid walls. Start with a good layer of gravel for drainage and then mound the soil you wish to use, making sure you loosen the soil underneath before laying the soil down.
As a frame for the bed, you could use a thicker edge of mulch as a border. I would only do this if the paths between the beds were not grass but mulch or gravel so that weeds or grass cannot reach the growing area.
Pathways can also be an attractive, low-maintenance option, especially if you use wood chips or bark mulch or something like decomposed granite.
Advantage
Raised bed gardens are meant to be low maintenance. That means that by using this system, that is, by adding your own soil mix to the beds, weeds, pests, and diseases are completely eliminated.
Better drainage is another plus, as having the bed raised allows water to drain away and not leave your plants waterlogged.
Crop rotation is very important when growing vegetables. Simply put, crop rotation means not growing the same vegetable two years in a row in the same place.
With raised bed gardens, you can have as many beds as you like. This size should be determined by the size of your family or your vegetable needs.
So whether you are a single person or have a family of ten, your raised garden can meet your needs.
You don’t need a large area to have a garden using the elevated system. If you have a small garden or even a balcony, you can use the same principles to grow your own vegetables.
The best advantage for you, the gardener, is that by using this raised bed gardening system, it has been shown, compared to conventional gardens, to produce almost twice as much yield on a smaller area.
As long as you follow the principles of raised bed gardening, you’ll be able to grow and eat your own vegetables in no time. That’s the beauty of horticulture, your wait is only a matter of weeks in many cases.
