Raised Bed Gardening

With raised bed gardening, you plant in a bed that has built-up sides and a bottom that’s open to the ground below. The information that follows pertains specifically to raised beds. However, some in-ground gardening techniques, such as the Square Foot and Lasagna methods, also work with raised beds.

Raised Bed Gardening

Raised bed gardening is one of the hottest styles of gardening right now. The reason? It looks stylish in your yard, it’s easy on your knees and back, and it’s easier to care for the soil and control the weeds. You can choose any style of raised bed garden you’d like, and you can grow almost any vegetable in the raised bed.

The only downside to raised bed gardening is it does require a place to put a bed. This style of gardening works well in both small and large yards, but you need to have at least a little outdoor growing space.

Core Gardening

Are you someone who doesn’t have time to garden, but you have space and you’d love to grow as much food as possible? Then this method could be perfect for you. Any crop you would typically grow in a raised bed garden will work with this gardening method.

Begin with a raised bed and add quality soil and compost. In the middle of the bed, dig a trench and add large amounts of straw down the center. Cover the trench with the straw (which is your core) and plant over it. Water deeply at the start to “charge your core.” As the core absorbs the water, you can water less frequently. It works like a giant sponge, releasing water over time and allowing your plants to thrive with less frequent waterings.

Other Options

You can also grow food in containers and in the ground. And you can come learn about gardening at the CGC!