Raised Bed Gardening
Fall is the perfect time to start planning and prepping for next year’s garden. Read along to determine if raised bed gardening is right for you!
Why raised beds?
Establishing a garden can be difficult when usable space is limited or soil conditions are undesirable. Raised bed gardening is a good alternative for poor or rocky soil, heavier or clayish soil, inadequate drainage, or contaminated soil.
Raised beds built at a proper height can also make gardening more accessible for individuals with physical limitations.
Advantages of raised bed gardening:
Soil control
Growing in raised beds allows growers to control the content and structure of the soil, which helps to ensure a nutrient-rich environment for your crops. Organic matter will improve drainage and may increase crop yields.
We recommend a soil and compost mix, with a ratio of roughly 70% soil to 30% well-aged compost.
Warmer soil in the spring
A garden bed above ground level typically will warm up much quicker than the ground in the spring due to better soil structure and drainage. Warmer soil that drains well allows for faster transplant growth.
Weed control
Pesky perennial weeds are often less prevalent in raised bed gardening than in other gardens. Due to raised garden beds having loose soil, it is easier to hand-pull weeds.
What Nourse Farms products will benefit from being in raised beds?
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Currants
- Gooseberries
- Horseradish
- Elderberries
- Rhubarb
We do NOT recommend planting asparagus in raised beds.
