Back-friendly work, higher yields and longer harvest times: There are many reasons for growing vegetables in raised beds. The advantages that these beds offer were already used in the Middle Ages. With our tips, planting and caring for this special vegetable bed becomes child's play.
Why is a raised vegetable bed useful and how do I care for it?
A raised vegetable bed enables back-friendly work, higher yields and longer harvest times. All types of vegetables are suitable for planting, but pay attention to crop rotation and mixed cultivation. Pay attention to the correct soil layer composition and maintain the raised bed with regular watering and mulching.
Building the raised bed
If you are handy, you can easily build a raised bed yourself out of pressure-impregnated wood. Alternatively, you can get sturdy box beds from garden shops (€229.00 on Amazon) in different sizes, which can be set up in just a few steps.
The soil layers
So that herbs and vegetables grow vigorously over the years, the composition of the soil layers is important:
- The first layer consists of chopped twigs, branches and waste left over from pruning the shrub in autumn.
- The second layer is formed by fine, but at most partially decomposed plant parts.
- As a third layer, add mature compost soil.
- The fourth layer is a mixture of garden and compost soil to which humus is added.
Which vegetables are suitable for the raised bed?
In principle, you can grow all types of vegetables in the raised bed that you would also cultivate in a “normal” vegetable bed. To prevent the soil from becoming depleted, you should plant according to the rules of crop rotation and distinguish between heavy feeders, medium feeders and weak feeders:
| Heavy eaters | Middle eaters | Weak eater |
|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | Peppers | Peas |
| almost all types of cabbage | Onions | Beans |
| Leek | Radish | Salads |
| Tomatoes | Kohlrabi | Herbs |
Also pay attention to the correct mixed culture. This supports the plants in their growth and pest insects have to be fought much less frequently.
Where should the herbs go?
Many culinary herbs come from southern regions, where they thrive in nutrient-poor soil. For example, if you want to cultivate thyme, oregano or rosemary in a raised bed, you should create an area for these plants that is tailored to their specific needs.
Add a third of the fourth layer of soil with sand when filling it. Also make sure that this area is bathed in sunlight all day long, as many herbs are extremely sun-hungry.
Caring for the raised vegetable bed
Due to the elevated location, the temperature in the raised bed is usually a few degrees higher and the soil dries out more quickly. Therefore, water the plants regularly, and not just on hot summer days.
Mulching with grass clippings is advisable. This means that moisture is better retained in the soil and the watering work is noticeably reduced.
Tip
The harvest time in the raised bed can be brought forward using a thermal hood or a fleece as well as a location in a protected place.