In the first year, the raised bed is full of nutrients and strength. This means that mainly heavy feeders will be planted this year. You can find out what these are and when what is planted below.
Cabbage is a heavy feeder and should be grown in the first year
What are heavy feeders?
Heavy consumers are plants that need a lot of nutrients for their growth and the development of fruit, such as all types of cabbage. Since they exhaust the soil so much, heavy feeders are only planted in horticulture every three years. In the raised bed, they come into their own in the first year.
For the raised bed, the following heavy feeders are suitable for cultivation in the first year:
| heavy feeder | preference under glass | Outdoor sowing | harvest time |
|---|---|---|---|
| artichoke | March to April | April to August | July to November, January to March |
| eggplants | February to April | May | July to September |
| cauliflower | February to June | May to June | June to October |
| broccoli | March to June | May to June | June to October |
| Chinese cabbage | May to June | June to July | September to October |
| strawberries | April to May or August to September | June to October | |
| cucumbers | February to May | mid-May to late June | June to October |
| Kale | early April to late July | July | October to March |
| carrots | March to June | July to November | |
| potatoes | March to April | April to June | July to September |
| Kohlrabi | March to June | June to October | |
| pumpkin | April to May | May to June | late June to October |
| leek | March to May | June | September to the end of January |
| Corn | Mid March to April | May to June | mid-June to mid-October |
| chard | April to August | July to October | |
| paprika | January to April | July to October | |
| radish | April to September | May until October | |
| radish | March to August | May to November | |
| rhubarb | April to May | September to December | April to August |
| Brussels sprouts | April to May | October to March | |
| Beetroot | April to June | August to November | |
| Red cabbage | March to May | June to November | |
| celery | February to April | May | September to October |
| spinach | March to April or August to September | March, May to June or October | |
| tomatoes | January to April | July to mid-October | |
| White cabbage & Savoy cabbage | March to May | June to November | |
| zucchini | April to May | mid-May to June | June to October |
Here you will find the complete sowing and harvesting calendar from Gartenjournal.
Caring for the raised bed properly
Heavy feeders need a lot of nutrients. If you have layered your raised bed, it is sufficiently supplied with nutrients so that you do not have to fertilize. Otherwise you should fertilize as described here. However, the heavily consuming plants also need a lot of water. Tomatoes and pumpkins, for example, are particularly water-requiring. It is therefore essential to ensure that you have an adequate water supply, especially on hot summer days. Water in the morning and/or evening when the raised bed is in the shade to avoid evaporation. You can find out more about care here.
tips
Find out in this article which plants come to the raised bed in the second year.