Grow more per square foot, with less water, less back stress, fewer pest problems and an extended growing season, by growing vegetables in a raised bed. Nan presents different examples of raised beds and includes construction diagrams plus some tips and tricks she has learned in her years of raised bed gardening
Raise Your Vegetables in Bed
You May Also Like
Bare Roots for Nuts and Fruits
Bare Roots for Nuts and Fruits
Do your summertime dreams include picking juicy plums off a tree in your own backyard? Or harvesting tart, crisp apples in the fall? What about small, sweet blueberries in spring or warm, honey-filled figs in late summer? These are just a few of the fruits that you can purchase and plant as "bare roots" in nurseries this time of year. What is a bare root plant? It is a young, deciduous tree, shrub, woody vine or perennial, that is grown in the ground, dug up while dormant (without leaves), and cleaned of all the dirt on its roots. Once the roots are clean, they are carefully packaged to keep them moist, then shipped to nurseries across the country. Bare root trees travel well and, because they are dormant, transplant easily. January is the perfect time for buying and planting bare root trees across California. The days are clear and cool,…
Planning for Fall Planting
Planning for Fall Planting
I received an email today with the subject line “Get a head start on fall planting!” Right away I knew it wasn’t written by a knowledgeable gardener. People who know about gardening in our climate know that a “head start” on fall planting is a death sentence for plants. We know to wait until that one morning in October when the air suddenly feels like fall - a little cool, a touch humid. On that morning, it’s like the whole earth takes a deep breath and says “Summer’s over. Now, get busy.” Why do we wait to plant in the cool months? It’s when plants have the best chance of establishing and thriving. Here’s why: All plants experience transplant shock. In the nursery, their roots grow all cozy and comfy in their pot. When we bring the plants home, we yank ‘em out of their pots, shake those roots up,…
Signs of Summer Garden Stress
Signs of Summer Garden Stress
I love summertime in my garden. The long days lure me from my office to spend hours outside… I know that the intense sun and dry air can dehydrate me and burn my skin to a crisp if I’m not careful. But what happens to our plants and gardens when temperatures soar and the humidity takes a nosedive? Here are common indicators of summer garden stress and why they happen. Signs of Water Stress Consider how water moves through plants: we water soil so the water can enter plants through their roots. From the roots, water travels up through stems and branches, ultimately into the leaves. Plants cleverly curl their leaves in extreme heat to protect themselves from sunburn and dehydration. That water doesn't stay in the plant, however. It moves through the leaves into the air by evaporation and by a process called "transpiration," which is similar to the…
