Planting a raised bed: how to do it right

Garten & Pflanzen Hochbeet
Planting a raised bed: how to do it right


The most important points at a glance

  • An ELEO raised bed, such as the Manarola or Monterosso models, allows for back-friendly gardening, optimizes soil structure, and protects against soil pests, creating ideal conditions for growing vegetables and herbs.
  • Filling the raised bed correctly in several layers – from coarse material to high-quality soil – ensures effective nutrient supply, promotes root growth, and noticeably extends the growing season.
  • For sustainable yields and healthy plants, a well-thought-out planting plan is recommended, including crop rotation tailored to the nutrient needs of the vegetables and regular maintenance of the raised bed. Raised Beds.

 

Filling and Planting a Raised Bed: 5 Detailed Tips for Starting the Season

A raised bed not only allows for back-friendly gardening, but it also provides an ideal way to grow vegetables and herbs under optimal conditions: Its elevated design offers improved soil structure, an extended growing season, and optimal nutrient supply for healthy plants. Raised beds also make it more difficult for soil pests to reach the plants, thus contributing to natural pest control.

For a raised bed to remain productive in the long term, careful planning and proper maintenance are essential. This guide explains what's important when filling and setting up a raised bed. We explain how to layer a raised bed to ensure optimal nutrient supply and provide practical tips for planting. We'll also show you how a well-thought-out raised bed planting plan helps you use the available space efficiently and ensure healthy crop rotation. 1. Creating a Raised Bed – The Basics A well-planned raised bed begins with choosing the right location: Sunny spots are ideal, as most vegetable plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. A sheltered location helps retain moisture in the soil and protects the plants from toppling over. Furthermore, the raised bed should be easily accessible, and the location should offer enough space for the planned size; proximity to a water source is particularly practical. To optimally utilize sunlight, orient the raised bed north-south at your chosen location – this way, the plants won't block each other's light.

A lushly planted Monterosso metal raised bed from ELEOThe right location ensures lush growth in the raised bed. Pictured: Monterosso metal raised bed from ELEO © ELEO


The material also plays a crucial role. Wooden raised beds blend particularly harmoniously into the garden, but they require regular maintenance to prevent damage to the wood. They usually need to be replaced after a few years. Metal raised beds are particularly durable and have a modern, timeless look, while plastic versions are lighter but less environmentally friendly. Ultimately, the choice depends on your individual preferences, budget, and desired durability. Besides location and material, the dimensions of the raised bed should also be considered. A height of around 70 centimeters allows for comfortable work without significant physical strain. For ease of use, the width of the raised bed should be a maximum of 120 centimeters so that you can easily reach all areas. The length can be adjusted depending on the available space. 2. Filling the Raised Bed Correctly – Four Layers for Optimal Results For a raised bed to fully realize its advantages, the correct construction is crucial. It is recommended to work in several layers when filling the raised bed. The proven construction consists of three main layers: Bottom Layer: Coarse material such as thick branches, twigs, or tree trunks forms the base. This layer ensures good aeration, prevents waterlogging, and creates a stable base. You can also integrate larger stones here to improve drainage. Middle layer: Organic materials such as leaves, grass clippings, and shredded garden waste are used here. This mixture promotes the ideal microclimate in the raised bed. Top layer: This layer should have a significantly finer structure. It is recommended to fill the raised bed with semi-mature compost, possibly in combination with horse or cow manure. This creates a nutrient-rich soil that offers optimal growing conditions for vegetables. Finally, high-quality, fine-textured potting soil or special vegetable soil is applied above these three layers. It offers plants ideal conditions for root growth and optimal nutrient uptake.


A Manarola raised bed made of Corten steel by ELEO filled with soil
A raised bed is filled in several layers. The top layer should be about 20 to 30 cm high and consist of high-quality soil – either special raised bed soil, peat-free humus soil, or ready-made compost. Pictured: Manarola raised bed made of Corten steel by ELEO. © ELEO


Filling the raised bed in different layers has proven particularly effective: The bottom drainage layer prevents excess water from standing in the bed, while the organic intermediate layers provide long-lasting fertilization. The ongoing decomposition of the materials also generates heat, which is especially beneficial in the cooler months and extends the growing season.


3. Planting the raised bed: What goes well together?

Basically, you can plant whatever you like in your raised bed. It's important to know that vegetables and herbs have different nutrient requirements: plants are classified as heavy, medium, and light feeders. Heavy feeders include tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, and potatoes. Medium feeders include carrots, garlic, lettuce, chives, and spinach. Most herbs, peas, radishes, and arugula fall into the light feeder category. Tomatoes are a classic in raised beds. They are usually planted from May onwards, after the last frost. Image source: unsplash.com, Markus Spiske


Nutrient supply in raised beds is highest in the first year of planting, then decreases continuously. Keep this in mind when planning your raised bed and, ideally, plant mostly heavy and medium feeders in the first year, and no heavy feeders at all from the third year onwards. After that, you can add green manure or nutrient-rich substrate to your raised bed and start again. However, you must replace the soil by the seventh year at the latest.

Tips for Companion Planting

Companion planting ensures healthy plant growth in raised beds. Different species are combined in such a way that space, nutrient requirements, and root space are optimally utilized. Deep-rooted plants planted next to shallow-rooted ones prevent competition for water and nutrients, while taller varieties can offer protection to narrower plants. Furthermore, the right plant combination can reduce the risk of pests: for example, carrots and onions benefit from each other, as the onions keep away pests that might attack the carrots. Strongly scented herbs like basil also have advantages for other plant species – their intense aroma keeps pests away from tomatoes. However, not all vegetables are compatible. Therefore, we present a concise overview of the most popular vegetables for raised beds and their compatibility:

Vegetable type good neighbors bad neighbors
Beans Potatoes, kohlrabi, peas Onion family
Peas Carrots, kohlrabi, lettuce Potatoes, onions
Potatoes Beans, kohlrabi, spinach Pumpkin, Peas, onions
Kohlrabi Beans, peas, potatoes Cabbage, cucumbers, onions
Leaf Beans, peas, kohlrabi Celery
Carrots Peas, lettuce, spinach Beetroot
Spinach Beans, kohlrabi, potatoes Red Beds
Onions Beans, Kohlrabi, Potatoes Beans, Peas, Potatoes


4. Create a planting plan: Planning made easy

To ensure everything fits together as planned and you can use your space efficiently all year round, it's advantageous to create a planting plan before you finally set up your raised bed. Start planting early-maturing vegetables in March. During the main growing season, fast-growing crops follow, before a late cover crop extends the growing season into late autumn or winter. This arrangement allows you to enjoy fresh vegetables and herbs year-round. Our table will help you with your planning: Heavy feeders for pre-, main, and cover crops Table style="width: 100%; height: 140px;" width="100%"> Preculture Leaf cabbage, turnips Main culture Broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, cauliflower, basil, pumpkin Postculture Brussels sprouts, celery, white cabbage, leeks


Medium feeders for pre-, main, and post-crop conditions

Preculture Radish, spinach, lettuce, parsley
Main culture Onions, carrots, chard, dill, kohlrabi
Postculture Lamb's lettuce, chicory, endive


Light feeders for pre-, main, and post-crop conditions

Preceding crop Leaf lettuce, radishes, wild garlic
Main crop Peas, green beans, arugula
Following crop Lamb's Lettuce



5. The Right Care: How to Keep Your Raised Bed Productive for Longer

Five green watering cans side by side in the gardenRegular watering is especially important in a raised bed: Due to its exposed location, the soil dries out faster than in a normal garden bed. The best time to water is early in the morning or in the evening to minimize evaporation from the midday sun, and apply the water directly to the roots. Image source: pixabay.com, Cyrille Remacly


Plants in raised beds need plenty of water. Therefore, ensure regular watering during the gardening season, especially in the summer months.

Over time, the soil level in a raised bed will decrease due to the decomposition of organic materials. To maintain this level and ensure a sufficient supply of nutrients, it is recommended to top up the raised bed annually with high-quality compost or composted soil. Using your own compost is particularly beneficial from a sustainability perspective. By avoiding peat and utilizing garden waste, you reduce your ecological footprint and maintain soil fertility in the long term. To protect the raised bed from extreme weather conditions and support the decomposition process of the organic materials, it is advisable to cover the bed during the winter. You can also use leaves, straw, or special fleece materials that protect the bed from frost and provide natural insulation. Summary: The most important points at a glance A raised bed offers numerous advantages for gardening. However, careful planning is essential when filling and planting it. Please note the following:

  • Sunny, sheltered location:At least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day
  • North-south orientation:Optimal use of sunlight, prevents shadows under the plants
  • Raised bed dimensions:Optimal use of sunlight, prevents shadows under the plants
  • Raised bed layers:Coarse material, garden waste, compost, and soil
  • Bark mulch:Avoid bark mulch when filling the raised bed, as it can acidify the soil and deplete nitrogen
  • Create a planting plan:A planting plan helps to harvest fresh vegetables all year round
  • Nutrient and space requirements Note: Plant different plant species cleverly next to each other. Also, pay attention to the classification of plants as heavy feeders, medium feeders, and light feeders: The raised bed offers the highest nutrient content in the first year, but only a few nutrients from the third year onwards. Watering and fertilizing: Water frequently, especially in summer, ideally directly at the base of the plant. Fertilize annually. Cover the raised bed in winter. Planting a raised bed is generally not only a practical but also an extremely fulfilling project. It offers a sustainable and efficient way to work in the garden and benefit from a bountiful harvest all year round. So why wait any longer? Start now and lay the foundation for a successful gardening season!


    ELEO raised beds

    Hochbeet Monterosso Cortenstahl (unbeschichtet) 45x90x68cm Hochbeet Monterosso bepflanzt neben einem kleinen Weg zum Wintergarten | Cortenstahl
    from £175.12
    from £175.12
    £218.90
    Sold out
    Pflanzkübel Vernazza 40x40x40 cm in pulverbeschichtet Anthrazit als 3D-Modell Pflanzkübel Vernazza 40x40x40 in Metall bepflanzt vor einem grünen Garten
    from £87.12
    from £87.12
    £108.90
    Sold out
    Pflanzkübel Vernazza 40x40x40 cm aus Cortenstahl als 3D-Modell Pflanzkübel Vernazza 80x80x40 cm aus Cortenstahl als 3D-Modell
    from £122.32
    from £122.32
    £152.90
    Sold out
    Hochbeet Monterosso 45x90x68 cm in pulverbeschichtet Anthrazit als 3D-Modell Hochbeet Monterosso 90x90x68 cm in pulverbeschichtet Anthrazit bepflanzt in einem grünen Garten
    from £127.60
    from £127.60
    £159.50
    Sold out
    Hochbeet Manarola 40x136x100 cm aus Cortenstahl als 3D-Modell Hochbeet Manarola hinter einer Sitzgelegenheit auf einer Terrasse | Cortenstahl
    from £242.00
    from £242.00
    £302.50
    Sold out
    Hochbeet Manarola 40x136x100 cm in pulverbeschichtet Anthrazit als 3D-Modell Hochbeet Manarola freistehend in einem Garten mit ELEO Pavillon | Pulverbeschichtet anthrazit
    from £175.12
    from £175.12
    £218.90
    Sold out
Tip: You often read about using bark mulch when filling raised beds. However, gardening experts advise against this: bark mulch can acidify the soil and deplete it of nitrogen – this is problematic for many types of vegetables.
Tip: When planting in a raised bed, always make sure to alternate between different plant families with different nutrient requirements.

Tip: Are you interested in a metal raised garden bed? Then take a look in our shop. ELEO Garden offers high-quality and weather-resistant raised garden beds made of metal and Corten steel that you will enjoy for years to come and that will be an attractive addition to any garden.

Annett Zahn
by Annett Zahn Annett Zahn

Plants and herbs are my passion. From a young age, I was able to build up a wealth of knowledge in this area, which my garden constantly benefits from.

Back to Blog
Back to top
The voucher can be redeemed once with a minimum order value of €250.
We are here for you!

Monday to Friday: 8am-6pm

+49 (0) 9565 / 50 917 0
customerservice@eleo-garden.co.uk

WhatsApp Chat | +49 (0) 179 4251480