Whether you are short on garden space, have hard and rocky soil or simply prefer to grow vegetables in a raised bed, building a vegetable garden box allows you to grow more plants in less space. Homemade garden boxes, often made of wood, make tending plants simpler, as plants are generally grown closely and choke out weeds. A garden bed above the soil allows you to amend the soil for optimum drainage and to locate the box in a sunny location. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
- 1
Purchase four sections of 2 inch by 6 inch lumber for each garden bed. Any lumber will do, but avoid pressure-treated wood, as the chemicals used to treat the wood may leach into the soil and contaminate your vegetables. Lumber comes in a variety of lengths and can be cut to any length you desire. Many raised beds are constructed with two 6- or 8-foot sides and two 4-foot sides, but they can be any size you wish. Beds that are 4 feet wide make it easy to reach the center of the bed from either side.
2Purchase two sets of anchor joints designed to join 2 inch by 6 inch lumber for each bed you build (See resources). Many anchor joints can be stacked, allowing you to create a deeper bed by simply stacking the joints and adding the appropriate lumber. If you want to make a 12-inch bed, double the amount of lumber and anchor joints.
3Measure the area you plan to place your vegetable box and mark the corners with a stake. Anchor one of the anchor joints into the soil at one of the marked corners. Slide the lumber into the slot on the anchor joint. Insert the second joint into the soil at the next marked corner and insert the lumber into the slot. Repeat until you have completed the bed. If you are adding a second layer, put the joints and lumber on top of the first layer.
4Fill with soil and add seedlings or plant seeds directly in the soil. Water thoroughly and keep the soil evenly moist. Raised beds require more frequent watering than traditional gardens, as the soil dries out more quickly.
