| The raised bed vegetable garden system a great | | | | drainage and then mound up the soil you wish to use, |
| option for growing vegetables because, no matter | | | | make sure you loosen the ground underneath before |
| where you live, you can use this system. | | | | putting down the soil. |
| The raised bed vegetable garden can be as simple or | | | | As a surround for the bed you could use a thicker |
| as elaborate as you wish. As long as you use the | | | | border of mulch as an edging. I would only do this if the |
| principles associated with this type of garden bed then | | | | pathways between the beds were not grass but a |
| you can expect to get great results with a bounty of | | | | mulch or gravel so that weeds or grasses couldn't find |
| fresh healthy vegetables. | | | | their way into the growing area. |
| Growing Vegetables In Raised Beds | | | | The pathways can be an attractive and low |
| This type of garden is something similar to growing | | | | maintenance option too, especially if you use a wood |
| vegetables in containers only the 'container' can be so | | | | chip or bark mulch or something like decomposed |
| much larger. | | | | granite. |
| For growing vegetables, the soil doesn't need to be | | | | Advantages |
| very deep as most vegetables don't have deep roots | | | | Raised bed vegetable gardens are meant to be low |
| apart from the root crop vegetables that is and then a | | | | maintenance. That means by using this system, that is, |
| depth of about 12 to 15 inches or 30 to 40 centimeters | | | | adding your own soil mix to the beds, the weeds, |
| is mostly ample, potatoes are fine as you mound as | | | | pests and diseases are all but eliminated. |
| they grow. | | | | Better drainage is another advantage as having the |
| Raised Garden Bed Sizes | | | | bed raised allows the water to drain away and not |
| You only need your garden bed to be raised to about | | | | leave the plants water-logged. |
| 12 to 15 inches. The length can be whatever length | | | | Crop rotation is very important when growing |
| suits and the width needs to be a comfortable reach | | | | vegetables. Simply put, crop rotation means not |
| for you to the center from both sides without stepping | | | | growing the same vegetable two years in a row in the |
| into the bed. | | | | same spot. |
| The height of the bed should be whatever height suits | | | | With raised bed vegetable gardens, you can have the |
| you. If you don't want to bend over while tending your | | | | beds whatever size you want. This size should be |
| garden then build your raised bed to a comfortable | | | | determined by the size of your family or your |
| height that will allow you to tend the vegetables | | | | vegetable needs. |
| without the need to bend your back. | | | | So if you are a person living on your own or have a |
| Raised garden beds are ideal for those with disabilities | | | | family of ten, your raised vegetable garden can cater |
| or the elderly who find it difficult to kneel down and | | | | for your needs. |
| more importantly get up after kneeling down. | | | | You don't need a big area to have a vegetable garden |
| If you wish to build your own raised beds then your | | | | using the raised system. If you have a small yard or |
| options are many. You can use timber, concrete | | | | even a balcony then you can use the same principles |
| blocks, retainer wall paver blocks, stone. If using timber, | | | | to grow your very own vegetables. |
| only use non-treated timber like a cedar as the treated | | | | The best advantage for you the gardener is, by using |
| timbers usually contain toxic substances that can leech | | | | this system of raised bed vegetable gardening it has |
| out into the soil and you will run the risk of your | | | | been shown, compared to the conventional vegetable |
| vegetables taking up the toxins. | | | | gardens, to produce nearly twice as much in a smaller |
| There are also kits and ready made raised bed | | | | area. |
| vegetable gardens that you can purchase and save | | | | As long as you follow the principles of raised bed |
| the time in building them yourself. Check out your local | | | | gardening then you can be growing and eating your |
| nursery suppliers or have a shop around online. | | | | own vegetables in no time. That is the beauty of |
| It is also possible to have this type of garden without | | | | vegetable gardening, your wait is only a matter of |
| solid sides. Start with a good layer of gravel for | | | | weeks in many cases. |