I cannot imagine going into spring without a garden. Many things have changed over the years in my life, like so many of you. However, planting and growing a garden has always been a steady friend in the spring.
It's more than just growing food or a pretty flower. Gardening is a way to connect with the earth, family and friends. Sharing the excess produce from my garden is one of my favorite things about gardening. The smiles on their faces are well worth the work. By the end of the summer, there is no doubt I have filled hearts, bellies and minds with the joy of gardening.
If you don't garden, then I encourage you to start a small garden this spring. Don't go crazy and plow the whole back yard. Start small.
Choose one or two crops and create a space for your seeds to sprout. One way to accomplish this is by making a raised-bed garden - a simple project that can be completed in a weekend.
Even if you are an experienced gardener, a raised bed could allow the opportunity to expand an existing garden. I want to share the benefits and materials for making a raised bed.
n Raised beds offer a superior growing environment to sowing seeds or planting seedlings into the ground. The soil warms more quickly in raised garden beds. The warmth jump-starts the plant roots and creates stronger plants that will produce earlier in the season.
n Raised beds provide excellent soil drainage. By being higher than the surrounding grade, they allow excess water to drain away from the root zone. This improves your chances of preventing plant disease. Soil is also less likely to compact in raised beds, allowing more oxygen to reach the plant roots and decreasing the chance of soil-born fungus.
n Another reason to grow in raised beds is soil conditions. In West Virginia, we have very few places with the dark, loamy soils plants crave - made up of sand, silt and clay, a mixture that helps with drainage but still holds its shape.
Raised beds allow gardeners to determine which soil structure is best for crops. There are numerous soil recipes online, and local extension offices will have recommendations, as well.
The depth of the raised bed should be at least 12 inches off the existing grade. It's OK to make them even deeper. For older folks, I recommend a minimum of 24 inches in bed height.
There is no standard on bed length, so make them has long as you want. When it comes to width of the beds, don't make them any wider than 4 feet. You want to be able to reach into your bed without stepping in it. In my backyard, I have them ranging in width from 12 inches to 48 inches.
Raised beds can be made out of a variety of materials. The most common is wood. Osage orange, cedar, white oak and locust will last many years before they rot. If you plan to stay strictly organic in your garden, these species of wood are recommended. I have used pressure-treated lumber for some of my beds. Treated lumber will last longer, and it's cheaper than the other species, which makes it a good investment.
I know what you're thinking: Isn't treated lumber bad for your health? Depends on who you ask. Universities have done a lot of research on this in the past few years. I strongly recommend you visit extension.psu.edu/plants/crops/esi/treated-lumber and come to your own conclusion before shopping for materials.
I feel comfortable growing peppers, tomatoes and vining crops out of beds made with the newer treated lumber, which is the only thing the general public can buy after an Environmental Protection Agency ban in 2003.
Another material option is recycled plastic lumber. This choice offers superior rot resistance and can be bought in many different colors. That allows for a variety of design choices in your landscape. The plastic wood is more durable than regular wood. However, it does have a higher price tag than traditional lumber.
Concrete blocks make excellent beds and last a lifetime. They can be stacked to any height you want, and they are the cheapest and fastest way to make a raised bed. Plus, the holes in them provide extra planting space for heat-loving plants like strawberries and some herbs.
Over time, concrete products will increase soil pH. A yearly soil test will provide an accurate reading of the pH and make recommendations to overcome this issue.
Raised bed kits are another option that can provide an easy-to-assemble solution. They can be purchased online and at many stores. These kits can be pricey, but they also give your garden some style over the other materials I mentioned.
With planting season right around the corner, there is no better time than now to construct a raised bed and get cultivating. Remember to have fun and enjoy yourself while growing a garden.
Chris Postalwait is the agricultural and environmental research station and greenhouse manager for West Virginia State University Research & Development Corporation. He is also the former owner of Orange Vine LLC, a wholesale commercial pumpkin and vegetable farm in Mason County. Contact Chris at postalcm@wvstateu.edu.