1. Angela O’Callaghan, PhD
Social Horticulture Specialist
University of Nevada
Cooperative Extension

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3. Different definitions:
• Area of amended soil slightly
higher than surroundings
• Discrete structure containing
varied kinds of fill

5. Can be made of
brick, block, wood,
plastic, etc.
Can be built to
size, height
and mobility
needs of
gardener
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7. • Plastic can
look like
almost
anything,
including
wood

9. • Control over plants’ environment:
–Fill, water, fertility management
• Varied bed height for convenience
• Few weed problems
• Discrete size, easier to work
• Smaller area to shade or protect
from frost, when necessary

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13. • Can be
temporary or
permanent
• Must be filled
with fertile,
well-drained
mix
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14. May be:
•Unglazed clay (terra
cotta)
•Glazed clay
•Plastic
•Wood
•Biodegradable material
•Large
•Small
•Sitting
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15. Wood
 Good drainage
 Rustic appearance
 Can be expensive
Plastic –
 Can look like almost any
material
 Holds water well
 Low cost
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17. • How much $$ do you want to
spend?
• How much space can you dedicate
to it
• How convenient will it be
• Who will build it

18. • http://www.cleanairgardening.com
/raised-bed-gardening.html

21. • Lumber ~ $1/linear foot
– Walls & uprights
– 2” x 10” x length of choice x height of
choice
– 4” x 4” x height of choice
– May need more uprights for long, tall bed
• Hardware ~ $5 per upright
• A 20” high, 10’ long, 4’ wide bed ≈ $125

22. • ~ $1 per
• ~ 2” x 2” x 8”
• Need ~ 420 bricks for
–10’ long x 4’ wide x 20” high
• Mortar (2) ~ $20
• Cost ≈ $440

23. • Bed = 10’ long x 4’ wide x 18” high
• ~ $1.50/block (16” x 6” x 6”)
• ~ 68 blocks ~ $102
• Mortar 2 bags ~ $20
• ≈ $142

24. • Very wide price range
• May mimic wood or block
• Does not survive Nevada conditions

25. • Potting mix • Peat moss, perlite,
vermiculite, soluble
fertilizer
• “Planter mix” • Chipped wood,
composted manure
• Field soil, peat moss,
• Potting soil perlite
• Varying amounts of
• Other organic matter in a
matrix

26. • Potting mix • Expensive, dries out quickly
• “Planter mix” • Materials may not be fully
composted, could burn roots
• Potting soil • May contain seedling pathogens
• Other • Varying problems, poor water
holding, incomplete composting,
fertility may be questionable

27. • A raised bed is a confined space
• It makes sense to plant annuals (or
plants that we treat as annuals)

28. • We treat most of the vegetables
we grow as annuals, whether they
are or not
• Many of our common vegetables
are not
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29. • Vegetables are often grown as annuals,
although they may technically be something
else
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30. • Lettuce
• Spinach (not New Zealand or Malabar
spinach)
• Chard

31. Usually only want the
first years growth –
leaves, roots, stalks;
second year it
flowers

32. Flowering broccoli
Flowering carrots
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33. • Artichokes
• Jerusalem artichokes
• Sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes

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35. • Annuals will flower and produce seeds once
before dying
• Biennials will flower and produce seeds once,
and only if they have experienced a chilling
period with short days
• The desired part of many biennial vegetables
is produced only in the first year
• Perennials can produce for several years
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36. Express the gardener’s
taste
 Sophisticated
 Rustic
 Urban
 Antique
 Eclectic
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37. A pot is a miniature
garden plot
As long as there is
sufficient room
for roots and
drainage, it can
work
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40. Such as condensed
foam
• Can look like
decorative clay without
the weight or cost
• Can be thicker-walled
than plastic for better
insulation
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42. • Insulation
• Conserves water
• Moderates heat
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43. Material Problem
• Brick • Expensive, may need
mortar
• Block • May release salt
• Expensive, may not
• Wood withstand extreme
weather
• Expensive, will not
• Plastic withstand extreme
weather

45. • From P. Allen Smith’s website

46. •Certain vegetables grow smaller if
planted close together
•This technique is best for leafy
vegetables
•Less for fruiting vegetables
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47. • Most herbs are grown either for leaves
(basil, oregano, mint) or flowers (dill)
• Many can grow as companion plants
• May be used as houseplants
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48. • Herbs can be
somewhat crowded
as long as there is
sufficient air
circulation
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49. Even if you have a large
space
Grow
aggressive
plants in pots
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50. • Each plant removes available
nutrients that it needs
• In a confined area like a raised bed
the soil or mix may become
depleted
• These need to be replaced

51. • Native desert soils are generally infertile
• Soils placed around construction are
generally worse
• Gardeners need to increase fertility
• Soluble fertilizers are commonly used
– May be organic or conventional
– Very convenient
– Concentrated levels of nutrients (conventional)
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52. • Commercial all-
purpose fertilizers
have nitrogen,
phosphorus and
potassium
• The % of each (in
that order, always)
is listed on the
package
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53. • In addition to NPK, several other
micronutrients may be present in
product.
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55.  If you want to grow  If you want what is
organically, then usually most
conventional convenient, then
fertilizers are a no-no organic methods
might be too much of
a bother
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56. Irrigation,
hose,
watering can
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60. • Ongoing fresh crop of plants
• Some plants are only used fresh
• For instance, leafy greens
• For continual supply, calculate:
– time from planting to mature plant
– amount that is planted at any one time
– How long plant(s) will stay usable
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62. • How long from seed to mature
plant?
• How long will a first crop last?
• How much of a variety does the
gardener (and family) eat?
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63. • Have salad green that takes 45 days from
seeding to maturity at 60 (early spring)
– Plant on February 1
– Plants mature about March 18, but can begin
eating on March 13
– If one planting yields 14 salad days, by March
27, first crop is finished.
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64. • Want to have continuous salad
• Need new crop by March 27
• At 75 plants grow faster, say 42 days to
maturity
• Count backwards six weeks from Mar 27
• Begin planting by February 13
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65. • Plant earlier in spring
• Grow later in fall
• Grow longer despite seasonal
changes
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66. • Right plant, right place
• Properly fertilized
• Properly watered
• Receives enough light
• Sheltered from excess light, wind, heat,
cold
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67. • Mulch
• Wall o’Water
• Floating row covers
• Cloches
• Shade cloth
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69. • Straw
• Pine needles

70. • Shredded
wood