GMG GardenNotes #713 Block Style Layout in Raised Bed Vegetable Gardens. Block Style Garden Layout

Transcription

1 GMG GardenNtes #713 Blck Style Layut in Raised Bed Vegetable Gardens Outline: Blck style garden layut, page 1 Suggested spacing, page 2 Raised bed gardens, page 4 Cnstructin f a raised bed garden, page 5 Gardening with raised beds, page 7 Blck Style Garden Layut Blck style garden layut (als called clse-rw r wide-rw plantings) increase yields five fld cmpared t the traditinal rw-style garden layut, and 15-fld fr the smaller kitchen garden vegetables. The cmpact design reduces weeding and is ideal fr raised bed gardening. The basic technique used in clse-rw, blck planting is t eliminate unnecessary walkways by planting vegetables in rectangular-shaped beds r blcks instead f lng single rws. Fr example, plant a blck f carrts next t a blck f beets, fllwed with a blck f lettuce and s frth dwn the bed area. Plant crps with an equal-distance space between neighbring plants in bth directins. Fr example, space a carrt patch n 3-inch by 3-inch centers. It may be easier t visualize this plant layut as running rws spaced 3 inches apart acrss the bed, and thinning the carrts within the rw t 3 inches. A 24-ft lng traditinal rw f carrts will fit int a 3 ft by 2-ft bed. [Figure 1] Design the planting beds t be 3 t 4 feet wide and any desired length. This width makes it easy t reach int the grwing bed frm walkways fr planting, weeding and harvesting. Figure 1. Carrts planted n 3-inch centers Limiting ft traffic t the established walkways between planting beds reduces sil cmpactin. Design walkways t inches wide. Mulch walkways with dry grass clippings, wd chips, r ther rganic mulch

2 As the vegetable fliage grws tgether, the shade cast suppresses weed germinatin. After harvesting a rw f radishes, beets, lettuce, r spinach, replant fr cntinual summer prductin. Due t the higher plant density, blck plantings require a weed-free, fertile, well-drained sil that is rich in rganic matter. Give extra attentin t watering and frequent, light fertilizatin t nurish the dense plant ppulatin. Avid vercrwding vegetables; the reduced air circulatin can increase disease prblems. Figure 2. Kitchen garden in blck-style layut with (tp t bttm) spinach, assrted lettuce varieties) and Swiss chard. Nte that rws run acrss the fur-ft wide bed. As a rw f lettuce is harvested, it is replanted fr cntinual prductin r neighbring crps fills in the space. Figure 3. Sample layut f kitchen garden vegetables. Suggested Spacing Suggested spacing fr kitchen garden vegetables: (Start with the wider spacings, reducing spacing with experience and as sil imprves in fertility and tilth.) Beets: 4-6 by 4-6" Carrts: 2-3" by 2-3" Celery: 7-9" by 7-9" Garlic: 4-6 by 4-6" Khlrabi: 7-9" by 7-9" Leeks: 4-6 by 4-6" Lettuce, head: l0-l2 by 10-12" Lettuce, leaf: 7-9" by 7-9" Onins, bunching 2-3" by 2-3" Onins, dry: 4-6" by 4-6 Parsnips: 5-6 by 5-6" Radishes: 2-3" by 2-3" Spinach: 4-6 by 4-6 Swiss chard: 7-9 by 7-9 Turnips: 4-6 by 4-6" 713-2

3 Other vegetables suited t blck planting Cle crps (brccli, cabbage, Brussels spruts and cauliflwer) Spaced at 18 by 18-inches', r three plants acrss a 4-ft bed. Crn Always plant in a blck t facilitate pllinatin. Five rws wide is recmmended fr the best pllen shwer'' t maximize kernel set; three rws wide is minimum. Space at 12 by 24 r fur rws acrss tw, fur-ft wide beds. Eggplant Space at by inches (r tw r three plants acrss a furft wide bed). Peppers Space at 15 by 15 inches (r three plants acrss a fur-ft wide bed). Ptates Space at by inches (r three plants acrss a fur-ft wide bx). Figure 4. Sample blck-style garden Vine crps (squash, cantalupes, pumpkins, and watermelns) Place a single rw dwn the center f a 4-ft wide bx. They may als be planted in larger blcks, several rws wide. Place the winter squash and pumpkins in the center f the blck and cantalupes, watermelns, and summer squash arund the edge where they can be reached fr summer harvest. Trellis tmates and cucumbers t save space and make harvest easier. The increased air circulatin arund trellised tmates helps suppress tmat blight. Space trellised tmates a minimum f 24 inches apart dwn a single rw, in a blck tw t three feet wide. Plant cucumbers alng a trellis at 9-12 inch spacings. Beans and peas may be easier t pick and are less disease-prne if planted in single r duble rws, rather than blck style planting. Space beans 12 inches between rws and 4 inches between plants. Plant a duble rw dwn a blck 2 t 3 feet wide

4 Figure 5. Raised bed garden with chard, lettuce varieties, spinach, beets, and nins. Because even water distributin is needed fr this bed with a heavy plant ppulatin, the drip irrigatin hse is run up and dwn the bed fur times n a 12 inches spacing. The bed will be mulched with dry grass clippings t cnserve water and cntrl weeds in summer. Wd chips make an excellent mulching material fr the walkways. Raised Bed Gardening Raised bed gardens with blck style layut have many advantages, including the fllwing: Higher yields and less area t weed The blck style layut, eliminating unnecessary walkways increases yields by five-fld ver the traditinal rw-path-rw garden layut. Reduced sil cmpactin Established walkways keep ft traffic ff the grwing bed, reducing sil cmpactin. Earlier planting The raised bed facilitates better runff and drainage allwing sil t warm faster in the spring. Beds can be cvered with plastic during spring rains, allwing fr early planting even in rainy years. Frst prtectin The blck-style layut is easy t cver fr spring and fall frst prtectin. It can als be shaded in the ht summer. Sil imprvement The raised bed is a clearly defined area where the gardener can cncentrate n sil imprvement techniques, (e.g., the additin f sil rganic matter). In situatins where the sil is pr, and limits plant grwth, gd planting sil may be added t the bx. Architectural interest Raised beds becme an architectural feature f the landscape design. Accessible gardening The raised bed is ideal fr enabling persns with limited mbility t garden

5 Cnstructing a Raised Bed Garden Size A bed 4 feet wide is ideal fr mst vegetable crps, allwing the gardener t reach the entire bed frm the side withut ever stepping n the sil in the grwing bed. Length can be whatever wrks fr the space. Tmates are well suited t a bed 24 t 36 inches wide, with ne rw f plants dwn the middle. Beans and peas are easier t pick in a single r duble rw dwn a bed rather than in the blck-style planting. Here a bed 24 inches wide wuld be ideal. Depth / Height The height f the beds is generally f n cnsequence, assuming that crps can rt dwn int the sil belw the bed. Fr mst hme garden situatins, the rle f a raised bed is t define and separate the grwing bed frm the walkway. Here a fur-inch height wuld be adequate. Variatins in heights (4, 6, 8, and 10 ) amng different beds may help create an appealing landscape feature. In situatins where the sil belw is nt suitable fr crp grwth, 8 t 12 inches f sil is cnsidered minimal. Deeper beds wuld make management easier. T accmmdate gardeners with special needs, bed height may be raised t minimize bending r t allw gardening wrk frm a chair r wheelchair. Plan walkway space between beds wide enugh t accmmdate specialized equipment r mbility. Fr ease f irrigatin, beds shuld be reasnably level, bth acrss and lengthwise. Orientatin Fr frst prtectin, an east-west rientatin has a slight advantage f cllecting heat. Fr summer crp grwth, a nrth-suth rientatin has a slight advantage f sunlight n bth sides f the plant rw each day. Because there is n clear advantage, rient the beds in whatever directin wrk best fr the landscape design. Often beds are best arranged t be an appealing landscape feature f the prperty. Cnstructin materials A simple way t cnstruct a raised bed garden is t use cnstructin lumber (2 by 4s, 2 by 6s, 2 by 8s, and 2 by 10s). Untreated lumber will last fr several years, except in high salt areas r wet sites. Treated lumber will last lnger. Simply cut tw pieces the width f the bed (typically 4 feet) and tw thers t the desired bed length. Using 3½ t 4 inch decking screws, screw the crners tgether t make a fur-sided bx. Place the bx-like frame n the sil and fill. Varius landscaping timbers may als be used in like fashin. Cper treated lumber is safe fr garden bxes. Hwever, d nt use railrad ties (creste cancer cncerns) r CCA pressure treated lumber (remved frm the market several years ag due t arsenic cncerns). Brick r ther building materials may als be suitable. Raised beds may als be made withut sides. Here, rganic matter is mixed as the garden is tilled. Walkways are dug dwn with the sil thrwn up n the bed. Beds are 4 feet wide at the base and three feet wide at the tp. The entire bed is cvered with rganic mulch like dry grass clippings t prevent sil ersin and reduce cmpactin frm rain and sprinkler irrigatin. [Figure 6] 713-5

6 Figure 6. Raised bed garden withut sides. Beds are 4 feet wide at the base and t3 feet wide at the tp. Walks were dug dwn with sil placed n the beds. Adding sil In the typical garden setting where crp rts will spread dwn int the sil belw the bed, it is best t use similar sils. It may be beneficial t duble-dig the beds. In duble-digging, the tp 6 inches f sil is mved frm ne side f the bed t the ther side f the bed. Mix rganic matter int the sil belw the excavated side. Return the sil t the tp, mixing in rganic matter. Then repeat the prcess fr the ther side f the bed. When adding sil, avid creating a situatin where ne type f sil ends and anther begins. This creates a line between sil types that impedes water and air infiltratin and slws, r even stps, rt penetratin. If the sil being added t the bed is different frm the sil belw, mix sme f the tw tgether befre adding the remainder t avid a distinct line f change. In situatins where the entire rting zne will be in the raised bed, a sil n the sandy side with 4-5% rganic matter wuld be preferred. When purchasing sil, be aware that there is n legal definitin f tpsil r planting sil. Just because it is cmmercially available in bulk r sld in bags, des nt necessarily mean that it is gd fr gardening. Many bagged and bulk sils and sil amendments are prepared with cmpst made with manure and may be high in salts. Figure 7. A recently planted raised bed garden. Crn bxes t left, kitchen garden in center, strawberry patch n right, tmat patch in back with black plastic mulch. Grwing beds are mulched with grass clippings; wd chips were used between beds

7 Gardening in a Raised Bed Due t the high plant ppulatin, raised beds require better than average sils, and mre frequent irrigatin and fertilizatin. Cncentrate n imprving sils with rutine applicatins f rganic matter. Fr details n sil imprvement and fertilizatin, refer t the varius CMG GardenNtes #711, Vegetable Garden: Sil Management and Fertilizatin. Mulching Mulch beds t cntrl weeds, cnserve sil misture, and regulate sil temperatures. Grass clippings make great mulch when applied in thin layers (up t ¼ inches thick). Allw each layer t dry between applicatins. D nt use clippings frm lawns treated with weed killers r ther pesticides fr at least fur weeks after applicatin. Wd/bark chips are great fr mulching between the beds. Three t fur inches f chips will minimize the cmpactin frces f ft traffic. Hwever, d NOT mix wd/bark chips int the grwing bed, it will interfere with seedbed preparatin. Fr additinal infrmatin n mulching, refer the t the CMG GardenNtes #715, Mulches fr the Vegetable Garden. Watering a raised bed Drip irrigatin is well suited t raised bed gardening. It is rather easy and inexpensive t add a water tap at the end f each bx. Alternatively, simply mve a garden hse in turn t each bx and cnnect the drip hse. Sprinkler irrigatin is als suitable, but less desirable due t ptential disease prblems. Fr details n irrigatin, refer the CMG GardenNtes #714, Irrigating the Vegetable Garden. As a pint f clarificatin, raised bed gardening is a water cnservatin technique. It des require mre frequent irrigatin due t the higher plant density. Hwever, it is mre efficient resulting in higher yields fr the amunt f water applied cmpared t the larger areas watered in traditinal rw-walkway-rw culture. Raised beds becme even mre efficient when watered with drip irrigatin r saker hses n timers. Frst prtectin An advantage f raised bed, blck style layut is that the bed is easy t cver fr prtectin frm springs rains and frst, allwing fr early planting. Figure 8. Frst prtectin cvering adds tw t six plus weeks t the grwing seasn

8 This picture illustrates a Qunset-type cld frame cvering made f cncrete reinfrcing mesh cvered with plastic. This style f frst prtectin adds tw t six plus weeks n bth ends f the grwing seasn fr cl seasn vegetables. Any type f cvering must be pened during the day t prevent verheating. Fr details n frst prtectin techniques, refer t the CMG GardenNtes #722, Frst Prtectin and Extending the Grwing Seasn. Additinal Infrmatin CMG GardenNtes n vegetable gardening: #711 Vegetable Garden: Sil Management #718 Tmat Early Blight and Fertilizatin #719 Vegetable Garden Hints #712 Sample Vegetable Garden Seed Catalgs #720 Vegetable Planting Guide #713 Blck Style Layut in Raised Bed #721 Sample Planting fr Raised-Bed Garden Vegetable Gardens #722 Frst Prtectin and Extending the #714 Irrigating the Vegetable Garden Grwing Seasn #715 Mulches fr the Vegetable Garden #723 Grwing Vegetables in a Hbby Greenhuse #716 Water Cnservatin in the Vegetable Garden #723 Vegetable Gardening in Cntainers #717 Grwing Tmates Authrs: David Whiting (CSU Extensin, retired), Carl O Meara (CSU Extensin, Bulder Cunty), and Carl Wilsn (CSU Extensin, retired). Artwrk by David Whiting; used by permissin. Clrad Master Gardener GardenNtes are available n-line at Clrad Master Gardener training is made pssible, in part, by a grant frm the Clrad Garden Shw, Inc. Clrad State University, U.S. Department f Agriculture and Clrad cunties cperating. Extensin prgrams are available t all withut discriminatin. N endrsement f prducts mentined is intended nr is criticism implied f prducts nt mentined. Cpyright Clrad State University Extensin. All Rights Reserved. CMG GardenNtes may be reprduced, withut change r additins, fr nn-prfit educatinal use. Revised Octber