Try This Garden

Fall is an ideal time to install your cool-season garden. Using a raised bed is a great way to cut down on maintenance, plus, it allows the gardener the opportunity to use an area of space that otherwise may not have been able to be planted. Charleston resident Jay Benson has kindly offered to demonstrate his “how tos” for planting a raised-bed garden.

There are a few considerations to think about before planting that will help ensure success:

1. Site selection: When selecting a site to place your raised bed, consider your garden’s basic needs—sun and water. Most fruiting vegetables need at least six hours of sun, so look up—make sure that there is not a tree, canopy, or structure blocking the site from the sun. You will also want to make sure that it is close to a water source. The raised bed should be level and have good drainage. Not sure about drainage? Do a perk test.

2. Construction: Once you have selected the appropriate location, you will want to construct your bed. There are many prefabricated beds that come in a wide range of sizes, materials, and colors. These are useful if you would prefer not to construct your own and are readily available through stores and online.

If you would prefer to construct your own there are many materials to choose from. Be careful when working with wood or recycled materials—check that the materials do not have harmful chemicals that can leach into soil. I have found an optimal size is about four feet by four feet. This allows access to the center of the bed from all four sides. Consider the height of the raised bed, as well. Allow for at least eight to 10 inches of soil. You may also want to consider how you will be gardening. For example, if you prefer to be seated while gardening, a standard chair height is 16 to 18 inches.

Line the bottom of your bed with a landscape cloth weed barrier. I double and even sometimes triple layer the barrier. The less weeding the better.

3. Soil: Every good garden starts with healthy soil. Ideally, you will want a nutrient-rich soil with good tilth. How much soil do you need and where do you get it? To calculate how much soil you will need just multiply length by width by height, or use the soil calculator. Here is a good soil recipe: 60 percent topsoil, 30 percent compost, 10 percent soilless growing mix. You can purchase soil by the bag at local nurseries or go to a landscape supply company that will deliver soil to your home for a fee. If you pick up yourself it is usually free. Bees Ferry Landfill has the least expensive compost, unless, of course, you make it yourself. My favorite amendment is Possum’s Flower Bed conditioner. It is organic and is a super-charge for your soil! I also use Pro-Mix for my 10 percent soilless mix.

4. Plant installation: Let’s check in with Jay Benson and his raised bed. Jay has selected vegetables and herbs that will thrive in the cool season. His selections include an assortment of greens: lettuces such as red sails, butter crunch, red velvet, oak leaf, arugula, and escarole. He also has red acre cabbage, kohlrabi, broccoli, collards, and kale. These are all heavy feeders, so they will require supplemental fertilizing. 

Jay is spacing his lettuces about six to eight inches apart. Larger vegetables such as the cabbage and broccoli require spacing of about a foot to a foot and a half.

Jay has opted to plant his herbs separately. They are not heavy feeders and do very well in containers. If your transplants are root-bound, be sure to loosen the root system by lightly “teasing the roots.” This will encourage new growth and healthy root structure.

5. Watering and fertilizing. There are many different methods to watering your bed. Soaker hoses and drip irrigation on a timer with a rain sensor make it easy. If you have rain barrels you can use a solar pump. It does not have to be complicated—the old school watering can is just fine, too. Try not to wet the foliage—it will increase the chance of pests and disease. Watering at the base of the plant at the soil-line is optimal.

I prefer to use organic fertilizers. They build your soil while feeding your plants. They also do less harm to the water table. When planting densely in a raised bed you may find the need to supplemental feed verses just relying on the soil’s nutrients. Fish emulsion and top dressing with Flower Bed Conditioner does the trick.

Most of all, enjoy your garden!

Special Thanks to Jay Benson and Tate for sharing their garden!