How to Plant a Raised Vegetable Garden

Raised garden beds are an excellent gardening method for small gardens, family garden plots and basic vegetable planting. Because the beds are raised, the soil warms up more quickly in the spring, allowing for earlier planting. It is also easier to add to the soil and manage the day-to-day aspects of gardening with raised beds. Produce yields are often higher than regular flat garden plots because of the superior soil conditions. Here's how to plant a raised vegetable garden.

Instructions

1. Work the soil in your raised garden. Remove weeds and refuse from the previous year's garden. Turn over the soil by hand or with a small tiller. Add additional topsoil if needed to fill and mound the beds.

2. Add organic matter, such as well-composted organic matter or composted manure, to the raised garden. Incorporate this with the existing soil, mixing it in well.

3. Choose vegetable types and amounts to grow in your raised vegetable garden. An average family of four will need about 10 to 15 tomato plants, one to three squash and pumpkin plants, 10 to 15 broccoli plants and the same number of cabbages and potatoes, as well as a 10- to 15-foot row for each of the following: lettuce, beans, peas and corn.

4. Plan your vegetable garden layout. Taller plants should be seeded where they won't cast shade on the smaller plants, and vining plants will need plenty of room. Decide where all your plants will go in the garden.

5. Plant your seedlings or seeds according to your planned layout. Water them thoroughly after planting and water them in-between rains when the garden beds dry out.

6. Mulch around the plants to cut down on weeds, keep moisture in the soil and keep the roots cool even in the heat.

Tips & Warnings

• Read about companion gardening to learn which plants should be planted in the same beds, and which need some distance between them.

• Don't add un-composted (fresh) animal manure to your garden in the spring, as the off-gases may harm plant growth.

Resources

• Gurney's seed and nursery company
• Henry Field's seed and nursery store