Block Planting for Vegetables

Block gardens save space.

The term block gardening may refer either to close-row planting or planting vegetables in an elevated cinder-block construction. The former increases the potential yield from a given small space by using a compact design that requires no walkways. The latter also saves space by moving the garden effort upward instead of outward. Cinder block vegetable gardens benefit from the elevation because they offer better drainage too.

History

The history of raised gardens spans the ages, starting with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, where plants grew on different levels to create striking visual effects. The use of cinder blocks in gardens, however, began when Francis Straub invented them in 1917 as a durable, fire-resistant material for foundations and walls. Frugal homeowners looking for ways to border a garden or build an off-ground plot started using leftover blocks from other projects--people still do so today because it is simple, efficient and practical.

Features

Cinder block gardens produce an inexpensive and long-lasting border that's easily stacked. Some people install the blocks on their sides and only use them around the garden's edge to keep grass out. Others lay the blocks on top of each other until they reach the desired height, then fill in the middle with soil. The holes in cinder blocks provide even more space for growing vegetables.

Inside the cinder block foundation, some gardeners apply "block gardening" methods to improve the use of space. Think of the garden surface as a grid of interconnected squares. Each square holds one type of vegetable, planted toward the edge of the square, following the shape all the way around the border. This leaves the center of each square open for thinning out and transplanting seedlings.

Considerations

Fruiting vegetables need more light than root crops--at least six hours a day. So find a spot in your yard for the cinder block garden that provides enough light for your chosen vegetables. Make sure to put some small pebbles or sand in the bottom of the garden for good drainage.

For a successful block gardening pattern inside the cinder structure, keep each bed no larger than 3 to 4 feet wide, so each bed is easily accessible for sowing, harvesting and weeding. As some of the vegetables mature, replace them with new seeds or seedlings to extend the growing season to the fullest.

Benefits

Vegetables growing closely together deter weed growth because of the shade cast under their leaves. The proximity also attracts pollinators that in turn improve your garden's yield. Additionally, a raised-bed cinder block garden reduces the amount of bending and kneeling when tending the garden.

Care

Pay close attention to soil moisture in the block vegetable garden. Avoid over-watering and soggy soil conditions as those increase the spread of disease and harm root systems. Once seedlings have at least two leaves above the soil line, thin them out into the central area, leaving enough space for mature growth. Weed and harvest when the vegetables mature.

References

• Colorado State University Extension: Block Style Layout in Raised Bed Vegetable Gardens
• University of Missouri Extension: Raised Bed Gardening
• The Dollar Stretcher: Micro Gardening
• Texas A&M building a Raised Plant Bed