Build a Garden Box

Darin Engh, Studio 5 Gardening Contributor shows how to put one together and shares some ideas on what to plant in them.


Where soil is poor or space is limited, raised beds offer the perfect growing ground. Fill them with organically amended, well-draining soil, and your crops will thrive. Soil in raised beds warms quickly in spring, so planting can be done earlier. And because the soil remains loose, it’s easier for roots to penetrate. Enclose raised beds with lumber, dry-stacked rocks, flagstones, bricks, or interlocking concrete blocks.

French-Intensive Garden

This bed is closely planted in a 4’x4′ designed for tending from the perimeter.

Plant List

• Strawberries

• Peas

• Lettuce

• Arugula

• Turnips

• Carrots

• Spinach

• Garlic

• Onions

Basic Raised Bed

1. The Frame – 4’x4′ or 8’x4′ (ample, but workable from all sides when planted); built of cedar or redwood

2. Essential Underlay – Mesh hardware cloth lining the bottom keeps out gophers and other burrowing pests.

3. Add-ons – hoops for holding bird netting or row covers are made from PVC pipes

Tips

• Give it Structure: A high-visibility veggie garden (in a front yard or near a patio) needs to look tidy all year.

• Plant for Looks: Incorporate edibles that last more than one season, they’ll carry the show after your annual crops fade. Arrange smaller crops in rows by color and type.

Plot Ideas – Pick a plot the fits your needs

• Salad Plot

• The Omega Plot

• The Antioxidants Plot

• Stir-fry Plot

• Melon Plot

• Herb Plot

• Soup Plot

• Pumpkin Plot


For more information, you can visit Darin at Engh Gardens in Sandy or online at www.enghgardens.com

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