TIPS FOR GROWING IN A RAISED BED GARDEN

Raised beds are a favorite of mine and many gardeners, allowing you to create the ideal growing conditions. When planting them, you can more easily control the soil composition and bed size. They also heat up faster than ground soil, allowing you to start planting sooner. You may have to water them more than in-ground beds, because they drain so efficiently. Here are my steps for growing a productive raised bed garden.

Measure

Measure out a space in your garden that will give your plants enough sun. The length of your beds depends on the space you have, but the width should be narrow enough that you can weed and reach plants without disturbing the soil. Each bed should be about a foot deep to allow plants to root fully in the bed as they mature.

Build or Buy

If you have the space to build your own, raised beds can be constructed with a strong wood that will resist decay, such as cedar or locust. However, avoid pressure-treated boards, which are preserved with chemicals that could leak into the soil and your crop. You can also buy raised bed kits that are easily assembled, available at your local garden center.

Fill

Fill your beds with a rich, organic soil such as Miracle-Gro Organic™ Raised Bed & Garden Soil to one to two inches from the top of the bed. This will preserve the neat appearance of your garden while providing enough nutrient-rich soil for your plants to grow successfully.

Plant

I recommend planting crops in close proximity to each other, keeping in mind their size at maturity. This will maximize your space and make it difficult for weeds to spread.

Article by Martha Stewart, as part of the Growing with Martha Stewart partnership.