How to plant a raised bed?
A raised bed has many advantages, as it not only offers a comfortable gardening height, but can transform balconies and terrace. To ensure your raised bed continues to provide years of enjoyment - important gardening tips should be adhered to on layering, planting correctly, and choosing the right flowers, herbs, and vegetables which can all be found here. Contents
Why is it so important to fill and plant the raised bed correctly?
Raised beds are popular primarily because of their high nutrient concentration. With a raised bed, flowers, herbs, and vegetables can be grown even in locations where the natural soil is poor. Filling the raised bed is crucial to ensuring the plants get the nutrients they require. Only with the right layers and the natural decomposition process does the raised bed become a true nutrient powerhouse.
What does the construction of a raised bed look like?
A fertile raised bed requires more than just soil in a wooden box. The different layers provide nutrients and warmth. A well-constructed raised bed can produce bountiful harvests and magnificent blooms for up to five years.
Different layers of a raised bed
Depending on the desired cultivation, the raised bed consists of three to five layers. Three layers are sufficient for herbs and flowers; five layers are recommended for vegetables. Each layer has a different function. The height of the layers depends on the overall height of the raised bed. However, they should not be too thin, otherwise the nutrient density will not last long.
Constructing a raised bed with five layers
Rough woody pruning
Aeration, preventing water logging Layer height: 25 to 30 cm
Fine woody pruning or turf
Barrier function, preventing the upper layers from slipping through
Layer height: 15 to 20 cm
Coarse compost or alternatives
Warmth, nutrients through decomposition
Layer height: 20 cm
Decomposed compost
Direct nutrient supply
Layer height: 10 cm
Soil
Planting layer
Layer height: Residual height, at least 20 cm
The layers of compost or alternatives such as horse or cow manure are particularly crucial for the success of a raised bed. Under no circumstances should this layer be replaced with soil or similar. If you only want to plant flowers, you can also fill your raised bed completely with potting soil – a compost and barrier layer are not necessary in this case.
Instructions: How to fill a Raised bed?
Step 2: Fill in the wood core layer
Fill the first layer on top of the vole mesh – the so-called wood core layer. This layer can consist of small branches, shrub waste, and other tree and hedge clippings. This layer should not be compact or solid, as its loose structure has several advantages: It leaves space for beneficial soil organisms, ensures moisture drainage, and allows for good ventilation of the raised bed.
Step 3: Fill in the intermediate layer
The second layer separates the wood core layer from the initial nutrient medium. Chopped branches, finely chopped hedge trimmings, or shredded perennial remains are suitable for this. Alternatively, you can also use upturned turf. This intermediate layer ensures that the upper layers don't slip through to the bottom.
Step 4: Add compost
Next, add the compost. The right mix is key here. Ideally, you'll have both rotted compost or manure and coarse, slightly "fresher" compost available. This ensures that sufficient nutrients are released into the soil over a longer period of time. You can either make compost or compostable material yourself from garden waste at home using a composter or purchase it from a specialist retailer.
Step 5: Fill with soil
The final layer consists of high-quality soil. You can either take the soil from your own garden or purchase it from a specialist retailer. The layer of soil shouldn't be too thin, as this is where you'll ultimately plant your flowers, herbs, and vegetables.
What can I plant in my raised bed?
Thanks to its high nutrient density, a raised bed is suitable for many different types of plants. Flowers and herbs, as well as various vegetables, can thrive in raised beds. Whether to use pre-grown plants or seeds is a matter of preference: Seeds offer a wider selection, but require more effort. Pre-grown plants are quick to establish but more expensive to purchase. In addition to choosing the right varieties, planting time and crop sequence also play an important role.
What do I need to pay attention to when planting the raised bed in the first and second year?
Although the nutrient content in a raised bed is higher than in a normal ground-level bed, nutrient reserves are still limited. To get the most out of the raised bed, so-called heavy feeders should be planted in the first year. These are plants that require particularly high levels of nutrients. In the second year and subsequent years, medium and light feeders can be chosen, which can cope well with the decreasing nutrient content of the soil.
Planting a Raised Bed with Flowers
If you want to plant your raised bed only with flowers, you can theoretically forgo the layering and fill the entire bed with potting soil. However, flowers also benefit from the nutrient-rich layered soil.
Planting a Raised Bed with Herbs
Herbs aren't particularly nutrient-hungry. Therefore, there aren't any heavy feeders among them. Medium and light feeders can be safely placed in the raised bed from the start and mixed with vegetables.
Planting a Raised Bed with Vegetables
When planting vegetables in a raised bed, it's especially important to ensure a good mixed culture. Different plants have different needs and can therefore complement each other well. Mixed culture tables list which varieties get along particularly well. In general, the more related plants are, the less suitable they are for mixed culture.
Raised Bed Calendar: What Do I Plant When?
Especially with vegetables, planting at the right time is crucial to ensure a bountiful harvest.
- March: Radishes, rocket, leaf lettuce, spinach, radish, parsley
- April: Spring onions, onions, leeks
- May: Early-grown young plants such as courgette, peppers, and chilies
- June/July: Broccoli & carrots
- August: Chicory or red chicory
- September/October: Celery, parsley, rocket
- December: Chicory, chard, spinach
Instructions for planting raised beds
Planting a raised bed is quite easy if you follow a few basic rules. The easiest way is to plant flowers.
Step 1: Get an overview
Get an overview of the flowers available to you and make a plan—either in your head or on paper. Consider where you want to plant and which flowers. Large flowers like sunflowers, for example, are best planted in the center of the bed, while small flowers and hanging plants look good at the edges. To ensure your raised bed always shines in its full splendor, make sure the planted flowers bloom at the same time.
Step 2: Planting
Once you've decided which flower should grow where, you can start planting. If you're using seeds, loosen the soil with a small rake, scatter the seeds on the soil, and press them down lightly. You'll need to keep the soil moist at all times. Detailed sowing instructions can always be found on the respective packaging. If you want to plant purchased or home-grown plants, make small holes in the soil with your hand or a trowel, place the plant in, and carefully fill the hole again.
Questions and answers
A raised bed can be placed in both sunny and shady areas. The prevailing light conditions influence the planting: Planting sunflowers in a shady area will result in less enjoyment from your raised bed. The choice of substrate, however, is irrelevant. Raised beds are therefore ideal for successfully planting even in damp areas or heavy clay soils.
To prepare the raised bed for winter, first harvest all plants that aren't frost-resistant. Then, loosen the soil layer with a small garden hoe and cover it with hay. Finally, roofing felt or dark plastic sheeting is used to cover the bed. If you don't want to miss out on gardening in the winter, you can transform the raised bed into a kind of greenhouse using a polytunnel. Here, winter-hardy crops like leeks, winter spinach, or parsnips can be grown during the cold season.
For a raised flower bed, ordinary potting soil is sufficient. However, if you plan to grow and harvest vegetables, you can use a bit more. Your own garden can serve as a source of soil. If you can't or don't want to use it, specialist retailers offer a wide selection of soil types. Traditional garden soil with organic fertilizer is just as suitable as special raised bed soil, which some suppliers carry.