A raised bed offers many advantages: You can garden comfortably while standing on the raised bed, without any back pain, thanks to a compostable filling you save yourself having to fertilize and the heat development in such a compost raised bed lasts longer the garden season alone.
What are important tips for a successful raised bed?
An ideal raised bed has a height of between 85 and 100 cm for comfortable working while standing and a maximum width of 120 cm for easy accessibility. A compost raised bed is suitable for vegetables, while perennial plants only need soil and good drainage.
What size is ideal for a raised bed?
So that you can work comfortably on the raised bed, it should - depending on your height - be between 85 and 100 centimeters high - ideally the upper edge of the finished raised bed is approximately at the height of the iliac crest. In terms of width, a raised bed that is accessible from both sides should not be wider than 120 meters. An arm's length for working on a bed area is estimated at around 60 to 70 centimeters.
How can I best fill the raised bed?
That depends on what you want to plant in the raised bed. A classic compost raised bed is best suited for vegetables, as it provides lots of nutrients. However, since this sags quickly due to the rotting process, you should fill it in autumn, refill it in spring and keep it from sagging through constant mulching during the summer months. If the planting is perennial (e.g. fruit trees or bushes), you should only fill in soil - and by no means forego good drainage!
How can I best extend the gardening season with a raised bed?
If you have set up a compost raised bed, you can cultivate it at least two to three weeks earlier or longer anyway, thanks to the heat development in both spring and autumn. If you also use a cold frame (€33.00 at Amazon) or greenhouse attachment, nothing stands in the way of unlimited gardening - even in winter you will still find vegetables that you can cultivate without worry.
Can I also have a raised bed on the balcony?
There are special balcony raised beds for the balcony that are tailored precisely to the statics of the building - a normal compost raised bed cannot be set up here because it is simply too heavy. But raised table beds or boxes used for other purposes (such as fruit and wine boxes) are also very suitable.
Tip
No matter what material you use to build your raised bed, where it is located and how you fill it: drainage and a functioning water drain are immensely important for successful gardening.