- Lay out the raised bed in spring
- Maintain the raised bed in the spring
- When can the raised bed be planted in spring?
- Which plants go in the raised bed in spring?
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With good planning, a raised bed can be used all year round. There are even some vegetables that can be harvested in winter. In the following you will find out what the raised bed is planted with in spring and how you can best prepare your raised bed for the start of the season.
If you use a cold frame attachment, you can sow and plant earlier
Lay out the raised bed in spring
Raised compost beds are best planted in the fall to give them time to sink over the winter. In the spring they are then filled with soil. Raised beds that are only filled with soil can also be created in spring just before sowing. Instructions for creating a raised bed and all the important information can be found here.
Maintain the raised bed in the spring
As already mentioned, raised compost beds are filled with soil in the spring. Then you can start sowing straight away. If you still have plants from the previous year, you should harvest them (e.g. chicory) or chop them up and mix them in.
When can the raised bed be planted in spring?
The ice saints are mostly used as a reference date for the start of sowing. It is very unlikely that there will be another freeze after mid-May, so young plants and seeds are safe. However, the season on your raised bed can start earlier if you protect the plants appropriately, e.g. using a cold frame attachment or frost protection foil.
Which plants go in the raised bed in spring?
Most plants are planted in spring and harvested in summer. Therefore, in the case of the layered raised bed, the season plays less of a role than the crop rotation when choosing the plants: a cycle of three to four years must be observed, which provides for a change from heavily consuming to medium-consuming to lightly consuming plants.
In the first year, heavy feeders such as cabbage, cucumbers, courgettes, radishes and tomatoes are grown. Here is the full list of heavy-duty raised bed plants.
In the second year, mostly medium feeders are planted, since heavy feeders would thrive poorly due to the lower nutrients. These include, for example, fennel, onions, broad beans, carrots and various herbs. A comprehensive list can be found here.
In the third year, priority should be given to planting weak feeders such as peas, lettuce and cress. The fourth year can be used as a rest year and for the cultivation of green manure.