Raised Vegetable Garden

The whole concept of square foot gardens centers around the raised beds.
It is possible not to do it but not preferable.
The raised beds promote easier root establishment, better water drainage and make for easier upkeep.

I’ve had great luck with everything except one of the types of cucumbers I planted. I’ve never tasted anything like it: very bitter, even when peeled, tastes like its been injected with something bad. What could this be? Also, is there a way to make it eatable?

Hi, there,

Go here for your answer (it is to long to type here):

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/what-causes-bitter-cucumber.htm/print/

You can think of raised beds as something like oversize planters. You want a soil medium that will hold some moisture since raised beds are more exposed to drying wind and also drain much faster. Some people would use a potting mix, but regardless you need a high percentage of organic material such as compost to help hold the moisture.

Seems like only a box but I know there must be more to it.

I made them really easy by laying down six layers of newspaper, which kills the grass and weeds adding topsoil and decayed cow manure mixed up and piled on top of newspaper 5 or so inches deep top with mulch and plant away. It really works.

The raised part will be made from about 18" high of field stone formed into an oval. It will be very heavy and I’m thinking it may interfere with the septic bed somehow. Any opinions?

Septic beds are supposed to be close to the surface, so some of the liquids coming out can evaporate. That’s what I was told when mine was installed. I think you also don’t want the soil in the bed to be compacted by the extra weight. I’d never put anything but lawn over a septic field anyway. One day you’ll have to replace the field, which is enough trouble and expense in itself with also replacing your garden.

I am looking for inexpensive wood for a 3 1/2 ft by 10 ft area, that is 2ft high. I know treated wood last longer, but doesn’t it have so nasty chemicals in it?

I’ve used regular wood that is Not treated. I used the techniques from Mel Bartholomew’s prinicple of not using treated wood.

I was thinking of creating some 3ft by 5ft raised beds, but don’t know how tall to make the beds. I was planning on using 2×6’s or 2×8 boards, or should they be made higher? Just to go to the 2×8’s instead of the 2×6’s, increases the lumber price to almost double. Thanks, and any advice would be appreciated. I’m trying to make my ugly veggie garden look better and more controlled.

I had mine built with 2×6 but I had them made 4ft x 6ft. I have used them now for 5 years and love gardening this way. I have more control over the weeds and I don’t seem to get as many pests. But my favorite part about these beds is the fact that I can actually plant at least one month before everyone else does because if I watch the weather report I know if I need to go out and cover the beds with plastic over night. These beds protect your seedlings from the wind too. I keep sheets of plastic like a paint drop cloth rolled up at the end of each bed if I need to cover I just pull the plastic over the bed and secure it with dirt or rocks. I doubt I will ever garden any other way again.
Hope this helps. Enjoy

12 inches of rain in the last 10 days – the soil is waterlogged and the vegetables limp and windblown with most leaves blown off and blossoms blown off. Is there any way to save – beans, onions (seem Ok) squash, cucumbers and peppers.

I also do raised bed gardening and I do it in part to help survival of veggies during times of heavy rain.

If you have good drainage in them, then they should survive. If it really got that waterlogged and isn’t draining out or drying out quickly between raining episodes then your drainage probably isn’t good.

If your raised beds are made of wood, you can drill drain holes about halfway up in the sides and it may help. If it is too late, then you should install drainage before you replant.

Beans have shallow roots,by the way, so they may recover more quickly as the surface dries out.

The garden is not walled and there is little grass in the area. Before re-seeding we would like to level it off.

Hard labor

Can you tell me how big my raised garden would have to be to have watermelons, cantaloupes, and honey dew in it?

The carrot, tomatoes, and peppers were all going together.

Then in another raised garden, sweet corn, cucumbers and cilantro. How big should this one be?

Are these good combos?

Watermelons and Cantaloupes need to be planted in separate plots and they will cross-pollinate, honey dew will also, they will also mix with cucumbers, separate them by at least 10 or 15 feet.