My grandparents’ raised bed garden is now in its 2nd growing season. All vegetables are now grown in these five 4′ x 12′ raised beds. This is easy gardening due to reduced weeding and no rototilling. But it’s also a high density method that generates a bountiful yield of annual crops!
I wanted to share how plant spacing has worked out. This has been a fairly diverse garden with: peas, beans, onions, corn, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, spinach, lettuce, watermelon, honeydew, carrots and beets! We created a complete planting diagram. We set up a few trellises. And we used some interplanting or intercropping methods. This has created a more diverse polyculture. And has allowed us to maximize food production in a smaller space.
Extending the project even further, we planned out an edible landscaping bed that is comprised of fruit trees and berry bushes. It’s a basic food forest approach, as seen in permaculture. We have larger fruit trees for the overstory (peaches, paw paws, cherry plum & mulberry). Then there are small berry shrubs that can fix nitrogen (goumi). The comfrey is a dynamic nutrient accumulator. Next year we’ll integrate an additional layer of plants by adding a ground cover. Plant groupings like this are sometimes called fruit tree guilds. It is the start of a mini food forest!
We planned the positioning of the trees to fall mostly on the northern side of the garden beds. This will avoid shading out of the annual veggies as the backyard orchard starts to fill out. The fruiting perennials will be able to form a wind break creating a slight microclimate. This effect is called a sun trap and it can be used to create a small pocket of warmth that can boost garden productivity.
#EasyGardening #RaisedBedGardens #BackyardOrchard #CompanionPlanting #OrganicGardening
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18 Comments
the voice is always off on your vids for some reason. great content though.
When doing your tomato bed… mine is 4×4. I have one super heavy duty cage in the center and you can use the flimsly ones one the outside and tie to the center cage.
Oregon Wire Products has some heavy duty gauges.. http://oregonwireproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/cascade-green-catalog.pdf sometimes the#aquaponics shops will carry them. That's how I got mine local.
I have tomtoes out of my ears…he he
All looking great! Thanks for the update!!
Amazing growth. I have been growing in raised beds for a number of years now and love the results.
Paul
Did you find a dwarf paw paw? I would love to plant one but all the ones I've seen get too tall. Can you tell me where you bought it? Thanks 😊
keep up the good work! looks amazing!
You seem to know a lot! I have had 3 peachtrees that all got heavy leaf curl! Do you know anything organic to prevent/cure that! I've tried the hardy ones called Frost and Redhaven (probably local). BTW I love your educational videos! There is so much to learn about growing! Thank you👍
Just discovered your channel and love it! You're a great teacher, can't wait to see more.
Those are BIG babies! Your grandpa is a great gardener. You are so lucky to still have your grandparents. Thanks for posting.
I have Shenandoah and Susquehanna pawpaw I bought online! As well as two larger seedling varieties found at local nursery because I got impatient with the tiny ones and have had poor look with internet bought trees… I'm gonna do a lot of pruning to keep them in shape though… Can't wait to try a pawpaw (does anyone know were you can buy one though 'I'm impatient').
I'd try a cattle panel trellis between beds to contain sprawl, tall enough to walk under
Thank you for sharing! Very informative. please keep sharing more of the in-progress work. That's what I really learn from.
Do u remove the cardboard after the grass has died out for a raised bed? Once u have the bed box do u put the soil on top of the dead grass?
in case someone happens to read this, any idea what program he might've used to create the diagrams shown at 4:23? or perhaps something comparable? happy gardening.
Would love to see this year's garden. This garden looks like your parents were overwhelmed with vegetable production.
Very informative, Al. Just one question…. where in the world do you get mushroom compost at no cost ? The only place I have found it is at Lowe's for 5.48 per bag. No bulk sales here in central Florida. Also when you use top soil, would potting soil work just as well ?
Thanks for your efforts in bringing good videos to us.