I’ve been meaning to turn a good portion of the back yard into a garden for food and food-related plants (herbs) since I moved in… 4 years ago.
So, really plan on doing it over the winter for next year so I can plant in the spring.
I’m mostly planning “easy” plants: Zuchinni, squashes, onions, carrots, potatoes, broccoli, peas, maybe cucumbers etc.
The question, though, is what’s the best way to like, do a raised bed?
Google has helpfully offered up what looks like a non-stop barrage of AI generated nonsense, but I’m figuring some sort of cement blocks for the corners and some un-treated boring white pine (or whatever’s cheapest at the local lumber yard) wood for the sides.
The questions are, I guess, is what exactly is the correct thing to buy to fill these since I’m planning on making something like 4 or 5 large raised beds and like, what extremely obvious things am I overlooking that’ll result in this being less success and more of a typical my-project-failed?
Oh also to fill them. Depends on how deep you’re going but like below about 15 cm organic material doesn’t matter so much.
Assuming you get adequate rainfall fill the bottom layer with random woody crap like garden trimmings or mulched waste. It’ll help retain water and very slowly decay. A decent sandy garden soil to fill around that and make up the bulk. It’s soft enough roots can penetrate, and water will freely drain, additionally it won’t compact suffocating the roots.
The top layer should be rich in organic matter, ideally with visible fungus. Think black soil from a forest floor. Finally dress the top with compost.
To keep it healthy take a lesson from the forest and keep the top layer a layer of compost.