Tomatoes love sun and warmth - so a classic layered raised bed in a sunny location is exactly the right place for planting. While you cannot plant the young plants in ground beds before mid to late May due to the cold soil, planting them on a raised bed is possible two to three weeks earlier.
How to prepare a raised bed for tomatoes?
A raised bed for tomatoes should be in a sunny location and contain about 40 cm of fresh horse manure covered with compost or tomato soil. Suitable companion plants include basil, parsley, marigolds, kohlrabi, beetroot, celery, radishes, garlic, leeks, bush beans, carrots, spinach and lettuce.
Preparing the raised bed for tomato cultivation
If you want to fill the raised bed exclusively with tomato plants or with tomatoes and other heavy feeders, you can provide it with a nutrient-supplying and warming manure pack. To do this, in the spring (April or May at the latest!), fill the lowest layers with approx. 40 centimeters of fresh horse manure, spread it loosely and evenly and then carefully tamp it down. Add a layer of compost or tomato soil about ten centimeters thick on top. Water the whole thing and cover it with a cold frame attachment or foil - then the rotting process begins so that you can plant the bed after another three to five days.
What is the maximum height of a raised tomato bed?
However, before you start planting or even building the raised bed, you should first think about suitable tomato varieties. Tall tomatoes and beefsteak tomatoes should be grown in a low raised bed with a maximum height of 50 centimeters, otherwise you will need a ladder later for care and harvesting. Compact growing bush tomatoes and other small-growing varieties, on the other hand, thrive very well in raised beds of a conventional height.
Protect tomatoes from moisture even on the raised bed
Especially in summer, it makes sense if the tomato plants are under a translucent cover - this serves to prevent the dreaded late blight and brown rot. The simplest option is to use so-called tomato caps, which you put over the individual plants. On the other hand, a roof or a complete cover, for example with a greenhouse attachment, is more durable. You can also build the bed from the start with extended corner posts to which you attach a roof (e.g. a film).
Which vegetables can be combined with tomatoes?
Not all vegetable plants get along well with each other - certain species and varieties hinder each other's growth. However, this also applies the other way around, some species fit together perfectly. For example, tomatoes harmonize wonderfully with
- Herbs like basil and parsley
- Flowers like marigold and marigold
- tuber vegetables such as kohlrabi, beetroot, celery and radishes
- Garlic and leek (leek)
- Beans (especially bush beans) and carrots
- as well as spinach and lettuce.
Under no circumstances should you grow tomatoes in raised beds together with cucumbers, peas, broccoli and cauliflower.
Tip
Artichokes, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumbers and eggplants also thrive best under the conditions described. The additional warmth of a raised bed allows sun-loving vegetables to thrive.
