Congratulations on buying your new Garden Bed!
Raised beds are a great way to grow fresh herbs and vegetables, have some fun, and a little bit of physical activities. We want you to succeed in gardening! If you have little or no experience, five easy steps will help you get started:
Step 1. Choose the right location
Vegetables need plenty of sunlight to grow. Chose a flat surface that gets 6–8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Grass or dirt are ideal as a base for your bed, as it drains easily and allows roots to grow freely. Avoid planting near trees as they’ll compete for nutrients in the soil. Easy access to a tap or hose is also desirable.
Step 2. Prepare the place
Mark off the location of the bed, and remove any grass with a shovel or edger. Alternatively, mow the grass until it’s very short. Place the raised garden bed on top and cover the base with cardboard. Make sure it doesn’t have any plastic tape, staples or colour printing (paints may be unsafe for environment). If you don’t have cardboard, use a layer of mulch or old leaves. This will suppress weeds, but still allow beneficial worms and air access the bed.
Step 3. Add soil
Soil quality is a key for success. Two main things to consider: pH factor (acidity), and the amount of nutrients. We’ve tested the soil we supply for both. It offers optimal pH (from 6.0 to 6.5), and amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash sufficient for the majority of herbs and vegetables. So, it is a versatile, ready to use solution, with no additions required. Supplied in 25 litres bags.
If you want to use your own soil, refer the table below to identify how much you need:
|
|
2 ft |
4 ft |
6 ft |
8 ft |
|
2 ft |
50 liters = 2 bags |
100 liters = 4 bags |
150 liters = 6 bags |
200 liters = 8 bags |
|
4 ft |
100 liters = 4 bags |
200 liters = 8 bags |
300 liters = 12 bags |
400 liters = 16 bags |
These numbers are for a rectangular standard height bed (5.5 inches high). If you have double height bed (11 inches) multiply the numbers by 2, for extra high bed (16.5 inches) multiply by 3. For example, a 2x6 feet double height bed requires 150*2=300 liters or 12 bags of soil. If you have L-shaped or U-shaped bed, just split it imaginary to a set of rectangular beds, calculate quantity for each, and sum up to get the total.
Once your bed is full, level the soil, and leave about 1–2 inches at the top for mulching.
Step 4. Plant
Choose easy-to-grow herbs and vegetables with high yields like cucumbers, zucchinis, beans, peas, lattice. Make sure to follow the planting instructions on the seed package. It is especially important to space plants properly. Germination can take 1–2 weeks, but if you want a quicker harvest, buy seedlings which are already established - this is especially true for tomatoes or peppers. Keep in mind that carrots, potatoes and other root vegetables require deep soil, which makes them unsuitable for standard (5.5 inch high) garden beds. You can buy some seeds in our store - we offer a core assortment from a leading Canadian producer. Click here for details.
If you purchased a Garden bed from us, you should get a credit, which you can use to buy seeds (one square foot of the bed = $1, so if you buy three 4x4 ft beds the credit will be 4*4=16*3=$48). Click for details here.
Step 5. Mulch the bed
Once your plants sprout and get stronger, mulch the garden bed with at 1–2 inches of shredded leaves, mulch or grass clippings (without seeds). This will trap moisture, suppress weeds, and add beneficial nutrients to the soil. Make sure you keep the mulch away from the plant stem. This can hinder growth and cause rot or diseases.
At the very beginning, your small garden requires every-day attention. These simple routines take just couple of minutes, but will be greatly appreciated by your nurslings:
Watering
Water your garden with a hose or watering can once or twice a day in a hot sunny summer. Do this in the morning or in the evening to minimize evaporation. When your seedlings are established, water every few days. Try to water at the base of the plant to avoid leaf diseases. If it rains heavily, stop watering until the soil is dry again. However, if you stick your finger 1–2 inches into the soil and discover that it’s still dry, water as usual.
Cold weather
Be aware of upcoming weather conditions. Sometimes outside temperatures can fall below 5 degrees Celsius (especially in May’s nights). This can be dangerous for zucchinis, cucumbers and other warm-loving spices. To protect the plants, cover them with transparent plastic or glass containers (that will preserve warm air around), and don’t forget to remove the covers after night, otherwise the sun can burn the plants.
Weeding
When you plant densely and mulch well, you won’t get many weeds. However, their seeds can fall onto your bed and germinate. When this happens, use a trowel to dig out the entire root and dispose of it.
Pest control
To control pests like aphids and caterpillars, pick them off manually or use an organic pest spray. This can be made at home (for example, mix one part of 5% vinegar with three parts of water and few drops of soap) or bought at your local garden center. Spray in the evenings as insects tend to be active at night. You can also try companion planting, such as growing marigolds near tomatoes to keep hornworms at bay.
Control rabbits, squirrels and other animals
If your garden attracts rabbits, squirrels or even deer, your best defence is a barrier, such as a wire mesh or a chicken wire. You can buy this from your local hardware store, and wrap it over your bed. For your convenience, garden bed posts can be prolonged to up to 24 inches above the bed top, so it will be easy to attach the mesh. The posts extension should be ordered with the bed.
Lastly, couple more general Bed care advises:
Your garden bed is made or western red cedar wood which is naturally rot resistant, very durable, and, in fact, doesn’t require any ongoing maintenance.
- Overtime, and as result of different weather conditions, bed will change the color, and boards can crack. That is absolutely normal until the bed is stable and can retain soil. To preserve the look, you can use natural oils (like linseed). Make sure the oil you use is approved for indirect food contact.
- During the season, make sure your plants have supports and enough room. Remove diseased leaves and add soil if necessary (it settles over time).
- When the season is over, remove all spent plants and cover the soil with a layer of mulch.
Let us know in case of any questions: help@ottawagardenbeds.ca
Happy gardening!