The allure of growing your own vegetables has never been stronger in these modern times. Whether you’re driven by the desire for fresher produce, the satisfaction of self-sufficiency, or simply the joy of getting your hands dirty; raised bed gardening offers an accessible entry point into a new organic way of living. But walk into any garden centre or browse online, and you’ll quickly discover that raised bed kits vary enormously in price, material, and quality. So where do you begin?
Why Choose a Kit?
Truth be told, constructing a raised bed on your own is not the most difficult thing in the world. It however needs tools, materials, and the confidence to build something. Kits remove most of these things. They come packaged in a box that has the components of the bed that are cut, along with fixings. A box can be done with in one hour with the aid of a screwdriver. This is also ideal for people who are procrastinating garden work and DIY work. It is not a question of whether to choose a kit. It is, which one is most appropriate for your garden and plans for growing?
Size and Height Considerations
The standard size of kits is 1.2 meters to 2.4 meters long, and 150 millimetres to 450 millimetres in height. Both Options are available depending on personal requirements or what the user intends to grow.
The shallower the beds the better, when it comes to growing salad leaves, herbs, and even strawberries. Vegetables like root and carrots, and parsnips need deeper soil, ideally more than 300mm. For the elderly or the people with back issues, gardening can be very tedious. However, taller beds can make the activity easier since less bending posture is required, thus making it a hobby rather than a chore.
Bigger is not always better, and 1.2 metre square beds prove this. These beds are easier to reach than their sprawling counterparts, thus reducing the temptation to step on thoroughly prepared soil.
Most kits that are used for beds use either brackets or panels, and some even bolts for assembly. Make sure to read some reviews, since designs that seem simple on paper can prove very difficult and even annoying when the instructions are partly not complete.
Where the bed will be used is very important. Even the smallest raised beds become quite heavy when filled with soil. Thus, it will be easier to pre-determine the place where the bed will be used. Once this has been done, it is very important to ensure that the bed is perfectly levelled. Be sure to place some landscape fabric to cover the soil underneath to suppress weeds.
The Soil Question
Something that a lot of manufacturers do not like to mention is that filling your newly acquired raised bed is very much likely to cost the same amount as the kit itself. A standard bed measuring 1.2 by 1.2 metre at a height of 300mm requires just as much as 430 litres of growing medium. This amount is equivalent to around eight to nine bags of compost that can be bought from a garden centre.
Good topsoil that is properly mixed with compost works very well, or there is the option of buying raised bed fill that is already mixed. Avoid garden soil alone; it compacts too easily when contained. This is not the place to cut corners. Your plants will only perform as well as the medium they are growing in.
Final Thoughts
Raised bed kits will, to some degree, eliminate some of the challenges that come with starting a garden. This does not, however, guarantee successful gardening. Materials that are appropriate for your budget and garden style should be chosen, and quality soil should be purchased. The rest is a matter of the basics: proper light, water, and a willingness to learn.
Begin with a single bed. Understand your capacity, as this will help you to stretch in the future. After this, you will be likely to learn more about the right materials that you can use for your garden.