Raised garden beds are one of the easiest ways to grow vegetables on heavy clay. They drain better, warm up sooner in spring and are easier on the back. A little planning before the raised garden bed installation pays off for years.
Pick a sunny spot.
Most vegetables need at least six hours of direct sun a day. A spot that gets morning sun is ideal, with some afternoon shelter from hot northerly winds in summer. Keep beds close to a tap so watering is easy.
Size it so you can reach.
Keep beds no more than about 1.2 metres wide, so you can reach the middle from either side without stepping on the soil. A height of 30 to 45 cm suits most vegetables; taller beds are easier to work from a chair or for anyone who finds bending hard. Leave paths wide enough for a wheelbarrow.
Materials and fill.
Common choices are modular steel beds and untreated or suitably treated timber. Older CCA-treated pine is generally not recommended where you grow food. Fill with a quality vegetable or garden mix, and top it up with compost each season as the soil settles.
When to plant.
- Spring and summer crops such as tomatoes, zucchini and beans go in once frost risk has passed. Many Melbourne gardeners wait until early November, which is a sensible rule in frost-prone Wallan.
- Autumn is the time for garlic, broad beans and brassicas such as broccoli and cabbage.
- Leafy greens and herbs can be grown through most of the year.
Want a hand with it? See raised garden beds in Wallan, Beveridge and Kalkallo.
Also worth reading: How to get an accurate garden maintenance quote, Regular gardener or one-off tidy-up: which makes more sense?.