{"id":17701,"date":"2026-04-20T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/everpress.everapps.dev\/kitchen-garden\/building-a-raised-bed\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T14:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T12:00:00","slug":"building-a-raised-bed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/everpress.everapps.dev\/en\/kitchen-garden\/building-a-raised-bed\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a raised bed: the right layers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Building a raised bed: the right layers<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The secret of a productive raised bed lies inside. As the lower layers slowly decompose they release warmth and nutrients \u2013 so plants start the season two to three weeks earlier and grow stronger. It is also kind to your back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The layers from bottom to top<\/h2>\n\n\n
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  1. Vole mesh<\/strong> on the ground, pulled up the sides<\/li>\n\n
  2. 30 cm<\/strong> of coarse shrub cuttings and branches<\/li>\n\n
  3. 20 cm<\/strong> of leaves, upturned turf or straw<\/li>\n\n
  4. 20 cm<\/strong> of half-mature compost or manure<\/li>\n\n
  5. 20\u201330 cm<\/strong> of high-quality potting soil<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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    \n\n \"Illustration:\n \n
    Fine, nutrient-rich soil goes on top.<\/figcaption>\n \n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    For the top layer, a peat-free soil such as the organic herb and vegetable soil<\/a>. The filling settles by 10\u201320 cm in the first year and is topped up with compost and soil every spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How much material do I need?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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    Raised bed<\/th>Volume<\/th>Potting soil<\/th>Compost<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    100 \u00d7 50 \u00d7 80 cm<\/td>400 l<\/td>100\u2013150 l<\/td>100 l<\/td><\/tr>
    150 \u00d7 80 \u00d7 80 cm<\/td>960 l<\/td>240\u2013360 l<\/td>240 l<\/td><\/tr>
    200 \u00d7 100 \u00d7 80 cm<\/td>1,600 l<\/td>400\u2013600 l<\/td>400 l<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Planting in the first year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Freshly filled, the raised bed contains a great many nutrients. Heavy feeders such as tomatoes, courgettes, cabbage and pumpkin are ideal now. Lettuce and spinach would store nitrate at this stage and belong in the bed only from the second or third year.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Year<\/th>Nutrients<\/th>Suitable plants<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    1<\/td>very high<\/td>tomato, courgette, cabbage, pumpkin<\/td><\/tr>
    2<\/td>high<\/td>carrot, leek, onion, chard<\/td><\/tr>
    3<\/td>medium<\/td>lettuce, spinach, beans, radish<\/td><\/tr>
    4<\/td>low<\/td>herbs, peas \u2013 then refill<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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    Herbs such as thyme and chives fit along the edge \u2013 it is drier there, and their scent keeps some pests away.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    If you would rather not plan it yourself, the bed sets<\/a> offer ready-made combinations with a planting plan.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n <\/span>\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/svg><\/span><\/span>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    For the first raised-bed year<\/h3>