What Kind of Soil Should I Use for a Raised Bed Garden?

A raised garden bed provides a controlled soil environment for vegetable growth.

Raised bed gardens give gardeners complete control over soil conditions, making this garden type a great choice for gardeners with infertile or unworkable native soil.

Types

Since the main purpose of the raised bed is to provide a growing environment better than the native soil, rich soil mixtures are a common choice for raised bed gardeners. Plants and vegetables will grow well in full compost, a mixture of compost and manure, or a combination of compost, manure and garden soil.

Quantity

Raised garden beds should be at least 12 inches high to allow for root growth, and the soil mixture should fill the bed to within 2 inches of the top of the bed. For a raised bed 1 foot tall, provide about 1 cubic foot of soil for each square foot of your raised garden.

Considerations

A layer of mulch on top of the soil will help contain moisture. The structure of a raised bed also allows for greater warmth, which can extend the beginning and end of the growing season.

References

• The Gardener's Network: Raised Garden Beds
• Mother Earth News: Beginner's Guide to Fertile Soil and Raised Garden Beds