Planting raised bed: annual plan for vegetables in the 1st-5th year

It is not without reason that agriculture differentiates between heavy and weak consumers of vegetable plants. Regular crop rotation balances the nutrient content of the soil and ensures high crop yields every year. The gardener is best guided by this annual plan when planting in the raised bed.

Relevance of correct crop rotation

The roots of various types of vegetables are as diverse as the appearance of the above-ground growth. Every plant has very individual requirements for the soil conditions. In order to plant a raised bed in such a way that the greatest possible crop yield is obtained, it is therefore essential for the gardener to adapt the properties of the substrate. Sufficient nutrients are essential. But a garden does not stand still. An ecosystem develops its own processes after construction. The incorporated nutrients will run out over time. The limited space available in a raised bed encourages this process all the more. Fortunately, there are also plants that thrive in poor soil. Anyone who observes the correct crop rotation will successfully raise a mixed crop for years.

Relevance of mixed culture

In addition to the time of planting a suitable plant, the composition of the bed is also of great importance. Since the nutrient reserves are limited, individual plants must not compete with each other. Here, too, good neighborliness can become a sure-fire success in a positive sense. Plants that get along protect each other from pests.

Note: Plants that take up a lot of space due to their long shoots or large leaves are generally unsuitable for cultivation in raised beds. These include zucchini, pumpkins, rhubarb and sweet potatoes.

Classification of useful plants

Botany divides plants into heavy, medium and weak consumers. Each category provides information about the nutrient requirements of the plants. The gardener should mainly use this as a basis for his annual plan for the raised bed.

heavy feeder

  • potatoes
  • artichokes
  • Melons (greenhouse attachment required)
  • asparagus
  • sweetcorn
  • sugar beets
Note: In addition to the vegetables mentioned, brightly blooming, highly consuming flowers provide beautiful splashes of color in the bed. These include sunflowers, chrysanthemums, tulips and geraniums.

medium eater

  • Chicory
  • Chinakohl
Note: Colorful flowers can also be found under the middle teats, which visually break up the raised bed. These include dahlias, gloxinias and snapdragons.

weak feeder

Tip: Fancy a bit of color? Then azaleas, begonias, petunias, primroses and pansies are recommended.

Preparation of the raised bed

The gardener can start preparing the raised bed in autumn of the previous year. If the gardener covers the soil with a warm, moisture-proof tarpaulin, they can even survive frosts in winter.

It is particularly important when planting that the substrate is matched to the selected plants. Heavy consumers require a high nitrogen content. In the case of weak consumers, on the other hand, a high concentration has a negative effect on development. Since fertilizer from the trade does not always meet the requirements of the vegetable plants, green manure from self-made organic material is more advisable.

When preparing the bed, the gardener proceeds as follows:

  • loosen the soil
  • Dig planting holes of the appropriate size (approx. 1.5 to 2.5 times larger than the root ball)
  • Moisten root balls of crops
  • place in the holes and press on the substrate
  • moisten soil
  • increased watering than required outdoors
Tip: A raised bed offers numerous advantages compared to conventional outdoor cultivation. On the one hand, the gardener does not have to laboriously bend down when gardening. On the other hand, the plants also benefit from the separate location. Since the substrate warms up faster, harvesting is possible a few weeks earlier than with normal cultivation.

Planting plan for the first year

The choice of plants for the first year is particularly important as it forms the basis for the following years. Only heavy feeders are suitable for the first planting. The reason for this is the current, very high nutrient content of the soil due to green manure. Weak consumers would suffer from the nitrogen content.

The rapid heat development of the raised bed releases even more nutrients than outdoors. Depending on the type of vegetable, this promises good harvest yields in the first year of cultivation.

Potatoes, for example, are a good place to start growing vegetables. Regardless of the variety, all types of vegetables except celery and red cabbage are suitable for heavy consumers. Among the herbs, only basil is suitable. Other herbs belong to the medium or weak consumers.

Note: The above tips also apply if the gardener grows flowering plants instead of vegetables.

Planting plan in the second year

Because the nutrient density has already decreased, the gardener has to do without some heavy consumers in the second year. He replaces these with a compilation of the Mittelzehrer, taking into account good neighborliness. These also leave enough nutrients for the following plants.

Note: With the exception of basil, all herbs are medium consumers. The second year of the raised bed therefore promises a very aromatic diet, provided the gardener uses his harvest for culinary purposes.

Planting plan in the third year

In the third year, not much has changed compared to the second year. Now is the ideal time to turn the raised bed into a small herb garden. The nitrogen content is now just right for parsley and co. Strawberries are also a classic for the third year. The Mittelzehrer form a good neighborly relationship with numerous types of vegetables and even survive the winter. They only don’t feel comfortable around cabbage.

Planting plan in the fourth year

In the fourth year the hour of the weak eaters strikes. Occasionally, a few medium-eaters are allowed to mingle with the planting. For example strawberries, which would be much too good to throw away due to their perennial nature. Bean and salad lovers will now get their money’s worth. The vegetable goes well with spinach or tomatoes.

Planting plan in the fifth year

Even weak consumers are dependent on a few nutrients. After such a long standing time, almost all the basics for healthy vegetable development have been used up. Now it’s time to redo the raised bed from the ground up. With renewed green manure, the gardener enriches the substrate again and thus creates the best conditions for cultivating heavy feeders again. As early as autumn he creates a compost heap to produce organic material. For example, the fallen autumn leaves can be put to good use. Before planting in spring, the leaves must be well rotted so as not to spoil the tender roots of the young vegetable plants.

The fifth year marks the beginning of a repeated crop rotation according to the annual plan for the raised bed described above. At this point, the gardener can start cultivating heavy feeders such as potatoes, asparagus or corn again.

Kira Bellingham

I'm a homes writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience in publishing. I have worked across many titles, including Ideal Home and, of course, Homes & Gardens. My day job is as Chief Group Sub Editor across the homes and interiors titles in the group. This has given me broad experience in interiors advice on just about every subject. I'm obsessed with interiors and delighted to be part of the Homes & Gardens team.

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