Raised garden beds are an excellent way to grow edible plants in an environment that you control. If your existing garden soil is not conducive to growing healthy plants, a raised garden may be the solution. A raised garden bed allows you to add high-quality garden soil that can be monitored as time goes on. There are plenty of other benefits to creating a raised garden bed:
- Protecting plants from animals and pests
- Saving the soil from compaction through walking
- Better drainage by putting the plants at a height
- Making greater use of your vacant garden space
- Taking pressure off your back when gardening
Creating a raised garden is an exciting and rewarding experience. All Green Nursery & Garden Centre is happy to help you foster your new project. Read on to learn everything you need to know about growing herbs and veggies in a raised garden bed.
If you have a raised garden bed or are in the process of building one, then All Green can help. Our range of veggie garden plants will fit right in. Visit us in-store to browse our selection and chat with our expert horticulturists on how to get the best growth possible.
1. Selecting your raised planted box
Raised planter boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can buy them premade, or you can make your own from sleepers and stakes. If you're looking for the best wood for raised garden beds in Australia, look no further than All Green's selection of sleepers.
It's up to you to choose how long your raised planter box will be. In terms of width, it's best to aim for around 120cm wide. This width will allow you to plant around the box without standing on it and compact the soil.
2. Positioning your raised vegetable garden
Raised vegetable gardens can be positioned atop any surface, from concrete to grass. But it's important to note that some positions will be better than others. Here are some essential tips to keep in mind when choosing a place in your yard for your raised garden bed:
- Edible plants usually like between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day
- Raised garden beds need ready access to water sources for watering
- In the case of a yard position, it is important to weed the ground below your garden bed before you plant
- If you want to grow climbing plants, you'll probably need some lattice or some other framework behind the bed
In short, the position for your raised vegetable garden needs to be accessible around the clock. Obstructed or poorly lit areas will not produce healthy plants.
3. Introducing soil to your raised garden bed
Filling your raised garden bed with the suitable material is an essential step before you can get planting. As a rule of thumb, you should allow 30 to 40cm of healthy soil for plants to thrive. If your raised planted box is deeper, you can fill the initial layer with planter box soil. Ensure that you leave 10cm from the top of the box to allow space for mulch.
If you want to give your plants the best possible start at life, you need to provide them with 3 things in order:
- Rich, fertile soil, like our premium veggie garden soil
- Compost that is either homemade or purchased from All Green
- Mulch made from brown material, like bamboo or woodchips
For root vegetables — like potatoes, beets, and carrots — super fertile soil is not necessary. They are hardy plants and will thrive best without too much fertiliser.
4. Adding plants to your raised vegetable garden
Like all kinds of gardening, correct timing and spacing when planning to fill your raised vegetable garden are critical. Here are some key points to consider before you start putting plants in the earth:
- Diversify — don't create gluts of produce by planting too much of one thing
- Stagger — begin by planting some edibles and then planting others in a few weeks
- Space — follow spacing directions for each plant to ensure that everything can grow to full size
- Position — don't let tall-growing plants overshadow plants lower to the ground
What to plant in your raised garden bed throughout the year
At All Green, we will always recommend planting by season. Here's what to grow in your raised planter box in each season of the year:
- Summer: chillies, chives, beans, capsicum
- Autumn: beets, turnips, thyme, marjoram
- Winter: leeks, shallots, parsnips, peas
- Spring: pumpkin, potato, garlic, lettuce
