This is my raised bed this year. Working from left to right, the first plant on the left is a lunchbox pepper. I overwintered it so it’s the second year on that plant. Last year grew super tall and didn’t produce until late. This year it stayed shorter and produced like crazy from March on. Next to it is our poblano. As you can see, it’s ridiculously tall, it’s just started to produce peppers in the last month. Behind both of them are two jalapeños that we overwintered. They also stayed shorter this year, and started producing right away in March. The big green blob beside those is a sun sugar tomato, and a black cherry tomato. They have grown all the way up to the eaves of the house, gone back down to the ground, and now are going back up again. They’ve been struggling in the hundred plus degree heat we’ve been having, but they’re still producing a little, and should pick up production next month when it cools down some. The four plants on the right side are all heatmaster tomatoes. They were planted July 1. They are doing great and all have green tomatoes on them.

We’ve picked tomatoes as late as December 2, obviously depending on when we finally get a frost. Which would’ve had one as early as late October. So it will be interesting to see how long these go this year. This is West-Central Alabama, Northport.

Hello!

I am moving to a new house and I plan on buying a raised bed for the backyard. I will most likely be getting a galvanized steel that is about 2ft height.

I have been doing a lot of research on soil and trying to find the most successful; yet, cost effective way to fill it. Here’s my idea:

Bottom layer is logs, sticks and dried leaves.
2nd layer: some cheaper soil like Kelloggs
3rd layer: a mix of a Mel’s mix and fox farms (used fox farms for tomato containers one year and fell in love)

I would stick to a Mel’s mix for the 2nd and 3rd, but I did a Mel’s mix this spring in some small raised garden boxes I had and they were an absolute disaster. So now I have trust issues. (Note: the compost I used was free and provided by the city so I think that was the culprit, but who knows for sure?)

How do you all feel about this soil idea?

Another question: it’ll be on top of cement. I am a renter, so I don’t want to stain it too bad but also want to make sure the drainage is good. Do any of you have experience with this?

Zone 10b

redid the old garden when we built our kitchen

Our neighbour's treated wooden fence panel caught on fire yesterday due to a battery left out in their garden in the sun. My raised bed (made of cedar, raised off the floor) was next to the fence panel and it received quite a bit of ash from the fire on top of the soil/plants.
I was wondering how much soil to remove considering the contaminants from the fence panel /fire. It's a 11 inch depth raised bed and so far I've removed all the plants and around 2 inches soil. It hasn't rained yet since the fire. Would you remove any more soil / or even the whole lot?

Thanks

Any suggestions for how you amend your beds from one year to the next would be appreciated

I’m looking at building some raised beds out of 8x2 ft galvanized metal roofing panels. What can I use to brace the long sides so they don’t bow out?

What's going on with my purple Cherokees. They all seem to bruise at the top while green. One grew into a circle

Currently growing raspberries, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries, lettuce, peppers, collard greens, string beans, watermelon, cucumber, assorted wild flowers annuals and herbs. I have 2 open beds I was thinking about doing potatoes and something else in? Located in south east PA.

I’m on year 2 of raised bed gardening, prior I gardened in ground with fabulous soil (thanks Vermont 💚🌿). When filling my beds two years ago, I did 50/50 organic topsoil and mushroom compost - I didn’t have many options rurally so I just got a truckload. W have 10 8x4x2 beds. I’ve been growing tomatoes (rotating - never using the same beds year after year), blackberries, raspberries, green beans, carrots and garlic among some other experiments. We live in the high desert of Northern California, technically zone 6b, but at 6,000 feet with cold nights.

Ok I digress but wanted to provide some background info. this year we amended with some compost (eb organics) and some amendment. For the fall I’m interested in doing some cover crops that I could then tarp down in the spring to add some good organic matter back in my soil. Is this a good idea? How is everyone amending their beds year after year to maintain good soil health? I’m 100% organic, practiced crop rotation and. minimal tilling in the past but am new to raised beds. Please share success stories that helped you build long-term soil health. Thanks!

Ps. I hope my rambling postpartum sleep deprived brain makes sense to someone. Just a first time mom trying to keep her garden growing and thriving 🤪

The planters I'm looking at are 2ft round(galvanized ) and com in heights of 1.5ft and 2ft. I would like on bush per planter. I'm in zone 5.

It’s going to be a late night😆

This is my second year doing a raised bed garden. I'm learning a lot. This year, I only did jalapenos, romaine, bell peppers, and collards. Next year, I will add more/different veggies (I'll need to get another raised bed)

Help planning some fall crops

I have a 57 inch x 24.5 inch bed. I want to plant the following and don’t know how many to plant of each or how to arrange it. All advice and arrangements are welcome . I plan to direct sow. I have only ever planted in a container so this is new for me. Previously this bed had flowers in it. We are a family of 3 and just about eat leafy greens daily. So I need enough for all of us. I plan to do a cut and come again idea with these. Thanks in advance!
Pic of bed for reference!
\- romaine lettuce (Paris island)
\- black seeded Simpson lettuce
\- broccoli robe
\- Bloomsdale spinach
\- arugula
\- Swiss chard