Creating a raised bed on the balcony - what you need to look out for
16.5.2017
Translation: machine translated
A raised bed in the garden is the modern form of gardening. On the one hand it looks good, on the other hand it is practical as you don't have to bend down so low. Another advantage is that a raised bed can be placed both in the garden and on the balcony.
When building your own raised bed, it is important to clarify where it will be placed. Is it going to be your balcony? Then the size of the raised bed plays an important role. The bigger, the heavier.
A raised bed on the balcony can be placed either close to the ground or on legs. The latter option has the advantage that it is not too heavy. The disadvantage is that the volume of soil in a raised table bed is much smaller and, depending on the height, perennial or deep-rooted plants must be avoided.
It is therefore essential that you first find out about the load-bearing capacity of your balcony and only then decide which raised bed is suitable. There is now a huge range of materials, shapes, colours and sizes. There is sure to be something to suit every taste.
The right "coating" for your raised bed
It doesn't matter which type of raised bed you choose, whether it's the classic or the table raised bed. The filling material is always layered from the bottom with coarse branches and twigs and becomes finer towards the top with each layer.
For a raised bed close to the ground in the garden, it is essential to lay a mouse grid before filling to protect against voles from below. A wire mesh like that used for rabbit hutches is completely sufficient.
For a raised bed that stands on the ground, simply lay a filter fleece on the ground. It replaces the soil contact and prevents soil from being washed out when it rains. So you don't have to worry about a dirty balcony.
With a raised bed on feet, it requires less material overall.
How to coat a "classic" raised bed that stands on the ground:
1st layer
Layer close to the ground approx. 25cm high
Material: branches, twigs, leaves, shrub waste, rootstocks covered with a little soil
2nd layer
Chopped material layer approx. 10-15cm high
Material: Thin branches, finely chopped wood, unprinted cardboard or cardboard (this accelerates decomposition)
3rd layer
Manure layer or coarse compost approx. 10-15cm high
Material: rotted manure. Depending on the planting, the layer can also be replaced with coarse compost
4th layer
Coarse compost, soil approx. 20cm high
Material: A mixture of coarse kitchen compost and soil makes up the following layer
5th layer
Garden soil, fill up to the edge
Material: The last layer consists of nutrient-rich soil, which is filled up to a few centimetres below the edge of the bed
Important to know: The contents of a raised bed will sink by around 10 to 20cm within a year. This means that the bed must be refilled with garden soil every spring. The lifespan of a raised bed is normally five to seven years. It does not matter whether it is a vegetable, flower or herb raised bed. The nutrient content of the soil is simply exhausted after this period. After that, all the components of the bed must be removed and the raised bed must be rebuilt from scratch.
Tip: You have different options for filling, depending on the available garden waste and the time of year. However, autumn and spring are generally the best times of year to create a raised bed, as most garden waste is produced during these periods.
The raised flower bed is a special case: unlike the raised herb and vegetable bed, you can dispense with the complex coating of the bed. Concentrate on an air-permeable layer close to the ground and then fill the bed with compost and potting soil.
Here you can find our raised beds.
How to combine vegetables and herbs correctly
The best way to plant the raised bed is with mixed crops. Mixed cultivation promotes plant growth and the resilience of the plants. Chervil, for example, keeps snails, aphids and mildew away. Beetroot likes dill and onions as neighbours. Tomatoes love being underplanted with basil, which stimulates plant growth. For more information, click here.
Careful selection of vegetable plants and herbs prevents plants from competing with each other. In a successful mixed culture, different plants thrive, which extract different amounts of nutrients from the soil depending on the species. For example, courgettes, which are strong feeders, harmonise wonderfully with onions (medium feeders) or beans (weak feeders). Beans enrich the soil with nitrogen, which in turn promotes the growth of courgettes.
Here is a brief overview of which vegetables belong to which group:
Weak eaters:
Rocket, radishes, bush beans, lamb's lettuce, herbs, cress, peas
Middle eaters:
Fennel, garlic, kohlrabi, carrots, peppers, radish, lettuce, spinach, onions, leek, chard
Strong eaters:
Cauliflower, broccoli, savoy cabbage, courgettes, cucumbers, potatoes, cabbage, melons, rhubarb, Brussels sprouts, celery, tomatoes, pumpkin, leek
As a general rule, raised beds should be planted more densely than garden beds. When planting, make sure that the different growth forms of the plants are taken into account. Plant tall-growing species in the centre so that they do not block the light from other plants. It is advisable to plant smaller or climbing plants, such as nasturtiums, at the edge of a raised bed. Incidentally, lettuce plants are very good gap fillers between individual flowers and vegetables, which thrive very well in raised beds. Due to their compact growth habit and low height, they can be planted close together and are therefore very productive. The same applies to spinach.
Of course, it is also possible to combine different types of fruit with smaller fruits such as strawberries in a mixed crop.
Herb and flower raised beds
The cultivation of herbs is just as popular as vegetables. Organic herbs can be picked fresh directly from the raised bed for daily cooking
But be careful! As some species are quite sensitive, it is particularly important to know and take into account the water and nutrient requirements of a raised bed for herbs. Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, thyme, lavender and the like tend to prefer dry conditions and low nutrient levels. While chives, dill, chervil and lovage should be watered regularly.
When planting raised beds, there are no limits to your imagination. Of course, you can also plant flowers together with herbs. Not only does it look nice, it also smells good. Ideally, I would use annual summer flowers in combination with herbs (but also with vegetables). With their bright play of colours, they are an eye-catcher on any balcony, terrace or garden! I can recommend sunflowers, for example, or the many different types of summer flowers. Why not try flowers with edible blossoms? Or buy one of the exotic-looking passion flowers and let them grow up a climbing frame in the centre of the raised bed?
Of course, you can also sow the plants yourself. Many of the vegetables, herbs and flowers can even be sown directly into the raised bed from May. As there is no problem of snails eating the freshly sprouted seedlings in raised beds, this is a very good and inexpensive way to bring your favourites to your balcony or garden.
But be careful with night frosts! Be sure to cover freshly sown and sensitive plants with a fleece overnight. There can be night frosts until mid-May, the so-called "ice saints". Check the weather forecast or set up a weather warning via one of the many apps that will inform you if there is a frost.
The other option is to buy your plants and seedlings from your nearest garden centre, specialist plant shop or wholesaler. Although this costs a little more, it saves you the work and effort of growing young plants.
Now I wish you lots of fun "filling" your raised bed. Let yourself be inspired and create your own little plant paradise!
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I discovered my love for gardening very early on and later turned my passion into my profession. For a few years now, I’ve been regularly writing blog posts and publishing articles in the HomeGardening section of myPfadFinder.com. This is where I give readers tips and tricks on gardens and balconies and present my latest gardening videos.
Find out more about me here: <a href="http://www.andreas-homegardening.com/" target="_blank">www.andreas-homegardening.com</a>
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