How to Make a Raised Bed Fall Vegetable Garden

Control the high cost of groceries by planting a fall vegetable garden in raised beds. Vegetables grown in the fall, such as beans and squash, take up less space if trained to grow on supports. One or two raised beds in your backyard will supply herbs and fresh produce that can reduce visits to the grocery store.

Things You'll Need

• Landscape timbers
• Soil mix
• Compost
• Plants
• Fertilizer
• Trellis
• Cane poles (for teepees)

Instructions

1. Prepare an area that will receive full sun for at least 5 or 6 hours a day. Assemble and secure landscape timbers in a 4 x 8-foot bed, 3 timbers high. This setup makes it easy to work around, especially if located near a fence or wall.

2. Remove all grass and loosen the existing soil with a shovel. Fill the bed with a high quality mixture of top soil, potting mix and compost. A granular fertilizer may be used, as well as composted manure.

3. Know your planting zone, use the guide on the seed packets or transplants, or check with your farmer's co-op for local planting dates. Warm season crops, such as cucumbers, squash and beans, may be planted in the fall. Plant the trailing plants near the rear of the raised bed, securing them to a trellis or teepees. Crops should be planted in rows going across the width of the bed for easy harvesting.

4. Plant cool weather crops from seeds, such as carrots, lettuce, spinach and mustard greens. Transplant broccoli, cabbage, cilantro, cauliflower, parsley and scallions.

5. Plant vegetables close together and protect them with mulch, such as dried grass clippings or chopped dried leaves. This will prevent weeds from growing, keep the soil moist and the vegetables clean.

Tips & Warnings

• Grow crops in succession planting, if climate allows.

• Use cedar boards that are 10 inches wide, instead of landscape timbers.

• Water regularly and check for damaging insects.