How to make raised beds for veggies. Also a guide to what to plant each month.
Can you feel the heavy doses of spring in the air? The birds have been waking us up each morning and new life just seems to be everywhere, making me desperate to get out in the garden and plant stuff, despite not being very good at gardening!!
Last year we tried a bit of a garden redesign, including making some raised beds for a veg patch. I thought I would show you how we did it, and also try and start a bit of a mini series about what to plant each month. Mainly to help me remember as I am forever missing the planting ‘deadline’ for our veggies! Growing your own veg can be frustrating sometimes, but also very rewarding, fun for the kids and saves you money.
Step 1: Make a frame out of 6×2 timber.
My very talented hubby is a carpenter and made these gorgeous raised beds from scratch, so I thought I would share how he did it. It isn’t anything really complicated though, so anyone with basic equipment and a few DIY skills should be ok!
He already had the necessary tools, but there was nothing he used that was out of the ordinary, tape measure, a cordless drill, screwdriver, saw, shovel, sledge hammer and his ever important spirit level!
To make raised beds, he also used;
2×2 stakes, 6×2 untreated timber lengths, 3/4in screws, extra 2X2 stakes to screw to corners to hold shape.
Step 1: Remove turf from the area you want the beds.
Use the 2×2 to hold the frame’s shape and give you something to move them with.
Step 2: Make the frames for your beds out of the 6×2 timbers, we chose rectangles, then screw some of the 2×2 stakes diagonally across to hold the shape and to help move them.
Step 3: Position the frames into the area that you want them, once in place, use 4 2×2 stakes to hold them in postion by cutting a point on one end, then driving down in corners with the sledge hammer and screwing the frames to them once you have got the frame level. Then cut the stakes off level with the tops of the frames. See fig 1
Cut the stakes off level with the tops of the frames. fig 1
Step 4: Once in, dig down a spade depth, turn over soil, remove big stones and lumps, add layer of top soil mixed with mushroom compost.
So that is how to make raised beds, now you just need to plan what to plant in them! It might take you a while to work out what works well in your soil and what doesn’t but hopefully you’ll have fun trying!
Some things you can plant outside in March: (Remember to check your variety in case they need to be covered!) (Scroll on down for April!)
- Beetroot
- Broad beans
- Carrots
- Chard
- Chicory
- Chives
- Kale
- Leeks
- Parsnips
- Peas
- Spinach
- Spring onion
- Turnips
Start inside, in a green house or under cloches if your soil is warm enough:
- Aubergines
- Basil
- Brussel Sprouts
- Cauliflowers
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Salad leaves
- Peppers
If you fancy something a little simpler, how about homemade fairy gardens!
We made bird scarers from old cds.
Some things you can plant outside in April: (Remember to always check your seed packets!)
- Beetroot
- Broadbeans
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Herbs
- Leeks
- Parsnip
- Peas
- Spinach
- Spring Onions
You can also plant out chitted potatoes now.
In the greenhouse:
- Aubergine
- Courgette
- Cucumber
- Lettuce
- Peppers
- Runner and French Beans
- Sweetcorn
- Tomatoes
The house we bought had some of these in the backyard and I was THRILLED…until I realized that I’ve killed anything in the dirt that ever tried to grow. #bigpinklink
This is ideal alongside the baby led weaning we are doing at the moment! #bigpinklink
Awesome! I’m going to send this to Jonny as he has been talking about making raised beds ever since Honey was 1! #bigpinklink
Wow these look amaze! I think I would struggle with the planting part lol #bigpinklink
I always want to do something like this but am too nervous! ! This is quite inspiring though, thanks.
This looks great! And so easy, but I’m sure it wasn’t. I’m envious of your garden and look forward to seeing it grow! #bigpinklink
I’d love to try this, our soil is pretty rubbish but I guess having a raised bed means you don’t have to use the soil already in the garden? I’d love to grow my own vegetables. I’ve pinned this on my garden board, see if the hubby fancies making some for me.
#BigPinkLink
I wish I didn’t kill everything I try to grow. I have always wanted raised vegetable beds but I know theres no point! I just purchased a house plant to try and reverse this streak.
#BigPinkLink
We have raised beds for veggies and they’re great, although one of mines been taken over by strawberries! I grew purple sprouting broccoli and Brussels the other year and they were all eaten by horrible caterpillars! #bigpinklink
oh you really are so talented! What a wonderful idea and just so so lovely for the children to grow their own veg – must help them appreciate their food a little more and maybe take more interest in veg! I wish I’d done something like this when mine were small xx #BigPinkLink
Grear tutorial #bigpinklink
So impressive! Gardening has always been something I like to idea of and then the reality of it always defeats me as its amazing how much time and energy it takes up not to mention I always get bitten by any creepy crawly that comes along so now I just stick with weeding, mowing the grass and sweeping the decking. Potted plants are more achievable for me!lol. #bigpinklink
This looks brilliant! I’d love to do this. I think we’ll have to wait until we move though, as we have no grass at the moment, just a decking area! #bigpinklink
It must be so satisfying growing your own veg. A great thing to share with the kids to. Well done on your fantastic project and thank you for sharing your inspiration. Alison x #BigPinkLink
Ooh this is a useful post! We may do raised beds when we finally get around to sorting out our extra bit of garden. I’ve started some indoor plants on the radiator but everything was a bit too wet outside for me to dig it just yet. I’m leaving it a couple of weeks!
Nat.x
Lovely idea! We moved house last year and finally have a garden where we can have a veg patch so I’ll be bookmarking your page – thanks 🙂 #bigpinklink
Lovely idea! We moved house last year and finally have a garden where we can have a veg patch so I’ll be bookmarking your page – thanks 🙂 #bigpinklink
My hubs built a sandbox for the big girls when we first moved to our home and now the twins use it. The MINUTE they give it up that thing is becoming a raised veggie bed!
#bigpinklink
This is really good to know because I attempted to grow some veg last year with the kids and we waited with great anticipation to see our carrots and tomatoes etc grow and nothing! They either died or the fox had a good go at them so it’s great to learn how to do it properly. #bigpinklink
Wow! I am so in awe of this level of organisation. I have bought some seeds and at the weekend I went outside and did some weeding in my tiny, untidy garden and looked at seed trays and then felt exhausted and felt it at that. Thanks for the reminder I must get a move on! #bigpinklink
That planting list is really handy.
We have a growing area but I was too busy with work last year and it got neglected. Thanks for the reminder I need to get going
#bigpinklink
id love to do some veg patches but our back yard is soooo tiny! maybe next house #bigpinklink
Your raised beds look perfect and I love how the children are getting involved with planting. I hope you have a productinve season #BigPinkLink
I’m so bad at growing things, and it just doesn’t interest me, even though I love having fresh homegrown food. I wouldn’t mind the OH making me some of these though, might help get N into gardening so he can do it for me! #bigpinklink
My husband is looking over my shoulder laughing. I don’t do gardening. He’s so going to tell the rest of the family who do! #bigpinklink
Oh I love this, what a great thing to get the kids involved! Sadly we don’t have a garden but #lifegoals eh! Thanks for hosting #bigpinklink x
That looks awesome. We’re challenged by not being very handy and a north facing garden! I’m looking forward to seeing what you harvest! #bigpinklink
Wow I’m so impressed!! I wouldn’t have the foggiest where to start, I am utterly useless in the garden! Love the bird scarers too, I bet the children loved getting involved! Can’t wait to see all of your veggies! #bigpinklink
looks great. We have something similar in our backyard that the dog is currently trying to destroy #bigpinklink
I’m jealous on a few counts here, and I’m going to unashamedly list those reasons!! First, Mr C can’t do anything! I mean anything, if I want something built I have to do it myself whether it’s a kids toy, flat pack furniture, or something more elaborate. Second, we have no garden (woe is me!) Living in London sucks that way, and I can’t wait until we move in July to the West for this very reason! Third and final, I have been itching to plant food for literally years!!! Next spring is going to literally be the best ever when I can finally plant in a proper garden! Great tips, and love the ideas. #bigpinklink
Those look great. My kids would love those. I can’t wait to see how you get on … hopefully we’ll get monthly updates?
#bigpinklink
Such a great idea and to involve the kids! I never know when to plant what so this will be a helpful reminder. Thanks for hosting #BigPinkLink x
Wow! Gardening is a great activity to get the kids involved. Besides, there’s something about working with your hands – soiled and dirty that’s both therapeutic and satisfying! Thanks for sharing!
Ooh, you look like you have a nice big garden for this!! It’s actually my dream to grow all of my own vegetables, despite never having grown anything before!! Unfortunately our garden is really tiny, but there’s loads of allotment spots nearby, so when the boys are at school, I need to get my green fingers on (Scott will have build these-I’ll show him!!) and start growing!! I can’t wait to see your haul of veggies-it must be so satisfying to grow your own!! X
this looks fab, my daughter has something like this at her nans and loves to tell me what they are growing together. Me, I struggle to grow a fingernail! I can’t wait to see what you manage to grow! #bigpinklink
I think growing your own veg is fab. I always remember as a child going to my grandparents and picking lots of fresh veg straight from the garden. Sadly in London with our patio gardens it just isn’t the same. But when I do move back to the country I will be doing it for sure. #bigpinklink
I would love to do raised beds, they look so nice and clean! #bigpinklink
I’d love to have a greenfingers! I’m useless when it comes to gardening! #bigpinklink
Oh, I love this, the ability to go out and pick dinner! Know that it’s organic and nurture the love of getting your hands dirty for the greater good! I want a YARD! Thanks for teaching. This one is filed on my bucket list! #BigPinkLink xoxo
Wow that’s so impressive! We have our house up for sale so if we move I’d love an area for a veg patch but I’m so useless at gardening and a bit of a fair weather gardener! But I’ll remember this for future if we can do it xx #bigpinklink
Ooh good tips. I have a garden for the first time this year, and I need to decide what to do with it now it’s Spring. #bigpinklink
wow I have bookmarked this!! So impressive. I can’t wait to stalk your blog for updates. Thank you so much
This appears fab my daughter has some thing like this at her nans and loves to tell me what they’re growing together. Me, I conflict to develop a fingernail I can’t wait to see what you control to develop