Build a Raised Bed for Your Vegetable Garden
At our farm we only grow vegetables and perennials in raised beds. Our farmland has a slight slope toward the river on our property, and we receive ample run-off in the spring due to the snow melt. Our raised beds allow us to start gardening 4 weeks sooner than if we planted in the ground.
These are some of our over 400 raised boxes that we grow our perennial plant propagation stock in.
Quick Steps to Building a Raised Bed:
Depending on how large your garden area is, you can add frames together as we did in the picture at the top. We leave a 4 foot wide path between rows of raised boxes for carts and for working in the beds. In the winter we can cover each row with row crop if needed or in the summer netting to the protect crops from the birds.
SHOP for Pesticide-Free and Organic Vegetable starts here.
- Determine the size of your box. We build our boxes all the same size, 4 feet x12 feet, with 2 foot cross pieces to divide the box into 3 equal parts. We use untreated 2 x 12 boards available at most lumber yards. Steer clear of treated wood which contains chemicals and railroad ties for the same reason. When building a series of boxes, we cut all of the wood to length and then nail and screw the pieces together. It is worth it to spend a little extra time to ensure that your raised bed frame will last for years.
- Build the frame and then move it to the prepared site. If you want a raised bed that is 24 inches tall, simply build two frames and attach them together with stakes.
- Next place the complete frame on level ground. Drive stakes along the inside of the bed every 4 feet into the ground to secure the frame in place. Screw the stakes to the inside of the frame.
- Lay a layer of commercial grade ground cloth down to prevent weed seed from migrating to the surface.
- Fill the bed with amended soil. If you are planting vegetables or fruits that like a higher acid pH, add peat moss and wood chips with the soil to help lower the pH value.
Depending on how large your garden area is, you can add frames together as we did in the picture at the top. We leave a 4 foot wide path between rows of raised boxes for carts and for working in the beds. In the winter we can cover each row with row crop if needed or in the summer netting to the protect crops from the birds.
SHOP for Pesticide-Free and Organic Vegetable starts here.
Posted by Farm Fresh Living at 1/25/2011 4:00 AM 
Categories: Gardening, Farm Life, Organic Gardening, Crafts and Projects, Gardening Tips, Vegetable Gardening
Tags: vegetable garden raised bed how to
Categories: Gardening, Farm Life, Organic Gardening, Crafts and Projects, Gardening Tips, Vegetable Gardening
Tags: vegetable garden raised bed how to
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