I have been wanting to experiment with raise beds to control the solid and I like to teach you how to build a simple raised garden bed.
How to Build a Simple Raised Garden Bed Video
How to Fill a Raised Garden Bed on a Budget
There are many ways to fill a raised garden bed on a budget but, I love filling mine with the most natural ingredients in my environment.
Once you have created a garden bed; fill it with a variety of layers.
First, layer add small rocks, sticks, small branches and clippings.
Second, add grass clipping, leaves, manure and compost; build up to two inches from the top of raised garden bed.
Thirdly, add your soil. Smooth and rake to combine all the goodness.
Finally, add your plants, flowers, vegetables and fruit. Make sure you space everything properly and water thoroughly.
What to Grow in a Simple Raised Garden Bed?
I understand many of us cannot start seeds indoors and looking for an easy solution. Direct Sowing maybe the best option for you and I often at times find this the best option.
Gently placing seeds outdoors right into the ground can have success. Yes, growing indoors you can control growing conditions such as temperature, light and soil. There is a big risk add seeds outdoors and relaying on “mother nature”.
A Simple raised garden bed is an option to direct sow because the soil is usually warmer, and you can build hoop houses over the bed if necessary.
Good soil should be free from weeds and very loose. You may have to loosen the soil with a spaded or rake.
Add seeds that agree with each other: Plant Seeds such as corn, bean and squash in the same area. Corn grows high and squash loves square footage.
Raised Garden Bed for Tomatoes
The most popular garden crop is tomatoes. Tomatoes are the easiest crop to grow, and they just define Summer and taste better than any grocery store.
With enough sunlight, proper drainage and free from disease tomatoes can thrive and produce a nice harvest.
Tomatoes in a raised garden bed can give gardener opportunities grow an amazing harvest. I like to grow beefsteaks, Roma and cherry tomatoes. This year I am going to experiment with a hybrid Cherokee Purple.
Good soil is essential to the success of growing tomatoes in a raised garden bed. I add tons of compost, it is filled with tons of nutrient-rich ingredients that is excellent for any raised garden bed.
Garden Tomatoes need as least ten hours of direct sunlight a day to thrive to their full potential. Proper drainage is essential and good circulation.
Five Tips to Grow Tomatoes in a Raised Garden Bed
Tomatoes are a gardener’s favorite crop to grow because they are easy and used to make many shelf staples such as sauces and salsa.
You can grow tomatoes two ways indeterminate or determinate.
Indeterminate will grow and bear fruit until the last frost.
Determinate tomatoes are big and bushy. Tomatoes that are determinate will get to a certain height and stop bearing fruit.
There are many colors of tomatoes such as yellow, red, orange and purple. This year I am trying to grow some colorful varieties.
Growing tomatoes in a raised garden bed, grow well if soil is rich and has an even moisture. Your tomatoes plants should never dry out and watered frequently. If you are growing your tomatoes from seeds indoors or green house they should be moved outdoors when they are twelve inches high.
Tomatoes love potassium and you can use a rich fertilizer filled with potassium.
Tomatoes need soil that is rich in clay, compost and sand for it to hold moisture and nutrients.
Plant your tomatoes plant deep to cover most of its root for a fuller and powerful crop.
Use tomato cages or bamboo stakes to help tomatoes plants to grow upright.
Do not limit your garden bed to just tomatoes; grow a variety of herbs, peppers and squashes.
How to Build a Simple Raised Garden Bed Plans
Building this raised garden bed was intimating at first but, ended up being a great beginner project this spring. I used cedar to build this simple raised garden bed because it will not rot, and it is not treated with anything toxic to my crops.
Supplies
- Three Dogwood eight-foot cedar fence panels
- 2×2 cedar board to secure each end
- Tape Measure
- Exterior Screws
- Table Saw
- Drill
I have been putting off starting my garden this year not because of the weather. I want a space that is easier to maintain and control the soil. Before you build and house a raised bed makes sure the area is sunny and has proper drainage.
First, cut your dog ends off and measure the fence panel and divide in half. With the table saw cut one piece in half.
The half piece of cedar fence panel will be the end pieces.
Second, cut 2×2 cedar board to the height of the cedar fence panel; you will need four for each corner.
Third, predrill holes in the cedar panels and 2×2 boards and then secure with exterior screws.
Fourth, level your space where you will place your garden bed. Make sure you have about three feet between beds so you can room to walk and work. Pathways can be covered with gravel, straw or mulch to prevent weeds.
Fifth, once everything is leveled place cardboard or weed barrier to the bottom of garden bed; this will prevent weed growth poling through.
Sixth, fill garden bed with sticks, leaves, compost and dirt to about inch from the top.
Finally, plant what you like in your garden beds such as flowers, herbs, vegetables and/or fruit. Seasonally rotate your crops for better use of the beds and soil.
Note, my goal is to be able to build hoop houses around each garden bed. Have you done this before, let me know?
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