Colorado Ma C aster Garden sm Progra ner am Colorado Gar C rdener Certi ificate Train ning

Colorado S C State Univ versity Ext tension

GMG Gard G denNotes #713

Block B k Style Layout in e n Raise R ed Bed Veg d getab Ga ble ardens

Outline: Block style g garden layout page 1 t, Suggest spacing, p ted page 2 Raised bed gardens, pag 4 ge Constru uction of a rais bed garde page 5 sed en, Gardeni with raised beds, page 7 ing e

Block Style Garden Layout B e L

Block st garden la tyle ayout (also ca alled close-row or wide-row plantings) i w w increase yields fi fold comp ive pared to the tr raditional row w-style garden layout, and 15-fold n for the s smaller kitche garden veg en getables. The compact des e sign reduces w weeding and is id for raised bed gardeni deal d ing. The basic technique u used in close-row, block p planting is to e eliminate unn necessary walkway by planting vegetables in rectangular ys g r-shaped beds or blocks in s nstead of long sin rows. Fo example, pl a block o carrots next to a block of beets, ngle or lant of t f followed with a block of lettuce an so forth do the bed a d k nd own area. Plant cro with an e ops equal-distance space e between neighboring plants in bot directions. n g th For exam mple, space a carrot patch on 3-inch by y 3-inch c centers. It ma be easier to visualize ay o this plan layout as ru nt unning rows s spaced 3 inches a apart across th bed, and th he hinning the carrots w within the row to 3 inches. A 24-foot w . long traditional row of carrots w fit into a w will 3 foot by 2-foot bed. [Figure 1] y Design t planting b the beds to be 3 to 4 feet wide o and any desired lengt This widt makes it y th. th easy to r reach into the growing bed from e d walkway for plantin weeding a harvesting ys ng, and g.

Figure 1. Carrots p planted on 3-inch cente ers

Limiting foot traffic t the establis g to shed walkway between pl ys lanting beds r reduces soil com mpaction. Design walkway to 18-24 in ys nches wide. M Mulch walkwa with ays dry gras clippings, w ss wood chips, o other organ mulch. or nic

713-1

As the v vegetable foliage grows tog gether, the sh hade cast supp presses weed germina ation. After ha arvesting a row of radishes beets, lettuc or spinach replant for c w s, ce, h, continual summer production. r the lant density, block planti ings require a weed-free, fertile, Due to t higher pl well-dra ained soil tha is rich in o at organic matt ter. Give extr attention to watering ra o and freq quent, light fe ertilization to nourish the d dense plant po opulation. Av void overcrowdin vegetables; the reduced air circulation can increas disease problems. ng ; se

Figure 2. Kitchen garde in block-style layout with (top . en to bottom spinach, ass m) sorted lettuce v varieties) and Swiss ch hard. Note that rows run acro the four-foo t oss ot wide bed As a row of lettuce is harve d. ested, it is replanted for continual production or n d neighboring cro ops fills in the space. e Figure 3. Sample layou of kitchen ga . ut arden vegetables.

Suggested Spacin e ng
Suggest spacing f kitchen ga ted for arden vegetab bles: (Start wi the wider s ith spacings, reducing spacing wit experience and as soil g th improve in fertility a tilth.) es and o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Beets: 4-6 by 4-6" Carrots: 2- by 2-3" -3" Celery: 7-9 by 7-9" 9" Garlic: 4-6 by 4-6" 6 Kohlrabi: 7 by 7-9" 7-9" Leeks: 4-6 by 4-6" Lettuce, he l0-l2 by 10-12" ead: y Lettuce, leaf: 7-9" by 7-9" unching 2-3" by 2-3" " Onions, bu Onions, dr 4-6" by 4-6 ry: 6 Parsnips: 5 5-6 by 5-6" Radishes: 2 2-3" by 2-3" Spinach: 4-6 by 4-6 Swiss char 7-9 by 7-9 rd: Turnips: 4-6by 4-6"
713-2

Other v vegetables su uited to block planting Cole cro (broccoli cabbage, ops i, Bru ussels sprouts and s cau uliflower) S Spaced at 18 by 18-inches', o three or pla across a 4 ants 4-foot bed. t Corn Always plant in a block facilitate poll lination. to f Fiv rows wide is ve rec commended f the best for po ollen shower'' to ma aximize kerne set; three el row wide is mi ws inimum. Space at 12 by 24 or four y row across two four-foot ws o, wid beds. de

Eggplan Space at 18-24 by nt 18- inches (or two or -24 r thr plants acro a fourree oss foo wide bed). ot Peppers Space at 1 by 15 s 15 inc ches (or three plants acr ross a four-foot wide bed d). Potatoe Space at 12-15 by es 12- inches (or three -15 r pla across a f ants four-foot wid box). de
Figure 4. Sample block . k-style garden

Vine crops (squash, cantaloupes, pumpkins, an watermelo Place a single nd ons) row down the ce w enter of a 4-fo wide box. They may a be plante in larger foot also ed blo ocks, several r rows wide. P Place the wint squash and pumpkins in the ter d n cen of the blo and canta nter ock aloupes, water rmelons, and summer squa around ash the edge where they can be reached for su e ummer harves st. tomatoes and cucumbers to save space and make h d s harvest easier. The . Trellis t inc creased air cir rculation arou trellised to und omatoes help suppress tom ps mato blight. Space tr rellised tomatoes a minimu of 24 inch apart down a single um hes n row in a block t to three f wide. Pla cucumber along a trel at 9-12 w, two feet ant rs llis inc spacings. ch and y prone if planted in Beans a peas may be easier to pick and are less disease-p sin or double rows, rather than block st planting. Space beans 12 inches ngle e tyle s bet tween rows an 4 inches b nd between plants Plant a dou row dow a block s. uble wn 2 to 3 feet wide. o
713-3

Figure 5. Raised bed g . garden with char lettuce varie rd, eties, spinach, beets, and oni ions. e Because even water distributio is needed fo this on or bed with a heavy plant populatio the drip irrig on, gation hose is run up and dow the wn bed four times on a 12 inches spacing. The bed will b be mulched with dry grass s clippings to conserve w s water and cont weeds in su trol ummer. Wood ch hips make an excellent mulching material for th g he walkways s.

Raised Bed Gardenin R d ng

Raised b gardens w block sty layout hav many adva bed with yle ve antages, includ ding the followin ng: Higher yields and le area to weed The blo style layo eliminatin ess ock out, ng unnecessary walkways inc creases yields by five-fold over the trad s d ditional row-path-row garden layo w out. ed action Estab blished walkw ways keep foo traffic off the ot Reduce soil compa growing bed, reducing soi compaction il n. Earlier planting T raised bed facilitates be The d etter runoff an drainage a nd allowing soil to warm faster in the spring. Beds can be cover with plast during red tic spring rains, allowing for early planting even in rain years. g ny Frost pr rotection T block-styl layout is ea to cover f spring and fall frost The le asy for d protection. I can also be shaded in the hot summer. It e provement The raised bed is a clearly defined area where the g y a gardener Soil imp can concentr on soil im rate mprovement te echniques, (e.g., the addition of soil organic matter). In situati ions where th soil is poor and limits p he r, plant growth, good planting soi may be added to the box. d il ectural intere Raised b est beds become a architectur feature of the an ral Archite landscape de esign. Accessible gardenin The raise bed is ideal for enabling persons with limited ng ed g h mobility to g garden.

713-4

Constructing a Raised Bed Garden

Size A bed 4 feet wide is ideal for most vegetable crops, allowing the gardener to reach the entire bed from the side without ever stepping on the soil in the growing bed. Length can be whatever works for the space. Tomatoes are well suited to a bed 24 to 36 inches wide, with one row of plants down the middle. Beans and peas are easier to pick in a single or double row down a bed rather than in the block-style planting. Here a bed 24 inches wide would be ideal. Depth / Height The height of the beds is generally of no consequence, assuming that crops can root down into the soil below the bed. For most home garden situations, the role of a raised bed is to define and separate the growing bed from the walkway. Here a four-inch height would be adequate. Variations in heights (4, 6, 8, and 10) among different beds may help create an appealing landscape feature. In situations where the soil below is not suitable for crop growth, 8 to 12 inches of soil is considered minimal. Deeper beds would make management easier. To accommodate gardeners with special needs, bed height may be raised to minimize bending or to allow gardening work from a chair or wheelchair. Plan walkway space between beds wide enough to accommodate specialized equipment or mobility. For ease of irrigation, beds should be reasonably level, both across and lengthwise. Orientation For frost protection, an east-west orientation has a slight advantage of collecting heat. For summer crop growth, a north-south orientation has a slight advantage of sunlight on both sides of the plant row each day. Because there is no clear advantage, orient the beds in whatever direction work best for the landscape design. Often beds are best arranged to be an appealing landscape feature of the property. Construction materials A simple way to construct a raised bed garden is to use construction lumber (2 by 4s, 2 by 6s, 2 by 8s, and 2 by 10s). Untreated lumber will last for several years, except in high salt areas or wet sites. Simply cut two pieces the width of the bed (typically 4 feet) and two others to the desired bed length. Using 3 to 4 inch decking screws, screw the corners together to make a four-sided box. Place the box-like frame on the soil and fill. Various landscaping timbers may also be used in like fashion. Cooper treated lumber is safe for garden boxes. However, do not use railroad ties (creosote cancer concerns) or CCA pressure treated lumber (removed from the market several years ago due to arsenic concerns). Brick or other building materials may also be suitable. Raised beds may also be made without sides. Here, organic matter is mixed as the garden is tilled. Walkways are dug down with the soil thrown up on the bed. Beds are 4 feet wide at the base and three feet wide at the top. The entire bed is covered with organic mulch like dry grass clippings to prevent soil erosion and reduce compaction from rain and sprinkler irrigation. [Figure 6]
713-5

Figure 6. Raised bed g . garden without sides. Beds are 4 feett wide at the t d at base and t3 feet wide a the top. Walks we dug down w soil ere with placed on the beds.

Adding soil In the typical garde setting whe crop roots will spread d g en ere s down into the soil below the bed it is best to use similar s d, o soils. It may b beneficial to be double-d the beds. In double-di dig igging, the top 6 inches of soil is moved from one p f d side of t bed to the other side of the bed. Mix organic matter into the s below the e f x soil the exca avated side. R Return the soi to the top, m il mixing in org ganic matter. Then repeat th process for the other sid of the bed. he r de When ad dding soil, av void creating a situation wh one type of soil ends and here e another begins. This creates a line between soi types that im s e il mpedes water and air r infiltrati and slows or even stop root penet ion s, ps, tration. If the soil being ad e dded to the bed is different from the soil below mix some of the two tog w, gether before adding e the rema ainder to avoi a distinct li of change id ine e. In situat tions where th entire rooti zone will be in the rais bed, a soil on the he ing sed l sandy si with 4-5% organic mat would be preferred. ide % tter When purchasing soi be aware th there is no legal definit il, hat o tion of topsoil or l planting soil. Just be g ecause it is co ommercially a available in bu or sold in bags, ulk does not necessarily m t mean that it i good for ga is ardening. Ma bagged an bulk any nd soils and soil amendm d ments are prep pared with co ompost made with manure and may be high in salts.
Figure 7. A re ecently planted raised bed d garden. Corn boxes to left, kitchen garden in cent ter, strawberry pat on tch right, tomato p patch in back with bl lack plastic mulch. Growing beds are grass mulched with g clippings; woo od chips were use ed between beds s.

713-6

Gardening in a Raised Bed G n

Due to t high plant population, r the t raised beds re equire better t than average soils, and more fre equent irrigat tion and fertilization. Conc centrate on im mproving soil with ls routine applications o organic ma of atter. For deta on soil im ails mprovement a and fertilizat tion, refer to the various C CMG GardenN Notes #711, V Vegetable Ga arden: Soil Ma anagement an Fertilizat nd tion. Mulchin Mulch b ng beds to contro weeds, cons ol serve soil moisture, and regulate soil tempera atures. Grass clippings ma great mulc when applied in thin lay (up to ake ch yers inche thick). Allo each layer to dry betwe applicatio es ow r een ons. Do not u use clipping from lawns treated with weed killers or other pesti gs s icides for at le four east weeks a after applicatio Wood/ba chips are g on. ark great for mulc ching between the beds. T Three to four i inches of chip will minim the compaction forces of foot ps mize traffic. However, do NOT mix wo o ood/bark chip into the gro ps owing bed, it will interfere with seedbe preparation For additio informati on mulchi e ed n. onal ion ing, refer the to th CMG Gard he denNotes #715, Mulches f the Veget for table Garden n. Waterin a raised b Drip irrigation is wel suited to rai ng bed ll ised bed gard dening. It is rather easy and ine r expensive to a a water ta at the end o each box. add ap of Alternat tively, simply move a gard hose in tu to each bo and connec the drip y den urn ox ct hose. Sprinkler irriga ation is also s suitable, but less desirable due to potent tial disease problems. Fo details on i or irrigation, ref the CMG G fer GardenNotes #714, Irrigati the Veget ing table Garden n. As a poi of clarifica int ation, raised b gardening is a water co bed g onservation te echnique. It does r require more frequent irrig gation due to t higher pla density. H the ant However, it is mor efficient re re esulting in hig gher yields for the amount of water appl r lied compare to the large areas water in traditio row-walk ed er red onal kway-row cul lture. Raised b beds become even more ef fficient when watered with drip irrigatio or h on soaker h hoses on time ers. Frost pr rotection A advantage of raised bed block style layout is that the bed is An d, t easy to c cover for prot tection from s springs rains and frost, allo owing for ear rly planting g.

Figure 8. Fros st protection cov vering adds two to six plus x weeks to the g growing season.

713-7

This picture illustrates a Quonset-type cold frame covering made of concrete reinforcing mesh covered with plastic. This style of frost protection adds two to six plus weeks on both ends of the growing season for cool season vegetables. Any type of covering must be opened during the day to prevent overheating. For details on frost protection techniques, refer to the CMG GardenNotes #722, Frost Protection and Extending the Growing Season.

Additional Information CMG GardenNotes on vegetable gardening:

#711 #712 #713 #714 #715 #716 #717 Vegetable Garden: Soil Management and Fertilization Sample Vegetable Garden Seed Catalogs Block Style Layout in Raised Bed Vegetable Gardens Irrigating the Vegetable Garden Mulches for the Vegetable Garden Water Conservation in the Vegetable Garden Growing Tomatoes #718 #719 #720 #721 #722 #723 #723 Tomato Early Blight Vegetable Garden Hints Vegetable Planting Guide Sample Planting for Raised-Bed Garden Frost Protection and Extending the Growing Season Growing Vegetables in a Hobby Greenhouse Vegetable Gardening in Containers

Authors: David Whiting, Carol OMeara, and Carl Wilson; Colorado State University Extension. Artwork by David Whiting.
o o o o o o Colorado Master Gardener GardenNotes are available on-line at www.cmg.colostate.edu. Colorado Master Gardener training is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Colorado Garden Show, Inc. Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned. Copyright 2003-2012. Colorado State University Extension. All Rights Reserved. CMG GardenNotes may be reproduced, without change or additions, for non-profit educational use.

Revised January 2012

713-8