Planning the Layout for a Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

As with any task you undertake having a well laid out plan is imperative to its success. When Planning the Layout for a Raised Bed Vegetable Garden there are many factors to consider. Let's take a look at what you should keep in mind while planning your raised bed vegetable garden so that you may begin to grow your own vegetables this season.

Where to Place Your Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

Keep in mind that most vegetables that you plant will need at least 6 hours of sunlight. Choose a location in your yard that can meet this need. Paths around the raised bed can be as narrow as a foot wide. Your raised bed vegetable garden can be placed on the edges of your yard so you can maintain more free space. Putting your raised bed on level ground is also recommended.

You will also want to make sure that you have an available water source handy just in case Mother Nature doesn't produce enough rain to give your vegetable garden the moisture it needs for crop production. The area you choose to place your raised bed garden should have the ability to drain well too.

What Vegetables to Plant in Your Raised Bed Garden

Now that you know where you will place your raised bed vegetable garden it is time to decide what kind of vegetables that you want to grow. You are the best resource for knowing what your family likes. Get them involved in making the choices so that this truly becomes a family bonding activity.

Make a list of the vegetable seeds or live plants that each of you prefer. Decide on the quantity of each type of vegetable that you would like to grow. This will help in determining the size of your raised bed vegetable garden.

Also make sure you do a little research on which plants grow well together and how much room the plants need when they reach full maturity. This is another factor to consider when deciding on the size of your raised bed.

Determine the Type of Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

Raised bed vegetable gardens come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The type of raised bed garden is both a matter of personal preference and the availability of the space that you have in your yard.

Raised bed gardens can be made for planting either vegetables or flowers. These garden beds are not only functional but add an aesthetic value to your landscape. The beds may be filled with a variety of plants based on your individual taste. For our purpose here, the topic we are talking about is which vegetables you would like to grow.

Some people choose to build their own raised beds. If you don't have the means of creating your own raised bed garden don't worry, there are raised bed garden kits that come with the materials you need to begin.

One type of raised bed garden kit is rectangular in shape. The vegetables you plant will be placed in rows similar to a traditional garden however there is a lot less maintenance in a raised bed garden. It is easy to walk around this garden bed and the crops you will harvest are just a reach away.

Another type is a Curved Raised Bed Garden Kit. This circular raised bed will become a focal point of your yard and would work well for running plants such as cucumbers, cantaloupe or watermelons. The installation of this kind of kit only requires a screwdriver and a mallet making it a very simple process of putting it together. The size is typically around 10.5 ft. so it doesn't take up a lot of room but will still allow ample space for your vegetables to grow.

A nice feature is that when the vegetables go out of season you may choose change up and use this raised bed as a flower garden in the fall. This type of raised bed garden kit also works well for planting around a tree. So you may choose to get more than one curved raised bed garden kit for your different gardening needs.

Laying Out the Raised Bed Garden

Now that you have the background information it is time to layout your vegetable garden in the raised bed. You will need stakes and string to measure out the workable space for your raised bed garden.

You should leave enough room to be able to walk around the outside of the garden bed once it is in place. You want the area to be wide and long enough for your plants to have space to grow but only enough width so that you are able to reach across to the center of the bed so you don't have to walk in the middle of the garden. This will make tending and harvesting of your vegetables much easier.

Leave about 12 inches between the vegetable plants or seeds that you add to the garden bed so that adequate space is left for growth. Refer to the list of vegetables you chose and the ones that grow well together when you begin to plant your vegetables.

Remember to have an available water source to keep your vegetables well hydrated in the garden bed. Tending to your plants should be a breeze in your newly planted raised bed garden.

Planning the Layout for a Raised Bed Vegetable Garden will make growing your own vegetables so much easier. Soon you will be harvesting your luscious crops and will be enjoying the fruits of your labor. Raised bed gardening is truly a rewarding experience. What a healthy family activity to participate in. Isn't it about time for you to get started?