Posts Tagged ‘raised bed vegetable gardening’

If you live in a cool climate area the best way to grow your favorite vegetables is to have a raised bed vegetable garden. In those areas of the country where the climate is cooler, a spring rain can cause regular vegetable gardens to become wet and cold for far too long.

Maintaining a raised bed vegetable garden is a smart option. A raised bed allows extra water to drain off quickly, and helps soil to become warmer in a shorter time. Under certain circumstances, a raised bed garden can allow you to grow vegetables earlier in the season than you might otherwise be constrained to do.

A raised bed vegetable garden is ideally suited for many vegetables as it affords extra room for plants to grow deep, sturdy roots. The extra depth allows the plant roots more room to grow and become stronger. This has the benefit of producing sturdier plants which will yield better harvests.

To construct a raised bed vegetable garden you need to pile in the soil with a shovel or rake. The width of the raised bed depends on how large you desire the garden to be. A common dimension is 21 inches. The dirt that is used for the beds has to be a superior quality soil. It is acceptable to use common garden dirt that has been mixed with amendments such as compost, peat moss, and manure. Also, you can buy superior quality soil.

Wooden frames can be used in vegetable gardens or for small projects, to help hold in the soil. These frames can serve as space organizers and can be aesthetically pleasing. Make sure they are tough, however – as they must withstand insects and different weather conditions. Weather treated wooden 2ins. x 10ins. or 2ins. x 12ins. rails are readily available in home center or garden stores.

You can use containers (like tires) to grow your vegetables in as an alternative to building a raised bed vegetable garden. In these different containers the soil will still have the ability to get rid of the excess water quickly and to dry up faster. Tires are a great container because they absorb the heat in the morning and radiate it off at night. This helps to keep your plants warm.

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.

If you plan to start vegetable gardening and want to know more about raised bed vegetable gardening please visit http://www.vegetablegardeningbasics.com/