These tips for organic raised beds will help your garden flourish all season.
These suggestions will help you succeed in starting anorganic raised garden bed.
Instead, simply build the raised garden right over the top.
Credit: Cameron Sadeghpour
Tip: Stop weed growth by cutting the grass and weeds as short as possible.
How much full sun will each raised bed get per day?
More is even better.
Less than 6 hours of full sun will decrease the yield in your garden.
In fact, crops like tomatoes may never actually produce fruit.
On the other hand, crops like lettuce appreciate some shade.
Think ahead to plant the right flowers, fruits, and vegetables in the right conditions.
What’s the best wood for organic raised garden beds?
(Add a non-toxic garden bed liner to hold the soil in place.)
Steer clear of concrete; it may leach into your soil and alter soil acidity.
you’ve got the option to also create an organic raised garden bed without building a frame.
Just moundrich organic soilto a height of 12 to 20 inches between two parallel furrows.
Credit: Kindra Clineff
What length and width will let you grow what you need while still being easy to maintain?
Your time-saving shortcut will compact the soil, which isn’t good for plants.
Most raised gardens are 4 feet across because the average person can reach about 2 feet.
Credit: John Noltner
If you want multiple beds, leave enough space between them for a wheelbarrow.
How tall do you want to make the raised beds?
That height bed will be easier to build than a taller one.
You’ll need to kneel and bend while gardening.
The shallow depth will be problematic for deep-rooted plants.
And all of the plants will be at risk if the native soil beneath the bed is contaminated.
That’s a benefit for people with aching joints or who use a wheelchair.
What do you want to grow in each bed?
Companion plants to deter pests?
Perennials, including native plants that attract beneficial insects?
Consider each plant’s mature sizeheight and spread.
(Corn,pumpkins, melons,potatoes, andwinter squashneed lots of space to thrive.)
However, a frequently missed step isdoing a soil testto determine the basics of the existing soil.
Knowing the length of the roots guides the height of your raised garden beds.
This can result in the absorption of potential contaminants and loss of their organic status.
Choosing Organic Seeds and Plants
An organicraised bed gardenstarts with organic soil.
Buying certified-organic live plants is also a challenge.
You’ll have better luck finding organic vegetable seedlings than those for flowering plants.
Vegetables are grown for consumption, which boosts demand.
Organic flowering plants tend to look less robust than those grown in conventional nurseries, so demand is smaller.
Plus, it’s expensive for nurseries to get organic certification.
Controlling Insects in a Raised Bed
Pests are a reality in any garden.
Companion plants also protect produceby confusing pests that come to the garden for meals.
Carrot flies are repelled by leeks.
Here are some additional control methods that don’t negatively affect the environment:
