Raving About Raised Planters

By Bob Chapman

Gardening in raised beds is one way to overcome the problems with poor soil, poor drainage and physical handicaps. No more stooping while planting, weeding or watering! You'll appreciate the convenience and you'll benefit by having tasty vegetables from your raised planter all year ‘round. Follow the suggested building plans, a list of vegetables you can grow and the use of drip watering to conserve precious water and you'll find it hard to go back to the "normal" gardening.

BUILDING YOUR RAISED PLANTER
Here's a simple diagram and a suggested list of materials. It's easy to build a sturdy planter!

Note: posts should not be spaced further apart than 4 feet to
avoid possible bulging.                                      

Materials list for 5X12 raised planter

• 34 lineal ft.  2X12 pressure-treated wood
• 3 ea. 4" x 4" X 8' pressure-treated posts (cut into 24" lengths)
• 36 ea. 3 inch lag bolts and washers
• Approx. 6 sacks of fence post concrete
• Valve box (to hold timer for drip irrigation)
• Approx. 2 cu. yards of planter mix (soil).

Vegetable planting guide for planter boxes
Vegetable Distance between  plants (in.) Notes and suggestions 

• Beans, snap, bush  2-3    
• Beans, snap, pole 4-6 - Provide poles for support, plant in middle of planter  
• Beans, Lima, bush 3-6    
• Beans, Lima, pole 6-10 - Provide poles for support, plant in middle of planter  
• Beets  2    
• Broccoli  14-18    
• Brussels sprouts 12-18    
• Cabbage  12-20    
• Carrots   1-2    
• Chard, Swiss 4-8    
• Corn, sweet 10-14 - Plant in middle of planter    
• Lettuce, leaf 4-6 - Plant next to edge of planter
• Peas, pole 2-3 - Plant in middle, provide poles for support
• Peas, bush/knee-high 2-3
• Peppers  18-24    
• Radish  1-2 - Plant next to edge of planter   
• Spinach  2-4 - Plant next to edge of planter
• Tomato  18-36 - Plant in middle of planter
• Turnips  1-3

When to plant vegetables in mild winter climates (Check with local sources for planting months in other areas)

• January: Broccoli, cabbage, carrots, peas, radishes, spinach.
• February: Beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, chard, lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips.
• March: Beets, cabbage, carrots, chard, lettuce, peas, radishes.
• April:  Snap or pole beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, chard, corn, lettuce, peas, radishes, tomatoes (use transplants).
• May: Lima beans (bush or pole), snap or pole beans, beets, carrots, chard, corn, lettuce, peppers, radishes, tomatoes (use transplants)
• June: Lima beans (bush or pole), snap or pole beans, beets, carrots, corn, radishes, tomatoes (use transplants).
• July: Snap or pole beans, beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, corn, lettuce.
• August: Beets, cabbage, carrots, peas, radishes.
• September: cabbage, radishes, spinach.
• October: Radishes, spinach.
• November: Radishes, spinach.
• December: Radishes, spinach, turnips.

Suggestions: Melons and squash take up too much room. Artichokes and asparagus are perennials and best grown in the field. Plant the taller vegetables such as pole beans, peas and corn in the center of your planter. Consult your County Cooperative Extension agent for any additional information, advice or help. You'll find the listing in the white pages under County Government "Cooperative Extension, University of California."

DRIP IRRIGATION FOR RAISED PLANTERS

There are many reasons for the use of drip irrigation in raised planters. Among these are:

• Conserving water
• Putting water where the plant roots are.
• Plants receive ideal amount of water at the ideal rate.
• No spraying from typical sprinkler heads and the possible waste of water.
• Ease of automating the system with battery-operated timers.
• You can use either single emitters for each plant or use soaker hoses strung along the rows of vegetables in the planter.

Drip irrigation systems are quick and easy to install.

Raindrip's free guide "Drip Watering Made Easy" is available in the plumbing department at all OSH stores. Although the guide describes all the many uses of these adaptable systems, the sections on the use of drip irrigation in vegetable gardens and containers will give the installer all the information needed to do a good job. Below are listed some highlights about the installation of drip irrigation in a raised planter, such as the one being proposed.

• A typical valve assembly is placed in a valve box in the planter. The valve box inhibits access by children and protects the automatic, battery-operated timer. Valve boxes are available in three sizes in the plumbing department of our stores.
• Compression fittings and emitters are simple and easy to install, needing no special tools.
• 1/2-inch poly hose, ¼-inch vinyl tubing and ½-inch soaker hose are used.

SUMMING IT UP

Following the above suggestions for building and irrigating your new raised planter and planting the vegetables that you or your family enjoy eating will result in year ‘round pleasure. You'll be watching your raised garden grow to maturity and your mouth will water when you eat these delicious and nourishing vegetables!

Bob Chapman is a well-known professional gardener and landscape contractor. Currently retired, Bob now spends his time contributing many free-lance garden articles and columns, and is a much sought after lecturer and horticultural consultant.

Since 1987, Bob has appeared as a regular columnist for the San Jose Mercury News. Besides the Mercury, his writings have appeared in the San Diego Tribune, Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee and the Times Newspaper Group. He is the 1991 winner of the Quill and Trowel Award of the Garden Writers Association of America for the best newspaper gardening article in North America.

Bob majored in Ornamental Horticulture at Cal-Poly, San Luis Obispo. He also served as a member of the Professional Gardeners Association.