Raised beds take the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and herbs to a new level. And the best thing is that hobby farmers no longer have to bend over to plant, weed, and harvest.
Fill the raised bed with system and brains. From coarse, rather nutrient-poor (at the bottom) to fine and rather nutrient-rich (at the top). Start with small twigs and leaves, which are covered with a little soil.
Tip: The two lowest layers should be well compacted when filling. Otherwise, the bed can quickly collapse as it rots and the heating effect is gone.
This is followed by a ten-centimeter layer of unrotted compost and other shredded material. This is covered with some mature compost soil. Another layer of mature compost soil before the raised bed is covered with about 15 centimeters of high-quality garden soil.
Especially for heat-loving vegetables, the raised bed is a paradise. In addition to peppers and tomatoes, this also includes zucchini. Lettuce and spinach, which require fewer nutrients, will still feel at home in the airy height later on. There are hardly any plants that are not suitable for the raised bed. In addition to the fairly low-maintenance radishes and carrots, beans, radishes, peas, and onions are also popular. Because in combination with herbs and flowers, the raised bed is a guarantee for healthy plants and thus also a good harvest.
Raised beds can and should be planted more densely than other vegetable beds. For example, there is room on the walls for climbing plants, which are protected from pests by the height.
Herbs
Herbs are also brilliantly suited to raised beds. Especially because they are said to keep pesky small animals away from the vegetables. Basil protects against the dangerous powdery mildew fungi. That is why the herb maintains a good neighborhood with cucumbers and zucchini.
Spinach and lettuce are allies against mealybugs. If tomatoes are planted between cabbages, the cabbage white butterfly will give them a wide berth. Strawberries, especially popular with slugs, can be protected by planting some parsley alongside them. The voracious mollusks do not like them at all.
What can go out into the fresh air and when?
Since a properly filled raised bed functions as a kind of natural heating system, classic spring plants such as radishes, lettuces, radishes, and arugula feel at home in it as early as April. Somewhat colder nights do not bother them. Spring onions, leeks, and bulbs are liking it a little warmer. But by the end of April, you can plant the trio in the raised bed without hesitation.
Be careful with tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and zucchini. Cool air does not agree with them at all. Don´t let the plants out of the windowsill into the fresh air until the third week of May. If you want to eat cauliflower and broccoli from your garden it's best to wait for the warm summer months.
Annual flowers are an ideal choice for raised garden beds, as they require little maintenance and provide a burst of color throughout the growing season. Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one year and must be replanted each year. Popular annual flowers for raised beds include marigolds, petunias, snapdragons, pansies, and impatiens.
These types of flower beds are also perfect for zinnias, cosmos, larkspur, bachelor buttons, and dahlias.
Planting bulbs is another great way to use flowers from early spring through late summer as many bulbs will bloom at different times during the growing season.
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