GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS: 4 BOOKS IN 1: HOW TO BUILD INEXPENSIVE SYSTEM IN YOUR BACKYARD EVEN IF YOU ARE A COMPLETE BEGINNER. GROW BETTER VEGETABLES, FRUITS AND HERBS WITHOUT SOIL by GREEN LEA

Author:GREEN, LEA [GREEN, LEA]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2020-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 1

Why You Should Use Raised Beds

I will now point out some of the many benefits of this gardening method.

1. Excellent Aeration

The older, traditional way to create raised beds is simply to dig up the soil, piling it into rows. You can follow this method and then support the two sides by using solid frames. Otherwise, place your frames in place and then fill them up with compost, farmyard manure mixed with quality soil. Whichever way you choose to do it, your plants will flourish in this enriched soil, and its loose structure will allow excellent air circulation around all the roots.

We know that the different parts of plants all need to breathe, and so do the roots. For example, during photosynthesis, the leaves take in carbon dioxide and expel oxygen. If your plant sits in compact soil, the roots will suffocate and will not succeed in developing fully. This is because they need good aeration for their roots to be able to absorb the essential nutrients in the soil. To explain further, the soil bacteria convert the nitrogen in the little air pockets into nitrate salts and nitrate, thus providing the macronutrients for the plant. Without sufficient air, there is a lack of nitrogen, and therefore fewer nutrients will be available to the plant.

It is clear that the population of microbes in your vegetable soil must be kept healthy, and this is made possible with good aerated soil. The balance of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria should be maintained as they all play their different roles to enhance the fertility of the soil.

2. Good Drainage

Even during a downpour of rain, your raised beds will render good drainage. No wonder this method is so popular in the tropics with its heavy rainfall. Because the soil has such a loose texture, water will seep slowly into the bed instead of a making a quick runoff with the accompanying washing away of all fertile topsoil. Furthermore, all the excess water can easily drain away.

Although most plants do not mind moisture at all, they hate to get their feet wet. Firstly, all that water around their roots will make breathing almost impossible. Secondly, too much moisture will promote fungal and bacterial diseases. Lastly, excess water drenching the soil can change its pH level and raise the acidity. Plants which prefer more neutral or slightly alkaline soil will suffer as a result.

Some plants, for example, those that live in bogs, are adapted to grow in drenched soil, but most plants prefer soil with a twenty-five percent-moisture level. Raised beds will not allow water stagnation while at the same time, they keep your soil quite evenly moist because the water soaks into the lowest levels of your beds quickly.

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