Many people are interested in planting vegetable gardens but are discouraged by sandy, infertile soil and limited planting space in their backyards. The good news is that making raised beds can eliminate those hindrances
Advantages of raised bed
- You can formulate a fertile soil mixture
- It improves soil drainage and aeration
- It improves weed and insects prevention and control
- You can choose where to make your garden with fewer limitations
Soil Mixture
- Soil amendments (good, clean topsoil from bags or reliable bulk sources, cow manure, chicken manure, sawdust, horse manure, and compost
- Lime optional
- Fertilizer is optional (do a soil test at your local extension office before applying for fertilizer)
- If considering an organic garden, the more organic matter, the more fertile the soil
Bed Construction
- Bordering materials (untreated lumber, concrete blocks, old and weathered railway ties, landscaping ties )
- The bed can be any length
- The bed should be three to four feet wide
- Soil depth should be 6 to 8 inches high
- Till soil before making the bed
- Place cardboard or newspaper at the bottom of the bed before adding the soil mixture
- Add amendments until the bed is filled
Planting
- Select clean, viable seeds or purchase seeds treated with fungicide and insecticide (non-organic garden. Choose organic seeds from reputable distributors
- Select vigorous, healthy seedlings
- Have basic knowledge of crops before planting
- Know planting time for crops (fall or spring)
- Know the number of days from planting to maturity
- Know the predicted first and last freeze date for your region.
Care and Maintenance
Using about 2 inches of mulch in beds is advantageous to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Keep soil moist and not wet, water in the morning and not midday or late evening, and scout for signs of insects and diseases. Use pesticides only when necessary and fertilize based on soil sample results. Harvest crops at the right time; over-mature crops lose taste and texture. Remember to place dead or old non-disease plants in the compost heap.
Challenges
It takes more effort to keep the beds moist compared to an in-ground garden. Watering 2-3 times a week is not uncommon.
For further information on raised garden beds and other horticulture-related topics, contact Grantly Ricketts, UF/IFAS Extension Commercial Horticulture agent, at 772-462-1660 or gricketts@ufl.edu.
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