Raised Bed Gardening for Beginners

By Henry Taylor

Are you thinking about Starting a Garden but you are worried about not having enough space?

Then I recommend you to keep reading…

 

Raised bed gardening is an almost effortless way for gardeners of all expertise levels to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables, year-round. Unlike traditional gardening (in-ground), raised bed gardening can use significantly less space. It is also a great alternative for those who have less than perfect soil, rocky soil, poor drainage, or perhaps have physical limitations that do not allow for bending, squatting, and working difficult soil.

Traditional gardening typically has the gardener working directly in the soil available to him or her in the backyard. Some of us are not fortunate enough to have rich garden soil that is easy to turn and simply bursting with the nutrients that your vegetable plants will need to thrive. Rocks, clay, and poorly draining soil are just some of the obstacles that can keep you from growing that garden of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The solution is to build up, start with fresh soil that meets all of your needs, and have much better control over your garden.

Regardless of the size of your family, or the gardening experience that you have under your belt, raised beds afford you the opportunity to grow an incredible selection of fresh produce.

 

In This book you will find:

 

• Choosing The Suitable Building Materials
• Raised Bed Advantages
• How To Keep Weeds Away
• What Do You Add To The Ground
• Protect The Raised Garden
• Tricks And Secrets
• Planting
• How To Seeding, Transplanting Of Vegetable Crops Through Raised Beds?
• Combinations for Companion Planting
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• What Inquiring Minds Want To Know
• And Much More.

The concept of raised beds is not something new; for centuries it has been a much-utilized technique by gardeners and farmers alike. The idea of mounding soil to grow healthy crops has been demonstrated to have high success rates for a number of crops that may otherwise struggle in existing soil.

Raised bed gardening is quite unique in that the soil level in the beds can be anywhere from a few inches higher than the naturally occurring soil, up to several feet high for a raised bed that requires no bending to access.

The soil contained within the beds is typically no more than 4 feet wide, which allows for ease of maintenance, and ease of access. As with all gardens, in order to maximize your production, your raised beds should be situated in areas that get full sun. Full direct sun is required for the majority of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental flowers that you may wish to grow.

There are many great benefits of growing your own fresh fruits and vegetables. Raised bed gardens are for the gardener who wants to grow bumper crops of favorite vegetables, and for those who want to grow different varieties of flowers, such as roses or azaleas

You will find that growing your own fruits and vegetables is an incredibly rewarding process. Get the whole family involved for a project that is not just a lot of fun, but that is also a healthy activity for all. With your raised beds by your side, you are almost guaranteed to quickly develop that green thumb.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Henry Taylor
• Release date: Jun 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393770213

Book preview

RAISED BED GARDENING

For Beginners

The Complete Guide To Build Your Own Raised Bed Garden

By:

Henry Taylor

© Copyright 2020 By Henry Taylor All Rights Reserved

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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

VEGETABLE GROWING IN RAISED BEDS

HISTORY OF RAISED BEDS FOR VEGETABLES

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO BUILD YOUR OWN RAISED BED GARDEN AT HOME

CHOOSING A RAISED BED

LOCATION AND SET-UP

EASY DIY GUIDE TO BUILDING A RAISED BED GARDEN

MATERIALS & TOOLS

FRAMES

DRILL TO ATTACH

REPEAT TO COMPLETE

POSITION FOR SUN

ANCHOR THE BED

LEVEL THE BED

KEEP OUT BIRDS AND FROST

DETER BURROWING PESTS

ADD SOIL

SET UP IRRIGATION

PLANT!

BENEFITS OF RAISED BEDS

RAISED BEDS – THE PRO SIDE

RAISED BEDS – THE CON SIDE

ARE RAISED BEDS BETTER?

WHAT TO PLANT

WHEN TO PLANT

TENDING YOUR GARDEN

WATERING

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE CONSTRUCTING A RAISED BED GARDEN

ACCESSORIES FOR A RAISED BED GARDENING

RAISED BED LINERS

MESH VENTED PVC COVERS AND FITTED HOOPS

FITTED HOOPS AND MESH PROTECTION COVERS

DO THE ADVANTAGES OF RAISED BEDS OUTWEIGH THE COSTS?

GARDEN AREA PLANNING

RAISED BED SIZE CONSIDERATIONS

PREPARING THE GARDEN BED AREA

MATERIALS THAT ARE SAFE FOR CONTAINING YOUR BEDS

WHY IS SOIL HEALTH SO IMPORTANT?

BUILDING YOUR GARDEN SOIL

MAINTAINING HEALTHY SOIL

REJUVENATING OLD GARDEN BEDS

OTHER GARDEN BED MAINTENANCE QUESTIONS

MULCH AND ITS MANY BENEFITS

EFFICIENT IRRIGATION

WHAT IS SUFFICIENT MOISTURE?

DRIP IRRIGATION OF RAISED BED GARDENS

DRIP IRRIGATION ANALYZES AND ENHANCES YOUR GARDEN

USE QUALITY TUBES FOR LONG-TERM SATISFACTION

LAYING OUT YOUR SYSTEM

HOW TO BUILD A PRODUCTIVE RAISED BED GARDEN

THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

TIPS RELATED TO BED CONSTRUCTION

HOW TO CREATE A MORE ACCESSIBLE GARDEN

RAISED BEDS

STEPS TO DESIGNING A RAISED BED FOR GARDENERS WITH PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS

ELEVATED RAISED BED GARDENING

INTRODUCTION TO ELEVATED RAISED BED GARDENING

THE BENEFITS OF ELEVATED RAISED BED GARDENING

SELECTING RAISED PLANTER BOXES/ELEVATED RAISED BEDS

PLACING YOUR ELEVATED GARDEN PLANTER

FILLING YOUR RAISED PLANTER BOX

WHAT TO GROW WHEN GARDENING IN AN ELEVATED RAISED BED

TURNING AN OLD WASHBASIN INTO A RAISED BED

HERE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS TO CREATE A RAISED BED FROM AN OLD WASHBASIN

MAKE A SAWHORSE LEG TO SUPPORT A WASHBASIN RAISED BED

PLANTING THE WASHBASIN RAISED BED

THE EASIEST VEGETABLES TO GROW ON A RAISED BED

THE BEST SOIL FOR VEGETABLES

THE EASIEST VEGETABLES TO GROW

GROWING BERRIES AND ASPARAGUS IN RAISED BEDS

GROWING STRAWBERRIES IN RAISED BEDS

SOIL PREPARATION AND WATERING

STRAWBERRY RAISED GARDEN BED POSITION

PLANTING AND CARING FOR STRAWBERRY PLANTS IN RAISED BEDS

HOW TO GROW TOMATOES IN A RAISED BEDD

GROWING TOMATOES IN RAISED BEDS

LOCATION FOR A RAISED BED TOMATO GARDEN

BEST SOIL REQUIREMENTS FOR TOMATO PLANTS

FERTILIZING YOUR TOMATO PLANTS

WHEN TO PLANT TOMATOES IN YOUR RAISED BED

SPACING THE TOMATO PLANTS IN RAISED BED

WATERING & MULCHING TOMATOES IN RAISED BEDS

AVOID DISEASE AND PESTS IN A RAISED TOMATO BED

SUPPORTING TOMATOES IN A RAISED BED

ATTRACTING POLLINATORS TO YOUR TOMATO RAISED BED GARDEN

GROWING CARROTS IN CONTAINERS OR RAISED BEDS

SOWING CARROT SEED

CARE OF CARROTS IN RAISED BEDS / CONTAINERS

RECOMMENDED VARIETIES OF CARROTS RAISED BEDS / CONTAINERS

THE CHOICES OF EARLY VARIETY CARROTS IS BELOW

SOWING ONIONS AND PLANTING SETS IN RAISED BEDS OR CONTAINERS

THE BEST POSITION AND SOIL FOR ONIONS

HOW TO PLANT ONION SEED IN RAISED BEDS

THINNING YOUR ONION SEEDLINGS

PLANT ONION SETS IN RAISED BEDS OR CONTAINERS

CARING FOR ONIONS IN CONTAINERS AND RAISED BEDS

HARVESTING ONIONS GROWN IN RAISED BEDS

WHEN TO HARVEST ONIONS

HOW TO HARVEST ONIONS

STORING ONIONS

SHORT AND LONG DAY ONIONS

SEED POTATOES AND GUIDES TO PLANT POTATOES IN A RAISED BED

SELECTING SEED POTATOES

GUIDES TO PLANT POTATOES IN A RAISED BED

COMMON POTATO PROBLEMS

HARVESTING POTATOES

KEEPING ANIMAL PESTS OUT OF YOUR RAISED BED GARDEN

CONTROL MEASURES

CONCLUSION

RAISED GARDEN BEDS VS. TRADITIONAL GARDENS

STARTING A RAISED BED VEGETABLE GARDEN: FAQS

STARTING A RAISED BED VEGETABLE GARDEN

INTRODUCTION

VEGETABLE GROWING IN RAISED BEDS

Recently, the popularity of raised beds for growing fruit and vegetables has increased. Still, I've found that many people want to start growing this way without knowing the benefits and disadvantages. The lack of understanding of the fundamental concepts contributes to bad design and the inability to make the most of the system.

HISTORY OF RAISED BEDS FOR VEGETABLES

The idea of raised bed raised dates back to medieval times, where beds would usually be lined with wattle fences. Moving forward 500 years or so, the 18th-century Parisian market gardeners developed their plots using the abundant horse manure off the pre-motor vehicle town and compost. Eventually, the depths of the topsoil were well over a meter, even two meters!

Nevertheless, the idea of a raised bed, as we know it today, became popular in the early 1970s, when the design was to dig over a bed to a deep, fine tilt that was mounded between pathways. Because the bed was a rounded, there was extra surface area to grow and this, coupled with higher density planting, increased yield.

The golden rule was not to step on the ground, only the paths that stopped the soil from being compacted. When developed, the only digging was the regular cultivation, weeding and harvesting of root crops.

Sadly, heavy rain would wash the soil from the field onto the paths, and planting would have allowed the soil to spread to the paths that had thwarted the purpose of the exercise.

Converts to deep raised beds soon switched to walled sides of their deep bed, losing the advantage of the additional area, which was not much but retained the stability of walled construction.

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO BUILD YOUR OWN RAISED BED GARDEN

Even if you don't have a lot of time to garden, you can still have a healthy vegetable garden, no matter the size. Why is that? Start with a raised bed. It is the shortcut to a good crop, also in the first year. Here's the reason:

GARDEN EVERYTHING: Attractive cedar beds are an asset to your landscape. Build perimeter gardens, spice up your entry, grow food in your front yard and screen an eyesore.

MORE FOOD IN LESS SPACE: You can bring the plants closer together so that every square inch is productive. Yet small-scale gardening methods, such as succession planting and vertical supports, ensure that every square inch of the room is used.

PLANT EARLIER: Excess water drains better, and the soil warms up faster in spring than in-ground beds. Specialized covers and garden fabric help you get started sooner.

BETTER SOIL: A healthy vegetable garden is dependent on good soil. With a raised bed, you start fresh with the ideal blend of soil — even if the soil on your site is poor.

FEWER WEEDS: Since the raised beds are densely planted, weeds have little room to grow. And when they find space, it's easy to pull them out of the loose, rich soil.

EASIER PEST CONTROL: It is easier to control insects and to exclude animal pests than long rows of gardens. Beds with row fabrics or special covers can be easily covered.

MATCH SOIL With PLANTS: Fill the beds with soil that is suited to the plants. Do you want to grow blue hydrangeas, for example? Until planting, mix the soil acidifier in the soil.

LESS BENDING TO TEND: Deep Root Raised beds are 15 "tall so that you will bend less when planting, caring and harvesting plants.

CHOOSING A RAISED BED

Gardener s Supply provides a wide variety of raised beds, from aluminum corner kits for which you supply your lumber, to full raised bed kits for cedar, engineered wood, recycled