CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With our short growing season here in Northeast Ohio, the first step in planning a vegetable garden is to find the outdoor space with the most sun. The next step is to figure out how to get water to that spot. You’ll probably get most of the water you need from the sky (one of the great things about living here!), but there may be a dry spell during the summer when you will need to water by hand. Using a watering can gets old fast, so a sunny spot that can be reached with a hose is best.
I have a sunny spot that also happens to be on relatively flat, well-drained ground, so I have installed a few raised beds with wood frames. I also have several containers on rougher terrain and on a patio area. I’ve found that one of the drawbacks of raised bed and container gardening turns out to be a benefit in Northeast Ohio: because they are above ground, the soil in raised beds and containers is warmer and dries out more quickly.
After moving halfway across the country, I didn’t have the energy to build raised beds, so my first growing season here, I tried raised mound gardening. I smothered the lawn in my sunny spot, and then added compost on top of it to create rows for vegetable plants. Spoiler alert: it did not work. With all the summer downpours, the raised mounds washed away, taking my vegetable plants along with them. Because there was no raised bed frame, the plants were also a convenient buffet for the local rabbits and chipmunks.
See Susan’s earlier columns: How to start tomato seedlings indoors to get a jump on your spring gardening
Should you kill your grass to make way for native plants?
The next season, we built raised beds. Using dog-eared cedar fence pickets, which are relatively cheap and weather resistant, we made frames that are about 3 feet by 6 feet in area and 11 inches high. Before staking them into the ground, we put down hardware cloth around the perimeter to deter our burrowing woodland friends. After two full growing seasons, the beds are still in great shape and have weathered nicely.
There are about as many raised bed configurations as there are gardeners, and I invite you to email me with your success stories—and failures too! You can reach me at sbrownstein216@gmail.com.
Here are some pros and cons for various raised bed options:
Wood frames built by hand
Tips: Use rot-resistant wood such as cedar or redwood. No need to paint or stain them. Pros: Can customize the size and shape. Cheaper and more durable than kits. Cons: Need time, tools, and skills to construct them.
Raised bed kits from composite or wood material
Tips: If you’re just getting started, this is a great way to try vegetable gardening. Pros: Easy set-up. Elevated options are great for people with limited mobility. Cons: Expensive. Cheaper options may be flimsy and only last a couple of growing seasons.
Tips: Containers dry out quickly, so choose plants such as woody herbs and peppers that can handle some dryness and warmth, and use the largest containers that work for your space and budget. Pros: Almost endless options for upcycling buckets and other vessels to use as containers—make sure to use food-safe materials and drill drainage holes. Portable and can be placed on almost any surface. Easier to defend against critters (except deer). Cons: Plants get overcrowded quickly.
Tips: Use weed-free straw! Pros: Inexpensive, easy set-up. Nutrient-rich for the plants as the straw breaks down. Cons: Last for one season at best. Not the most attractive option.
Found materials such as bricks and stones
Tips: Porous materials such as concrete can leach toxins into the soil, so if in doubt, use something else. Pros: Can be very cheap or free. Absorbs warmth during the day, which can help extend the growing season. Cons: Difficult to set up. Border takes up more room than a wood or plastic frame so not good for small spaces. Can be knocked down accidentally.
Gardening tools
Plants and planters
Soil and seeds
Gloves
Fences
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March 29, 2022 at 08:30PM
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What type of raised bed garden is best? - cleveland.com
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