Raised-bed gardening is a form of gardening in which the soil is raised above ground level and usually enclosed in some way. Raised bed structures can be made of wood, rock, concrete or other materials, and can be of any size or shape.[1] The soil is usually enriched with compost.[2]
Raised bed gardening
Vegetables are grown in geometric patterns, much closer together than in conventional row gardening.[2] The spacing is such that when the vegetables are fully grown, their leaves just barely touch each other, creating a microclimate in which weed growth is suppressed and moisture is conserved.[2]
Raised beds lend themselves to the development of complex agriculture systems that utilize many of the principles and methods of permaculture. They can be used effectively to control erosion and recycle and conserve water and nutrients by building them along contour lines on slopes. This also makes more space available for intensive crop production.[2] They can be created over large areas with the use of several commonly available tractor-drawn implements and efficiently maintained, planted and harvested using hand tools.
Circular raised beds with a path to the center (a slice of the circle cut out) are called keyhole gardens.[3] Often the center has a chimney of sorts built with sticks and then lined with feedbags or grasses that allows water placed at the center to flow out into the soil and reach the plants' roots.
A self watering raised bed known as a wicking bed is particularly beneficial in dry climates and are often made by converting Intermediate bulk container (IBC's).
Materials and constructionedit
Lumber is the most common construction material for making raised beds.[2] If using lumber treated with chromated copper arsenate or CCA (though uncommon since 2004 in the US and Europe[4][5]), it is recommended to use a plastic liner between the wood and soil if the raised bed is intended for growing edibles.[6]
Another material commonly used are railroad ties, also known as sleepers, joined with steel rods to hold them together. Another approach is to use concrete blocks, although less aesthetically pleasing, they are inexpensive to obtain and easy to use.
On the market are also prefab raised garden bed solutions which are made from long lasting polyethylene that is UV stabilized and food grade so it will not leach undesirable chemicals into the soil or deteriorate in the elements. A double skinned wall provides an air pocket of insulation that minimizes the temperature fluctuations and drying out of the soil in the garden bed. Sometimes raised bed gardens are covered with clear plastic to protect the crops from wind and strong rains.[7] Pre-manufactured raised bed gardening boxes also exist.[1] There are variants of wood, metal, stone and plastic.
Benefitsedit
Raised beds produce a variety of benefits: they extend the planting season,[2] they can reduce weeds if designed and planted properly,[2] and they reduce the need to use poor native soil. Since the gardener does not walk on the raised beds, the soil is not compacted and the roots have an easier time growing.[7] Waist-high raised beds enable the elderly and physically disabled to grow vegetables without having to bend over to tend them.[7]
Galleryedit
Picardo Farm, Wedgwood neighborhood, Seattle, Washington: A community allotment garden with raised beds for the physically disabled.
A waffle garden is the inverse of raised beds and is a gardening method by the Zuni people. In an arid climate, clay walls are built up around the planting area and plants are watered by filling the bed "cells".[8]
The term sunken garden usually refers to a formal traditional English garden where the garden is lower than the surrounding land, and may have multiple terraces around it and steps leading down to the garden.[9]
^ abHughes, Megan McConnell (2010). Better Homes & Gardens Vegetable, Fruit & Herb Gardening. Wiley. pp. 68–69. ISBN9780470638569. Retrieved March 2, 2012. ISBN978-0-470-63856-9
^Kemery, Ricky (January 29, 2012). . The Journal Gazette. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
^National Pesticide Information Center: Regulation of CCA Treated Wood
^European Union: Restrictions on Use of CCA-Treated Timber
^Lively, Ruth (Sep–Oct 1990). "Does Pressure-Treated Wood Belong in Your Garden?". Fine Gardening. No. 15.
^ abcWhiting, David E. (1991). The desert shall blossom: a comprehensive guide to vegetable gardening in the Mountain West. Horizon. pp. 41–42. ISBN9780882904184. Retrieved March 2, 2012. ISBN0-88290-418-3
^The Resurgence of Waffle Gardens Is Helping Indigenous Farmers Grow Food with Less Water
Bird, Christopher (2001). Cubed Foot Gardening: Growing Vegetables in Raised, Intensive Beds. Lyons Press. ISBN9781599215914. Retrieved March 2, 2012. ISBN1-58574-312-7
Linhart, Rita & Richardson, Antoinette (2012). Raised Bed Gardening - low cost, high yield and simply done. Books on Demand. ISBN978-3837018417. ISBN978-3-8370-1841-7
External linksedit
Media related to Raised garden beds at Wikimedia Commons
The Synergistic Garden—A video by Emilia Hazelip, which provides practical information on how to garden with raised beds.
December 15, 2023
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Raised bed gardening is a form of gardening in which the soil is raised above ground level and usually enclosed in some way Raised bed structures can be made of wood rock concrete or other materials and can be of any size or shape 1 The soil is usually enriched with compost 2 Raised bed gardeningVegetables are grown in geometric patterns much closer together than in conventional row gardening 2 The spacing is such that when the vegetables are fully grown their leaves just barely touch each other creating a microclimate in which weed growth is suppressed and moisture is conserved 2 Contents 1 Overview 1 1 Materials and construction 2 Benefits 3 Gallery 4 Sunken gardens 5 See also 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksOverview editRaised beds lend themselves to the development of complex agriculture systems that utilize many of the principles and methods of permaculture They can be used effectively to control erosion and recycle and conserve water and nutrients by building them along contour lines on slopes This also makes more space available for intensive crop production 2 They can be created over large areas with the use of several commonly available tractor drawn implements and efficiently maintained planted and harvested using hand tools This form of gardening is compatible with square foot gardening and companion planting Circular raised beds with a path to the center a slice of the circle cut out are called keyhole gardens 3 Often the center has a chimney of sorts built with sticks and then lined with feedbags or grasses that allows water placed at the center to flow out into the soil and reach the plants roots A self watering raised bed known as a wicking bed is particularly beneficial in dry climates and are often made by converting Intermediate bulk container IBC s Materials and construction edit Lumber is the most common construction material for making raised beds 2 If using lumber treated with chromated copper arsenate or CCA though uncommon since 2004 in the US and Europe 4 5 it is recommended to use a plastic liner between the wood and soil if the raised bed is intended for growing edibles 6 Another material commonly used are railroad ties also known as sleepers joined with steel rods to hold them together Another approach is to use concrete blocks although less aesthetically pleasing they are inexpensive to obtain and easy to use On the market are also prefab raised garden bed solutions which are made from long lasting polyethylene that is UV stabilized and food grade so it will not leach undesirable chemicals into the soil or deteriorate in the elements A double skinned wall provides an air pocket of insulation that minimizes the temperature fluctuations and drying out of the soil in the garden bed Sometimes raised bed gardens are covered with clear plastic to protect the crops from wind and strong rains 7 Pre manufactured raised bed gardening boxes also exist 1 There are variants of wood metal stone and plastic Benefits editRaised beds produce a variety of benefits they extend the planting season 2 they can reduce weeds if designed and planted properly 2 and they reduce the need to use poor native soil Since the gardener does not walk on the raised beds the soil is not compacted and the roots have an easier time growing 7 Waist high raised beds enable the elderly and physically disabled to grow vegetables without having to bend over to tend them 7 Gallery edit nbsp Picardo Farm Wedgwood neighborhood Seattle Washington A community allotment garden with raised beds for the physically disabled nbsp Raised garden bed of lettuce tomatoes basil marigolds zinnias garlic chives zucchini nbsp Raised garden bed with natural stones of Salvia Chives and Parsley nbsp Raised garden bed with lettuce in Don Det Laos nbsp Raised garden beds with painted wooden edgings at Wise Words Community Garden in Mid City New Orleans nbsp Preparing raised flower beds in a private garden in Brastad Sweden Sunken gardens edit nbsp A sunken garden at Hampton Court PalaceA waffle garden is the inverse of raised beds and is a gardening method by the Zuni people In an arid climate clay walls are built up around the planting area and plants are watered by filling the bed cells 8 The term sunken garden usually refers to a formal traditional English garden where the garden is lower than the surrounding land and may have multiple terraces around it and steps leading down to the garden 9 See also edit nbsp Gardening portalKeyhole garden Kitchen garden Square foot gardening Therapeutic garden Herb spiral Waru Waru A traditional Quechua pre Inca system involving raised beds Hugelkultur Another type of raised bedReferences edit a b Hughes Megan McConnell 2010 Better Homes amp Gardens Vegetable Fruit amp Herb Gardening Wiley pp 68 69 ISBN 9780470638569 Retrieved March 2 2012 ISBN 978 0 470 63856 9 a b c d e f g Nones Raymond 2010 Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening Made Simple Countryman Press ISBN 9781581578508 Retrieved March 2 2012 ISBN 978 0 88150 896 3 Kemery Ricky January 29 2012 Unlock your creativity with keyhole garden The Journal Gazette Archived from the original on 2014 07 14 Retrieved March 6 2012 National Pesticide Information Center Regulation of CCA Treated Wood European Union Restrictions on Use of CCA Treated Timber Lively Ruth Sep Oct 1990 Does Pressure Treated Wood Belong in Your Garden Fine Gardening No 15 a b c Whiting David E 1991 The desert shall blossom a comprehensive guide to vegetable gardening in the Mountain West Horizon pp 41 42 ISBN 9780882904184 Retrieved March 2 2012 ISBN 0 88290 418 3 The Resurgence of Waffle Gardens Is Helping Indigenous Farmers Grow Food with Less Water The Victorian sunken gardenBibliography editBird Christopher 2001 Cubed Foot Gardening Growing Vegetables in Raised Intensive Beds Lyons Press ISBN 9781599215914 Retrieved March 2 2012 ISBN 1 58574 312 7 Linhart Rita amp Richardson Antoinette 2012 Raised Bed Gardening low cost high yield and simply done Books on Demand ISBN 978 3837018417 ISBN 978 3 8370 1841 7External links edit nbsp Media related to Raised garden beds at Wikimedia Commons The Synergistic Garden A video by Emilia Hazelip which provides practical information on how to garden with raised beds Appeal Keyhole gardening saves lives in world s most eroded land Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Raised bed gardening amp oldid 1183481663, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
