Posted: 2/5/2012 10:43:50 AM EDT
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I'm rebuilding our garden to raised beds. I think I can work the beds more efficiently and maintain the soil better as well as weed control.
Last year between the heat and the West Texas dry wind our garden didn't make. So I thought I would go a different route. I never planted in raised beds before so I'm needing some advice from the group on the layout and particulars. Space it not really a concern right now. I'll be planting these and maybe a few other things but these are the basics. ( I know I'm probably leaving a couple of things out ) squash okra green onion green beans snow peas cantaloupe water melon yellow onion black eyed peas corn potatoes For long beds I was thinking about, okra, corn, peas, beans, onion and potatoes I was thinking about making long beds anywhere's from 12" to 24" wide. Does this wide enough? How deep do you think? The other items ( squash, cucumber, melons and for other large leafy plants ) I was thinking about square beds. Again not sure of the size, how big around and how deep. Also, do any of you add gravel to the base of your beds for drainage? As far as inexpensive irrigation, what do yall use or could someone recommend something? I don't think I'm going to have time to start a spring garden, but I would like to have everything ready for a fall one, so I have plenty of time to do this. I know this is a lot, I have went to several garden sites, but they wern't very helpful for the info. I need. |
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I'd make them 3-4' across..you'll use less materials and be able to reach from either side. A lot of people use the "Mel's Mix"..I've just ever used soil and compost and done well enough but that's in Michigan. LIkewise, my garden's aren't deep, but the soil under them isn't that awful.
The secret to making them work is mulch. Wet newspapers with mulch on top works great, or get the good quality landscape fabric..or you can use black plastic but I've never liked it. |
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I just put in some raised beds last summer and this past fall was the first time I had planted in them. Everything has done just great, I have very limited room so I started with four 5'x10' beds. I used 2x10's, bought three and cut one in half and nailed together. I also built a 2x4 frame to go over the top of the beds so when we had frost last month I could just throw a tarp over the frame. The frame's will also be used to support the taller growing plants.
I trucked in some good soil when I built the frames and started a compost bin, just dumped the compost into the raised beds and have started the spring garden.I still have a few items from the fall garden I need to clear out. As far as water I have set up some drip hose. I can water from the house bib or from the auto sprinklers that I cut into. Have been thinking about the hydroponic stack pots, I would use the 2x4 frams to support the pot stacks around the edge of the raised beds. I would arrange the stack pots so they would not block the sun to the raised beds. Good luck |