#Okra Water and Plastics

[reasonsforhope]

"The substances behind the slimy strings from okra and the gel from fenugreek seeds could trap microplastics better than a commonly used synthetic polymer.

Texas researchers proposed in 2022 using these sticky natural polymers to clean up water. Now, they’ve found that okra and/or fenugreek extracts attracted and removed up to 90% of microplastics from ocean water, freshwater, and groundwater.

With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, Rajani Srinivasan and colleagues at Tarleton State University found that the plant-based polymers from okra, fenugreek, and tamarind stick to microplastics, clumping together and sinking for easy separation from water.

In this next stage of the research, they have optimized the process for okra and fenugreek extracts and tested results in a variety of types of water.

To extract the sticky plant polymers, the team soaked sliced okra pods and blended fenugreek seeds in separate containers of water overnight. Then, researchers removed the dissolved extracts from each solution and dried them into powders.

Analyses published in the American Chemical Society journal showed that the powdered extracts contained polysaccharides, which are natural polymers. Initial tests in pure water spiked with microplastics showed that:

One gram of either powder in a quart (one liter) of water trapped microplastics the most effectively.

Dried okra and fenugreek extracts removed 67% and 93%, respectively, of the plastic in an hour.

A mixture of equal parts okra and fenugreek powder reached maximum removal efficiency (70%) within 30 minutes.

The natural polymers performed significantly better than the synthetic, commercially available polyacrylamide polymer used in wastewater treatment.

Then the researchers tested the plant extracts on real microplastic-polluted water. They collected samples from waterbodies around Texas and brought them to the lab. The plant extract removal efficiency changed depending on the original water source.

Okra worked best in ocean water (80%), fenugreek in groundwater (80-90%), and the 1:1 combination of okra and fenugreek in freshwater (77%).

The researchers hypothesize that the natural polymers had different efficiencies because each water sample had different types, sizes and shapes of microplastics.

Polyacrylamide, which is currently used to remove contaminants during wastewater treatment, has low toxicity, but its precursor acrylamide is considered toxic. Okra and fenugreek extracts could serve as biodegradable and nontoxic alternatives.

“Utilizing these plant-based extracts in water treatment will remove microplastics and other pollutants without introducing additional toxic substances to the treated water,” said Srinivasan in a media release, “thus reducing long-term health risks to the population.”

She had previously studied the use of food-grade plant extracts as non-toxic flocculants to remove textile-based pollutants from wastewater and thought, ‘Why not try microplastics?’"

-via Good News Network, May 10, 2025

[lookingforcactus]

"The substances behind the slimy strings from okra and the gel from fenugreek seeds could trap microplastics better than a commonly used synthetic polymer.

Texas researchers proposed in 2022 using these sticky natural polymers to clean up water. Now, they’ve found that okra and/or fenugreek extracts attracted and removed up to 90% of microplastics from ocean water, freshwater, and groundwater.

With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, Rajani Srinivasan and colleagues at Tarleton State University found that the plant-based polymers from okra, fenugreek, and tamarind stick to microplastics, clumping together and sinking for easy separation from water.

In this next stage of the research, they have optimized the process for okra and fenugreek extracts and tested results in a variety of types of water.

To extract the sticky plant polymers, the team soaked sliced okra pods and blended fenugreek seeds in separate containers of water overnight. Then, researchers removed the dissolved extracts from each solution and dried them into powders.

Analyses published in the American Chemical Society journal showed that the powdered extracts contained polysaccharides, which are natural polymers. Initial tests in pure water spiked with microplastics showed that:

One gram of either powder in a quart (one liter) of water trapped microplastics the most effectively.

Dried okra and fenugreek extracts removed 67% and 93%, respectively, of the plastic in an hour.

A mixture of equal parts okra and fenugreek powder reached maximum removal efficiency (70%) within 30 minutes.

The natural polymers performed significantly better than the synthetic, commercially available polyacrylamide polymer used in wastewater treatment.

Then the researchers tested the plant extracts on real microplastic-polluted water. They collected samples from waterbodies around Texas and brought them to the lab. The plant extract removal efficiency changed depending on the original water source.

Okra worked best in ocean water (80%), fenugreek in groundwater (80-90%), and the 1:1 combination of okra and fenugreek in freshwater (77%).

The researchers hypothesize that the natural polymers had different efficiencies because each water sample had different types, sizes and shapes of microplastics.

Polyacrylamide, which is currently used to remove contaminants during wastewater treatment, has low toxicity, but its precursor acrylamide is considered toxic. Okra and fenugreek extracts could serve as biodegradable and nontoxic alternatives.

“Utilizing these plant-based extracts in water treatment will remove microplastics and other pollutants without introducing additional toxic substances to the treated water,” said Srinivasan in a media release, “thus reducing long-term health risks to the population.”

She had previously studied the use of food-grade plant extracts as non-toxic flocculants to remove textile-based pollutants from wastewater and thought, ‘Why not try microplastics?’"

-via Good News Network, May 10, 2025

[shoku-and-awe]

I am *not* a fan of nameko mushrooms. There are a lot of difficult, acquired-taste, fermented or smelly or slimy or otherwise challenging Japanese foods that I'm good with, but these, I've never come around on. I don't like the smell (fruity, kinda rotten), I don't like the liquid they're packed in, I don't like the slime (it lingers on other foods and coats the roof of your mouth), I don't like the way they roll arond and squish and slide when you bite down. I simply am not a fan.

However! I am even more not a fan of wasting food. And I happen to be a recent recipient of a pack of nameko. So let's go! Let's make them palatable!

Step 1: My colander is my best friend. I rinse the nameko several times, under different temperatures of water, trying to see if I can get the slime off and turn them into normal mushrooms.

This is about as good as it gets. It's progress—they're no longer coated in the fucking ooze!—but we're still well far away from normal mushrooms.

(The gossipy mama at the 7-11 will later tell me that slimy food is what I need to heal my back injury. Okay! So maybe this failure is a good thing? I don't know if the slime actually helps, but I understand that it's considered to have an anti-aging effect, skincarewise, so I can see why it might help with old-person-related injuries, and anyway, I'm really enjoying okra in my shrimp and mulukhiyah leaves in my miso soup recently and that's certainly not hurting anyone! I'm still years away from being a nameko fan, though. [OR AM I?])

I chop and sauté a quarter onion, half a leek, and a couple cloves of garlic. When they're smelling good, I throw the nameko in too.

I make a batter with flour, water, salt, and a drizzle of sesame oil. If I'm doing it right, I think, I would mix the nameko straight into the batter, but for some reason, I don't. I pour it on top of them in the pan and immediately begin worrying that I've fucked up. I tear up a piece of my husband's sad-person reduced-cholesterol plastic cheese and throw it on top for insurance. Can't go wrong with cheese.

It might be starting to come together! The key is to start out low and slow so the pancake/pajeon/pizza has time to solidify and cook through. Once it's solid enough to flip unassisted, you can turn the heat up and get it crisping real nice.

I do the awesome flipping maneuver: cover the pan with a plate, then flip the whole deal over so the wet side of the pancake falls onto the plate, then sliiiiide the wet side back, facedown, into the pan to finish cooking. It's really coming together!

Would you look at that! It looks like real food!

I cut it with food scissors and find a dipping sauce. Most people would prepare some kinda soy sauce mixture, but idk; I just use chinkiang vinegar, one of the best things in the world. Which it turns out goes great with cheese!

And it's tasty! It really is. Some of the fruity, fermenty nameko flavor is still there, but between the doughy/crispy pancake, the cheese, and all the allium goodness, it's a very mild, soy saucey flavor! It's not unlike a very, very Japanese white pizza. If you'd told me a few hours ago that nameko could be this good, I wouldn't've believed you! Honestly, I still might not! Good for me.

[urban-homesteading]

The gist:

1. Start seeds indoors. Do this about six to eight weeks before the last frost date. It can help to soak your seeds in water 24 hours prior to planting. This will help soften the hard outer shell around each seed and make it easier for them to germinate.

2. Harden off indoor seedlings before taking outdoors full time.

2. Plant them in mounds. You should plant your seeds in little hills, each of which should be about a foot apart along a fence or something else that your loofah vines can climb.

3. If growing directly outside, once each plant is about two inches tall, thin to a single plant (choose the healthiest one and cull the rest).

4. If you’ve already planted your loofah gourds and a cold snap threatens, put a cloche over your seedlings. This can be as simple as a plastic soda bottle cut in half with a few air holes.

5. Prevent deformed fruits by checking them as they grow and making sure they aren't getting trapped in a fence.

6. Choose the right variety. There are actually two species of gourds that are referred to as loofahs - Luffa aegyptiaca and Chinese okra.  You want luffa acuntangular, also known as smooth luffa, Egyptian luffa, gourd luffa, or dishrag gourd.

7. Use diatomaceous earth in the late summer. In the late summer and early fall, when your plants have produced fruits that are almost ready for harvest, you may want to apply a light dusting of diatomaceous earth. This will help prevent squash beetles, creatures who can decimate loofah plants.

8. When it comes time to harvest, make sure you know the ideal time to do so. Usually, you will want to harvest once the vines have died back, before the first frost in the fall. To remove your loofahs, pinch or cut them off at the vine. This will leave the plant in good stead if there are other gourds that will need to ripen. If a frost threatens, harvest your loofah sponges. Even if they are still green, it’s better to harvest them before the frost hits, as this will lead to premature rot.

9. Prepare your sponges. You will need to do a bit of prep work to get your gourds ready for clean-up. Position your luffa gourd on a solid, flat surface. Use a stone or a rolling pin to remove the dried exterior skin. After you’ve removed both the seeds and the skin, there will be a black, brown, or yellow material underneath. Then soak this material in a solution of bleach water. Rinse them afterward with a few squirts from a hose at high pressure. This will remove any remaining seeds, mold, or rotten material. Allow the loofahs to dry in direct sunlight and a light breeze for a couple of days. Turn them regularly to make sure they dry evenly.

[creepyastralemanation]

Natural Plant Extract Removes up to 90% of Microplastics From Water

Natural Plant Extract Removes up to 90% of Microplastics From Water https://share.google/4zeEr680CvmbRvFyI

Natural polymers from, okra & fenugreek plants, now offer a safer alternative to the synthetic polymers commercially available.

The plants' sticky substances have a gel-like texture that's perfect for grabbing micro- plastics, clumping them together & sinking them to the bottom of any receptacle.

1st, okra pods & fenugreek seeds were set, in separate water tanks overnight.

The dissolved extracts are dried into powders containing natural polymers.

In tests results, 1 gram - of either powder - trapped micro-plastics best in a quart (1 liter) of water.

Okra removed 67% & fenugreek 93%, of micro-plastics, in 1 hour's time.

A mix of both powders removed 70% - in 30 minutes...

Okra worked best (80%) in seawater.

Fenugreek did best (77%) in fresh water.

The natural polymers were both better than the synthetic ones, are biodegradable & aren't toxic.

This greatly reduces long-term health risks for workers who'd handle their use.

End.

[advisblog]

Monsoon Gardening Tips: How to Keep Your Home Garden Thriving

The monsoon season brings a welcome respite from the summer heat, but it also poses unique challenges for home gardeners. Excess moisture, fluctuating temperatures, and reduced sunlight can affect plant health, especially in an organic vegetable garden. However, with the right care and natural solutions, your garden can not only survive but thrive during the rainy season.

1. Ensure Proper Drainage

Too much water is the most common issue during monsoons. Make sure your pots and garden beds have good drainage. Use raised beds or add a layer of gravel at the bottom of pots to prevent root rot. For your organic vegetable garden, ensure that water doesn’t stagnate around root zones of plants like tomatoes, chillies, and brinjal.

2. Use Mulch to Protect the Soil

Covering the soil with organic mulch such as dry leaves, coconut husk, or grass clippings helps regulate moisture, prevents soil erosion, and reduces weed growth. Mulching is especially beneficial for vegetables like okra and beans, which thrive in well-balanced moisture levels.

3. Choose Monsoon-Friendly Vegetables

Some vegetables perform better during the monsoon season. Try growing:

Spinach

Fenugreek (methi)

Amaranthus (thandu keerai)

Bottle gourd

Ridge gourd

These are relatively hardy and well-suited for wet conditions in an organic vegetable garden.

4. Prevent Fungal Infections Naturally

High humidity creates a perfect environment for fungal diseases. Instead of using chemical fungicides, try homemade cleaners. A simple mix of neem oil, water, and a few drops of liquid soap can be sprayed on leaves to prevent mildew and pests. This natural spray is safe for vegetables and also keeps harmful bugs away.

If you want to go a step further, you can learn how to make soap at home. A gentle, organic soap can be used in garden sprays or even to clean your gardening tools without leaving chemical residues.

5. Clean Garden Tools with Natural Soap

Monsoon dampness can lead to rust and bacterial buildup on tools. Keep your garden tools clean using a homemade cleaner or a natural soap solution. A mixture of vinegar, citrus peels, and bio-enzymes is perfect for cleaning metal and plastic tools.

6. Composting During Monsoon

Don’t stop composting just because it’s raining! Use covered bins and mix dry and wet waste in proper ratios. Moisture can speed up composting if done right.

7. Maintain Air Circulation

Good airflow reduces the chances of fungal growth. Prune dead or overgrown parts of plants and avoid overcrowding. This also ensures better sunlight exposure and overall plant health.

Monsoon gardening doesn’t have to be messy or difficult. With the right practices and natural solutions, your home garden can thrive even in the heaviest rains. Focus on building a resilient organic vegetable garden, make use of homemade cleaners, and even experiment with how to make soap at home for all-natural garden care.

Nature has all the tools you need - you just need to use them wisely.

[tameblog]

This spring, I moved into my first home, and though I love it, it’s a townhouse that lacks a proper backyard (which hurts my gardening heart). So, I got inventive and added a raised garden bed, and after testing, I may never go back to the worms and backaches of in-ground gardening again. My fellow editors and I put five more raised garden beds to the test so you can choose the right one for summer gardening—some have been beloved for over five years now, a testament to their longevity.   Before buying a garden bed, consider how much space you have, what you’d like to grow, and how much assembly sounds reasonable to you. Our recommendations will suit any situation, whether a patio herb garden or a large bed for tomatoes and zucchini. Credit: The Spruce What We Like Convenient self-watering feature Sturdy and durable (even in extreme weather) Great value for the price There was no clearer option for our best overall recommendation than the Keter Splendor Raised Garden Bed—our writer, Jeremy, has owned this now for five years without a single complaint. It’s survived a direct hit from a hurricane and still looks great and is perfect for many vegetables, from okra to heirloom tomatoes to banana peppers. The setup is easy and can be completed solo. The legs pop right in without needing tools, there's a false bottom that supports the soil with a space at the bottom for the water reservoir, and a tube that runs through to show when the reservoir is full. Meet the Tester Jeremy has been gardening since 2007, learning from his grandpa and great-grandma. He gardens in Florida using raised containers, since his only soil option is essentially sand from the canal. I love that this option includes a self-watering feature, since a common problem with raised beds is the soil drying out quickly. There is a little pop-up indicator (cutely shaped like a leaf) that shows how full the reservoir is and takes the guesswork out of watering.  Another smart feature: the drain plug at the bottom, which you can pull if you’re experiencing a lot of rainfall to avoid swamping plants. I think this bed is versatile for vegetables, flowers, and herbs, too, so it works for a variety of gardeners. Dimensions: 45 x 19 x 30 inches︱Material: Polypropylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Simple and easy-to-complete assembly Durable and weather-resistant Beautiful rustic, farmhouse look What I don’t love about raised garden beds is how costly it becomes to buy and fill raised garden beds, so saving a bit on the actual container is highly advantageous. That’s a great aspect of the Keter 29-Gallon Elevated Garden Bed, which provides tons of growing space at a nice price. During testing, we planted basil, tomatoes, and marigolds in this bed, but we think it’s great for growing anything. Though we wish the weather were better, we were impressed with how well this held up in the rain, cold, and wind. The faux wood helps ease your mind from fading or other damage. Meet the Tester Jenica has gardened for decades and used raised garden beds for the last five years (she swears by them!) In this bed, she grows basil, tomatoes, and some flowers.  The simple setup is a huge pro—this took less than an hour with clear directions and not-too-many small pieces. It’s also worth mentioning the gorgeous farmhouse design, which is sure to enhance the look of your patio.  Similar to our best overall, this has the same pop-up water level indicator and drain plug to avoid overwatering plants. It's unclear after putting it together if it’s truly self-watering, but we haven’t noticed any watering issues so far. We can’t think of much to change about this bed, other than the portability—once full, it would be really difficult to move, so we wish it came on wheels. But if you want a permanent piece to last for garden seasons to come, this is a great option. Dimensions: 44 x 19 x 31 inches︱Material: Plastic︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Gorgeous design with lots of space to grow Solid, sturdy construction Lots of size options As mentioned, raised garden beds are notorious for needing constant watering, since the moisture from the ground doesn’t help hydrate plant roots. But, in comes the self-watering garden bed from Vego Garden to save the day! Its large wicking cells store and distribute water to your plant babies as needed and provide lots of growing room for crops of all kinds. This is the option I have at my townhouse—while I thought moving was going to limit my growing options, I fit six tomato plants, six pepper plants, and over eight cucumbers towards the back, which will grow up a trellis. I think this bed would look beautiful with flowers, too. Meet the Tester I’m Mia, an experienced gardener going on my tenth growing season in New Jersey. I usually plant in the ground or in larger landscape garden beds, growing lots of veggies like tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers.  This holds whatever you like—fruits, veggies, flowers, or herbs, too. It stores water at the bottom and distributes it evenly to your plants, so you can be assured they’re staying hydrated from the bottom. I also love the iconic design and color options—it'll complement your yard without being an eyesore. As a note, the website says assembly takes “just a few minutes,” but this took me about an hour to build (with some teamwork). There are several small bolts and nuts to keep track of, but once built, it has a sturdy frame that hasn’t moved an inch. Dimensions: 2 x 4, 2 x 6, or 2 x 8 feet︱Material: VZ 2.0 (Steel & zinc alloy)︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Built-in water reservoir Beautiful, timeless design Withstands rain and wind with ease Not all garden beds have to look utilitarian, which is one of the many reasons we love the Devon Garden Planter from Grandin Road. Its beautiful design, simple assembly, and durable frame won us over during testing as we established our herb garden. Strong rain and winds are no match for this raised garden bed, likely thanks to the unique design of the plastic growing container and wooden legs. Our previous raised garden bed was all wood, and it looked worn in comparison to this one. Meet the Tester Daniela is in the early stages of her gardening journey, and this is her third year growing crops in New Jersey. She grew herbs and a few peppers in a wooden raised garden bed for the past two years. As she recently moved to a new home, she replaced that bed with this one. Assembling the raised garden bed was easy. We had to put together the legs, which form the frame of the bed. As a note, you do need a cordless drill to screw the nails in, which we figured out mid-assembly. Once the frame is done, place the plastic bin of the bed on it, and you’re done. One cool feature of the raised garden bed is the water reservoir. It's been raining a lot in New Jersey, so we love that the bed collects water underneath it to distribute later. We wish we had chosen the black color so it shows less dirt, though a little power washing or a garden hose can help. Dimensions: 48 x 18 x 30 inches︱Material: Polyethylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: Amazon Herbs are beautiful when planted between veggies, but why not give them their own dedicated space? This bed has several compartments to let each herb thrive in its own home, and the compact size doesn’t take up too much room on our patio. We’ve had this garden bed for four years now and can keep on growing in it. In our experience, it suits herbs best rather than larger crops like tomatoes, but we could see this as the perfect vessel for a flower garden, too. Meet the Tester Jenica is an experienced gardener in New York who uses wood and metal raised garden beds. In this bed, she planted her herb garden and cherry tomatoes (which didn’t hold up as well). Another great aspect of this is its construction. There’s a handy shelf underneath to store pots, garden tools, and soil, plus the height is perfect. We didn’t have to bend over to use it, though this might change for taller gardeners.  I recommend covering this in the wintertime or storing it in the garage, as the wood faded and weathered in a few places during testing.  Dimensions: 23 inches tall︱Material: Cedar Wood︱Assembly Required: Yes How We Tested Raised Garden Beds We tested several different raised garden beds across the country, varying in height, material, and features.  Ease of setup: No one wants to spend all day putting together a garden bed—you want to get to the good part, the planting! We noted how long assembly and setup took for each of these beds, including how involved it was, and how many little pieces were scattered around the yard afterwards. Credit: The Spruce Durability: You want peace of mind that your raised garden bed can stand up to the elements. Luckily, there was a lot of weather for us to deal with over the testing period. We were able to see how well the beds performed in wind, rain, and heat. Credit: The Spruce Spaciousness: Some beds are better suited for certain crops than others. We noted how spacious each was and what would grow best inside. Credit: The Spruce Design: These are now huge highlights of our backyards, so we awarded extra points if the design was particularly pretty and eye-catching. Credit: The Spruce Overall Value: Raised garden beds can be pricey, making the whole task cost much more than you’d like. We scored the overall value based on the quality and number of special features each bed has. Credit: The Spruce What to Look for in a Raised Garden Bed A Comfortable Height for Gardening Standard raised ground beds sit directly on the ground and are typically 6 to 8 inches high, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed. Because of their low height, users need to bend or crouch down when tending to plants. Elevated raised garden beds, like our best overall pick, the Keter Splendor Garden Bed, offer a growing space at a more comfortable standing or sitting height. These beds have legs or are supported by a stand or trolley. How deep should a raised garden bed be? The ideal growing conditions depend upon the depth of your raised garden bed. For compact herbs, plants, and flowers, the depth can be as little as 6 to eight inches. Deep-rooted plants, such as eggplant or watermelons, fare better in soil at least 12 to 18 inches deep. Durable Construction Materials You can find raised garden beds in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, steel, and polyethylene. Wood: Choose a wood such as cedar or fir that is naturally weather-resistant or comes pre-sealed to create a more traditional, rustic aesthetic. Plastic and polyethylene beds are often more modern or utilitarian in design. While not very stylish, plastic options are often more lightweight and easier to clean. Metal: If you live in a harsh climate and durability is a top priority, a bed made of steel, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed, is a solid option. What's the best soil for raised garden beds? The type of outdoor potting soil you choose depends on the plants you intend to grow, but a potting mix that gets its nutrients from a variety of sources, including peat, manure, compost, and fertilizer, provides the ideal nutrients for an assortment of plants. Extra Features Raised garden beds are advantageous for many reasons: the ability to garden on spots like a deck or patio, fewer weeds to deal with, and easier to reach (some are so high up, you don’t even need to bend over).  Many raised garden beds have special features to enhance the gardening experience, like self-watering reservoirs, attachable trellises, and wheels to make them easier to move. Some of these special features are present in our favorites, like the self-watering capabilities of our best design and best overall options. Why Trust The Spruce? I’m Mia Ingui, an editor at The Spruce who is an experienced gardener, growing bushels of tomatoes and cucumbers year after year. Though this was my first time trying a raised garden bed, I fell in love with the Vego Garden Self-Watering Bed as a great solution to my townhouse's lack of growing space. To compile this list, I took insights from my fellow editors and parsed through the feedback on their raised garden beds, all taking note of the ease of setup, size, durability, and overall value. The 5 Best Planters to Level Up Your Leafy Friends Source link

[ramestoryworld]

This spring, I moved into my first home, and though I love it, it’s a townhouse that lacks a proper backyard (which hurts my gardening heart). So, I got inventive and added a raised garden bed, and after testing, I may never go back to the worms and backaches of in-ground gardening again. My fellow editors and I put five more raised garden beds to the test so you can choose the right one for summer gardening—some have been beloved for over five years now, a testament to their longevity.   Before buying a garden bed, consider how much space you have, what you’d like to grow, and how much assembly sounds reasonable to you. Our recommendations will suit any situation, whether a patio herb garden or a large bed for tomatoes and zucchini. Credit: The Spruce What We Like Convenient self-watering feature Sturdy and durable (even in extreme weather) Great value for the price There was no clearer option for our best overall recommendation than the Keter Splendor Raised Garden Bed—our writer, Jeremy, has owned this now for five years without a single complaint. It’s survived a direct hit from a hurricane and still looks great and is perfect for many vegetables, from okra to heirloom tomatoes to banana peppers. The setup is easy and can be completed solo. The legs pop right in without needing tools, there's a false bottom that supports the soil with a space at the bottom for the water reservoir, and a tube that runs through to show when the reservoir is full. Meet the Tester Jeremy has been gardening since 2007, learning from his grandpa and great-grandma. He gardens in Florida using raised containers, since his only soil option is essentially sand from the canal. I love that this option includes a self-watering feature, since a common problem with raised beds is the soil drying out quickly. There is a little pop-up indicator (cutely shaped like a leaf) that shows how full the reservoir is and takes the guesswork out of watering.  Another smart feature: the drain plug at the bottom, which you can pull if you’re experiencing a lot of rainfall to avoid swamping plants. I think this bed is versatile for vegetables, flowers, and herbs, too, so it works for a variety of gardeners. Dimensions: 45 x 19 x 30 inches︱Material: Polypropylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Simple and easy-to-complete assembly Durable and weather-resistant Beautiful rustic, farmhouse look What I don’t love about raised garden beds is how costly it becomes to buy and fill raised garden beds, so saving a bit on the actual container is highly advantageous. That’s a great aspect of the Keter 29-Gallon Elevated Garden Bed, which provides tons of growing space at a nice price. During testing, we planted basil, tomatoes, and marigolds in this bed, but we think it’s great for growing anything. Though we wish the weather were better, we were impressed with how well this held up in the rain, cold, and wind. The faux wood helps ease your mind from fading or other damage. Meet the Tester Jenica has gardened for decades and used raised garden beds for the last five years (she swears by them!) In this bed, she grows basil, tomatoes, and some flowers.  The simple setup is a huge pro—this took less than an hour with clear directions and not-too-many small pieces. It’s also worth mentioning the gorgeous farmhouse design, which is sure to enhance the look of your patio.  Similar to our best overall, this has the same pop-up water level indicator and drain plug to avoid overwatering plants. It's unclear after putting it together if it’s truly self-watering, but we haven’t noticed any watering issues so far. We can’t think of much to change about this bed, other than the portability—once full, it would be really difficult to move, so we wish it came on wheels. But if you want a permanent piece to last for garden seasons to come, this is a great option. Dimensions: 44 x 19 x 31 inches︱Material: Plastic︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Gorgeous design with lots of space to grow Solid, sturdy construction Lots of size options As mentioned, raised garden beds are notorious for needing constant watering, since the moisture from the ground doesn’t help hydrate plant roots. But, in comes the self-watering garden bed from Vego Garden to save the day! Its large wicking cells store and distribute water to your plant babies as needed and provide lots of growing room for crops of all kinds. This is the option I have at my townhouse—while I thought moving was going to limit my growing options, I fit six tomato plants, six pepper plants, and over eight cucumbers towards the back, which will grow up a trellis. I think this bed would look beautiful with flowers, too. Meet the Tester I’m Mia, an experienced gardener going on my tenth growing season in New Jersey. I usually plant in the ground or in larger landscape garden beds, growing lots of veggies like tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers.  This holds whatever you like—fruits, veggies, flowers, or herbs, too. It stores water at the bottom and distributes it evenly to your plants, so you can be assured they’re staying hydrated from the bottom. I also love the iconic design and color options—it'll complement your yard without being an eyesore. As a note, the website says assembly takes “just a few minutes,” but this took me about an hour to build (with some teamwork). There are several small bolts and nuts to keep track of, but once built, it has a sturdy frame that hasn’t moved an inch. Dimensions: 2 x 4, 2 x 6, or 2 x 8 feet︱Material: VZ 2.0 (Steel & zinc alloy)︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Built-in water reservoir Beautiful, timeless design Withstands rain and wind with ease Not all garden beds have to look utilitarian, which is one of the many reasons we love the Devon Garden Planter from Grandin Road. Its beautiful design, simple assembly, and durable frame won us over during testing as we established our herb garden. Strong rain and winds are no match for this raised garden bed, likely thanks to the unique design of the plastic growing container and wooden legs. Our previous raised garden bed was all wood, and it looked worn in comparison to this one. Meet the Tester Daniela is in the early stages of her gardening journey, and this is her third year growing crops in New Jersey. She grew herbs and a few peppers in a wooden raised garden bed for the past two years. As she recently moved to a new home, she replaced that bed with this one. Assembling the raised garden bed was easy. We had to put together the legs, which form the frame of the bed. As a note, you do need a cordless drill to screw the nails in, which we figured out mid-assembly. Once the frame is done, place the plastic bin of the bed on it, and you’re done. One cool feature of the raised garden bed is the water reservoir. It's been raining a lot in New Jersey, so we love that the bed collects water underneath it to distribute later. We wish we had chosen the black color so it shows less dirt, though a little power washing or a garden hose can help. Dimensions: 48 x 18 x 30 inches︱Material: Polyethylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: Amazon Herbs are beautiful when planted between veggies, but why not give them their own dedicated space? This bed has several compartments to let each herb thrive in its own home, and the compact size doesn’t take up too much room on our patio. We’ve had this garden bed for four years now and can keep on growing in it. In our experience, it suits herbs best rather than larger crops like tomatoes, but we could see this as the perfect vessel for a flower garden, too. Meet the Tester Jenica is an experienced gardener in New York who uses wood and metal raised garden beds. In this bed, she planted her herb garden and cherry tomatoes (which didn’t hold up as well). Another great aspect of this is its construction. There’s a handy shelf underneath to store pots, garden tools, and soil, plus the height is perfect. We didn’t have to bend over to use it, though this might change for taller gardeners.  I recommend covering this in the wintertime or storing it in the garage, as the wood faded and weathered in a few places during testing.  Dimensions: 23 inches tall︱Material: Cedar Wood︱Assembly Required: Yes How We Tested Raised Garden Beds We tested several different raised garden beds across the country, varying in height, material, and features.  Ease of setup: No one wants to spend all day putting together a garden bed—you want to get to the good part, the planting! We noted how long assembly and setup took for each of these beds, including how involved it was, and how many little pieces were scattered around the yard afterwards. Credit: The Spruce Durability: You want peace of mind that your raised garden bed can stand up to the elements. Luckily, there was a lot of weather for us to deal with over the testing period. We were able to see how well the beds performed in wind, rain, and heat. Credit: The Spruce Spaciousness: Some beds are better suited for certain crops than others. We noted how spacious each was and what would grow best inside. Credit: The Spruce Design: These are now huge highlights of our backyards, so we awarded extra points if the design was particularly pretty and eye-catching. Credit: The Spruce Overall Value: Raised garden beds can be pricey, making the whole task cost much more than you’d like. We scored the overall value based on the quality and number of special features each bed has. Credit: The Spruce What to Look for in a Raised Garden Bed A Comfortable Height for Gardening Standard raised ground beds sit directly on the ground and are typically 6 to 8 inches high, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed. Because of their low height, users need to bend or crouch down when tending to plants. Elevated raised garden beds, like our best overall pick, the Keter Splendor Garden Bed, offer a growing space at a more comfortable standing or sitting height. These beds have legs or are supported by a stand or trolley. How deep should a raised garden bed be? The ideal growing conditions depend upon the depth of your raised garden bed. For compact herbs, plants, and flowers, the depth can be as little as 6 to eight inches. Deep-rooted plants, such as eggplant or watermelons, fare better in soil at least 12 to 18 inches deep. Durable Construction Materials You can find raised garden beds in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, steel, and polyethylene. Wood: Choose a wood such as cedar or fir that is naturally weather-resistant or comes pre-sealed to create a more traditional, rustic aesthetic. Plastic and polyethylene beds are often more modern or utilitarian in design. While not very stylish, plastic options are often more lightweight and easier to clean. Metal: If you live in a harsh climate and durability is a top priority, a bed made of steel, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed, is a solid option. What's the best soil for raised garden beds? The type of outdoor potting soil you choose depends on the plants you intend to grow, but a potting mix that gets its nutrients from a variety of sources, including peat, manure, compost, and fertilizer, provides the ideal nutrients for an assortment of plants. Extra Features Raised garden beds are advantageous for many reasons: the ability to garden on spots like a deck or patio, fewer weeds to deal with, and easier to reach (some are so high up, you don’t even need to bend over).  Many raised garden beds have special features to enhance the gardening experience, like self-watering reservoirs, attachable trellises, and wheels to make them easier to move. Some of these special features are present in our favorites, like the self-watering capabilities of our best design and best overall options. Why Trust The Spruce? I’m Mia Ingui, an editor at The Spruce who is an experienced gardener, growing bushels of tomatoes and cucumbers year after year. Though this was my first time trying a raised garden bed, I fell in love with the Vego Garden Self-Watering Bed as a great solution to my townhouse's lack of growing space. To compile this list, I took insights from my fellow editors and parsed through the feedback on their raised garden beds, all taking note of the ease of setup, size, durability, and overall value. The 5 Best Planters to Level Up Your Leafy Friends Source link

[alexha2210]

This spring, I moved into my first home, and though I love it, it’s a townhouse that lacks a proper backyard (which hurts my gardening heart). So, I got inventive and added a raised garden bed, and after testing, I may never go back to the worms and backaches of in-ground gardening again. My fellow editors and I put five more raised garden beds to the test so you can choose the right one for summer gardening—some have been beloved for over five years now, a testament to their longevity.   Before buying a garden bed, consider how much space you have, what you’d like to grow, and how much assembly sounds reasonable to you. Our recommendations will suit any situation, whether a patio herb garden or a large bed for tomatoes and zucchini. Credit: The Spruce What We Like Convenient self-watering feature Sturdy and durable (even in extreme weather) Great value for the price There was no clearer option for our best overall recommendation than the Keter Splendor Raised Garden Bed—our writer, Jeremy, has owned this now for five years without a single complaint. It’s survived a direct hit from a hurricane and still looks great and is perfect for many vegetables, from okra to heirloom tomatoes to banana peppers. The setup is easy and can be completed solo. The legs pop right in without needing tools, there's a false bottom that supports the soil with a space at the bottom for the water reservoir, and a tube that runs through to show when the reservoir is full. Meet the Tester Jeremy has been gardening since 2007, learning from his grandpa and great-grandma. He gardens in Florida using raised containers, since his only soil option is essentially sand from the canal. I love that this option includes a self-watering feature, since a common problem with raised beds is the soil drying out quickly. There is a little pop-up indicator (cutely shaped like a leaf) that shows how full the reservoir is and takes the guesswork out of watering.  Another smart feature: the drain plug at the bottom, which you can pull if you’re experiencing a lot of rainfall to avoid swamping plants. I think this bed is versatile for vegetables, flowers, and herbs, too, so it works for a variety of gardeners. Dimensions: 45 x 19 x 30 inches︱Material: Polypropylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Simple and easy-to-complete assembly Durable and weather-resistant Beautiful rustic, farmhouse look What I don’t love about raised garden beds is how costly it becomes to buy and fill raised garden beds, so saving a bit on the actual container is highly advantageous. That’s a great aspect of the Keter 29-Gallon Elevated Garden Bed, which provides tons of growing space at a nice price. During testing, we planted basil, tomatoes, and marigolds in this bed, but we think it’s great for growing anything. Though we wish the weather were better, we were impressed with how well this held up in the rain, cold, and wind. The faux wood helps ease your mind from fading or other damage. Meet the Tester Jenica has gardened for decades and used raised garden beds for the last five years (she swears by them!) In this bed, she grows basil, tomatoes, and some flowers.  The simple setup is a huge pro—this took less than an hour with clear directions and not-too-many small pieces. It’s also worth mentioning the gorgeous farmhouse design, which is sure to enhance the look of your patio.  Similar to our best overall, this has the same pop-up water level indicator and drain plug to avoid overwatering plants. It's unclear after putting it together if it’s truly self-watering, but we haven’t noticed any watering issues so far. We can’t think of much to change about this bed, other than the portability—once full, it would be really difficult to move, so we wish it came on wheels. But if you want a permanent piece to last for garden seasons to come, this is a great option. Dimensions: 44 x 19 x 31 inches︱Material: Plastic︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Gorgeous design with lots of space to grow Solid, sturdy construction Lots of size options As mentioned, raised garden beds are notorious for needing constant watering, since the moisture from the ground doesn’t help hydrate plant roots. But, in comes the self-watering garden bed from Vego Garden to save the day! Its large wicking cells store and distribute water to your plant babies as needed and provide lots of growing room for crops of all kinds. This is the option I have at my townhouse—while I thought moving was going to limit my growing options, I fit six tomato plants, six pepper plants, and over eight cucumbers towards the back, which will grow up a trellis. I think this bed would look beautiful with flowers, too. Meet the Tester I’m Mia, an experienced gardener going on my tenth growing season in New Jersey. I usually plant in the ground or in larger landscape garden beds, growing lots of veggies like tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers.  This holds whatever you like—fruits, veggies, flowers, or herbs, too. It stores water at the bottom and distributes it evenly to your plants, so you can be assured they’re staying hydrated from the bottom. I also love the iconic design and color options—it'll complement your yard without being an eyesore. As a note, the website says assembly takes “just a few minutes,” but this took me about an hour to build (with some teamwork). There are several small bolts and nuts to keep track of, but once built, it has a sturdy frame that hasn’t moved an inch. Dimensions: 2 x 4, 2 x 6, or 2 x 8 feet︱Material: VZ 2.0 (Steel & zinc alloy)︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Built-in water reservoir Beautiful, timeless design Withstands rain and wind with ease Not all garden beds have to look utilitarian, which is one of the many reasons we love the Devon Garden Planter from Grandin Road. Its beautiful design, simple assembly, and durable frame won us over during testing as we established our herb garden. Strong rain and winds are no match for this raised garden bed, likely thanks to the unique design of the plastic growing container and wooden legs. Our previous raised garden bed was all wood, and it looked worn in comparison to this one. Meet the Tester Daniela is in the early stages of her gardening journey, and this is her third year growing crops in New Jersey. She grew herbs and a few peppers in a wooden raised garden bed for the past two years. As she recently moved to a new home, she replaced that bed with this one. Assembling the raised garden bed was easy. We had to put together the legs, which form the frame of the bed. As a note, you do need a cordless drill to screw the nails in, which we figured out mid-assembly. Once the frame is done, place the plastic bin of the bed on it, and you’re done. One cool feature of the raised garden bed is the water reservoir. It's been raining a lot in New Jersey, so we love that the bed collects water underneath it to distribute later. We wish we had chosen the black color so it shows less dirt, though a little power washing or a garden hose can help. Dimensions: 48 x 18 x 30 inches︱Material: Polyethylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: Amazon Herbs are beautiful when planted between veggies, but why not give them their own dedicated space? This bed has several compartments to let each herb thrive in its own home, and the compact size doesn’t take up too much room on our patio. We’ve had this garden bed for four years now and can keep on growing in it. In our experience, it suits herbs best rather than larger crops like tomatoes, but we could see this as the perfect vessel for a flower garden, too. Meet the Tester Jenica is an experienced gardener in New York who uses wood and metal raised garden beds. In this bed, she planted her herb garden and cherry tomatoes (which didn’t hold up as well). Another great aspect of this is its construction. There’s a handy shelf underneath to store pots, garden tools, and soil, plus the height is perfect. We didn’t have to bend over to use it, though this might change for taller gardeners.  I recommend covering this in the wintertime or storing it in the garage, as the wood faded and weathered in a few places during testing.  Dimensions: 23 inches tall︱Material: Cedar Wood︱Assembly Required: Yes How We Tested Raised Garden Beds We tested several different raised garden beds across the country, varying in height, material, and features.  Ease of setup: No one wants to spend all day putting together a garden bed—you want to get to the good part, the planting! We noted how long assembly and setup took for each of these beds, including how involved it was, and how many little pieces were scattered around the yard afterwards. Credit: The Spruce Durability: You want peace of mind that your raised garden bed can stand up to the elements. Luckily, there was a lot of weather for us to deal with over the testing period. We were able to see how well the beds performed in wind, rain, and heat. Credit: The Spruce Spaciousness: Some beds are better suited for certain crops than others. We noted how spacious each was and what would grow best inside. Credit: The Spruce Design: These are now huge highlights of our backyards, so we awarded extra points if the design was particularly pretty and eye-catching. Credit: The Spruce Overall Value: Raised garden beds can be pricey, making the whole task cost much more than you’d like. We scored the overall value based on the quality and number of special features each bed has. Credit: The Spruce What to Look for in a Raised Garden Bed A Comfortable Height for Gardening Standard raised ground beds sit directly on the ground and are typically 6 to 8 inches high, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed. Because of their low height, users need to bend or crouch down when tending to plants. Elevated raised garden beds, like our best overall pick, the Keter Splendor Garden Bed, offer a growing space at a more comfortable standing or sitting height. These beds have legs or are supported by a stand or trolley. How deep should a raised garden bed be? The ideal growing conditions depend upon the depth of your raised garden bed. For compact herbs, plants, and flowers, the depth can be as little as 6 to eight inches. Deep-rooted plants, such as eggplant or watermelons, fare better in soil at least 12 to 18 inches deep. Durable Construction Materials You can find raised garden beds in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, steel, and polyethylene. Wood: Choose a wood such as cedar or fir that is naturally weather-resistant or comes pre-sealed to create a more traditional, rustic aesthetic. Plastic and polyethylene beds are often more modern or utilitarian in design. While not very stylish, plastic options are often more lightweight and easier to clean. Metal: If you live in a harsh climate and durability is a top priority, a bed made of steel, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed, is a solid option. What's the best soil for raised garden beds? The type of outdoor potting soil you choose depends on the plants you intend to grow, but a potting mix that gets its nutrients from a variety of sources, including peat, manure, compost, and fertilizer, provides the ideal nutrients for an assortment of plants. Extra Features Raised garden beds are advantageous for many reasons: the ability to garden on spots like a deck or patio, fewer weeds to deal with, and easier to reach (some are so high up, you don’t even need to bend over).  Many raised garden beds have special features to enhance the gardening experience, like self-watering reservoirs, attachable trellises, and wheels to make them easier to move. Some of these special features are present in our favorites, like the self-watering capabilities of our best design and best overall options. Why Trust The Spruce? I’m Mia Ingui, an editor at The Spruce who is an experienced gardener, growing bushels of tomatoes and cucumbers year after year. Though this was my first time trying a raised garden bed, I fell in love with the Vego Garden Self-Watering Bed as a great solution to my townhouse's lack of growing space. To compile this list, I took insights from my fellow editors and parsed through the feedback on their raised garden beds, all taking note of the ease of setup, size, durability, and overall value. The 5 Best Planters to Level Up Your Leafy Friends Source link

[angusstory]

This spring, I moved into my first home, and though I love it, it’s a townhouse that lacks a proper backyard (which hurts my gardening heart). So, I got inventive and added a raised garden bed, and after testing, I may never go back to the worms and backaches of in-ground gardening again. My fellow editors and I put five more raised garden beds to the test so you can choose the right one for summer gardening—some have been beloved for over five years now, a testament to their longevity.   Before buying a garden bed, consider how much space you have, what you’d like to grow, and how much assembly sounds reasonable to you. Our recommendations will suit any situation, whether a patio herb garden or a large bed for tomatoes and zucchini. Credit: The Spruce What We Like Convenient self-watering feature Sturdy and durable (even in extreme weather) Great value for the price There was no clearer option for our best overall recommendation than the Keter Splendor Raised Garden Bed—our writer, Jeremy, has owned this now for five years without a single complaint. It’s survived a direct hit from a hurricane and still looks great and is perfect for many vegetables, from okra to heirloom tomatoes to banana peppers. The setup is easy and can be completed solo. The legs pop right in without needing tools, there's a false bottom that supports the soil with a space at the bottom for the water reservoir, and a tube that runs through to show when the reservoir is full. Meet the Tester Jeremy has been gardening since 2007, learning from his grandpa and great-grandma. He gardens in Florida using raised containers, since his only soil option is essentially sand from the canal. I love that this option includes a self-watering feature, since a common problem with raised beds is the soil drying out quickly. There is a little pop-up indicator (cutely shaped like a leaf) that shows how full the reservoir is and takes the guesswork out of watering.  Another smart feature: the drain plug at the bottom, which you can pull if you’re experiencing a lot of rainfall to avoid swamping plants. I think this bed is versatile for vegetables, flowers, and herbs, too, so it works for a variety of gardeners. Dimensions: 45 x 19 x 30 inches︱Material: Polypropylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Simple and easy-to-complete assembly Durable and weather-resistant Beautiful rustic, farmhouse look What I don’t love about raised garden beds is how costly it becomes to buy and fill raised garden beds, so saving a bit on the actual container is highly advantageous. That’s a great aspect of the Keter 29-Gallon Elevated Garden Bed, which provides tons of growing space at a nice price. During testing, we planted basil, tomatoes, and marigolds in this bed, but we think it’s great for growing anything. Though we wish the weather were better, we were impressed with how well this held up in the rain, cold, and wind. The faux wood helps ease your mind from fading or other damage. Meet the Tester Jenica has gardened for decades and used raised garden beds for the last five years (she swears by them!) In this bed, she grows basil, tomatoes, and some flowers.  The simple setup is a huge pro—this took less than an hour with clear directions and not-too-many small pieces. It’s also worth mentioning the gorgeous farmhouse design, which is sure to enhance the look of your patio.  Similar to our best overall, this has the same pop-up water level indicator and drain plug to avoid overwatering plants. It's unclear after putting it together if it’s truly self-watering, but we haven’t noticed any watering issues so far. We can’t think of much to change about this bed, other than the portability—once full, it would be really difficult to move, so we wish it came on wheels. But if you want a permanent piece to last for garden seasons to come, this is a great option. Dimensions: 44 x 19 x 31 inches︱Material: Plastic︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Gorgeous design with lots of space to grow Solid, sturdy construction Lots of size options As mentioned, raised garden beds are notorious for needing constant watering, since the moisture from the ground doesn’t help hydrate plant roots. But, in comes the self-watering garden bed from Vego Garden to save the day! Its large wicking cells store and distribute water to your plant babies as needed and provide lots of growing room for crops of all kinds. This is the option I have at my townhouse—while I thought moving was going to limit my growing options, I fit six tomato plants, six pepper plants, and over eight cucumbers towards the back, which will grow up a trellis. I think this bed would look beautiful with flowers, too. Meet the Tester I’m Mia, an experienced gardener going on my tenth growing season in New Jersey. I usually plant in the ground or in larger landscape garden beds, growing lots of veggies like tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers.  This holds whatever you like—fruits, veggies, flowers, or herbs, too. It stores water at the bottom and distributes it evenly to your plants, so you can be assured they’re staying hydrated from the bottom. I also love the iconic design and color options—it'll complement your yard without being an eyesore. As a note, the website says assembly takes “just a few minutes,” but this took me about an hour to build (with some teamwork). There are several small bolts and nuts to keep track of, but once built, it has a sturdy frame that hasn’t moved an inch. Dimensions: 2 x 4, 2 x 6, or 2 x 8 feet︱Material: VZ 2.0 (Steel & zinc alloy)︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Built-in water reservoir Beautiful, timeless design Withstands rain and wind with ease Not all garden beds have to look utilitarian, which is one of the many reasons we love the Devon Garden Planter from Grandin Road. Its beautiful design, simple assembly, and durable frame won us over during testing as we established our herb garden. Strong rain and winds are no match for this raised garden bed, likely thanks to the unique design of the plastic growing container and wooden legs. Our previous raised garden bed was all wood, and it looked worn in comparison to this one. Meet the Tester Daniela is in the early stages of her gardening journey, and this is her third year growing crops in New Jersey. She grew herbs and a few peppers in a wooden raised garden bed for the past two years. As she recently moved to a new home, she replaced that bed with this one. Assembling the raised garden bed was easy. We had to put together the legs, which form the frame of the bed. As a note, you do need a cordless drill to screw the nails in, which we figured out mid-assembly. Once the frame is done, place the plastic bin of the bed on it, and you’re done. One cool feature of the raised garden bed is the water reservoir. It's been raining a lot in New Jersey, so we love that the bed collects water underneath it to distribute later. We wish we had chosen the black color so it shows less dirt, though a little power washing or a garden hose can help. Dimensions: 48 x 18 x 30 inches︱Material: Polyethylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: Amazon Herbs are beautiful when planted between veggies, but why not give them their own dedicated space? This bed has several compartments to let each herb thrive in its own home, and the compact size doesn’t take up too much room on our patio. We’ve had this garden bed for four years now and can keep on growing in it. In our experience, it suits herbs best rather than larger crops like tomatoes, but we could see this as the perfect vessel for a flower garden, too. Meet the Tester Jenica is an experienced gardener in New York who uses wood and metal raised garden beds. In this bed, she planted her herb garden and cherry tomatoes (which didn’t hold up as well). Another great aspect of this is its construction. There’s a handy shelf underneath to store pots, garden tools, and soil, plus the height is perfect. We didn’t have to bend over to use it, though this might change for taller gardeners.  I recommend covering this in the wintertime or storing it in the garage, as the wood faded and weathered in a few places during testing.  Dimensions: 23 inches tall︱Material: Cedar Wood︱Assembly Required: Yes How We Tested Raised Garden Beds We tested several different raised garden beds across the country, varying in height, material, and features.  Ease of setup: No one wants to spend all day putting together a garden bed—you want to get to the good part, the planting! We noted how long assembly and setup took for each of these beds, including how involved it was, and how many little pieces were scattered around the yard afterwards. Credit: The Spruce Durability: You want peace of mind that your raised garden bed can stand up to the elements. Luckily, there was a lot of weather for us to deal with over the testing period. We were able to see how well the beds performed in wind, rain, and heat. Credit: The Spruce Spaciousness: Some beds are better suited for certain crops than others. We noted how spacious each was and what would grow best inside. Credit: The Spruce Design: These are now huge highlights of our backyards, so we awarded extra points if the design was particularly pretty and eye-catching. Credit: The Spruce Overall Value: Raised garden beds can be pricey, making the whole task cost much more than you’d like. We scored the overall value based on the quality and number of special features each bed has. Credit: The Spruce What to Look for in a Raised Garden Bed A Comfortable Height for Gardening Standard raised ground beds sit directly on the ground and are typically 6 to 8 inches high, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed. Because of their low height, users need to bend or crouch down when tending to plants. Elevated raised garden beds, like our best overall pick, the Keter Splendor Garden Bed, offer a growing space at a more comfortable standing or sitting height. These beds have legs or are supported by a stand or trolley. How deep should a raised garden bed be? The ideal growing conditions depend upon the depth of your raised garden bed. For compact herbs, plants, and flowers, the depth can be as little as 6 to eight inches. Deep-rooted plants, such as eggplant or watermelons, fare better in soil at least 12 to 18 inches deep. Durable Construction Materials You can find raised garden beds in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, steel, and polyethylene. Wood: Choose a wood such as cedar or fir that is naturally weather-resistant or comes pre-sealed to create a more traditional, rustic aesthetic. Plastic and polyethylene beds are often more modern or utilitarian in design. While not very stylish, plastic options are often more lightweight and easier to clean. Metal: If you live in a harsh climate and durability is a top priority, a bed made of steel, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed, is a solid option. What's the best soil for raised garden beds? The type of outdoor potting soil you choose depends on the plants you intend to grow, but a potting mix that gets its nutrients from a variety of sources, including peat, manure, compost, and fertilizer, provides the ideal nutrients for an assortment of plants. Extra Features Raised garden beds are advantageous for many reasons: the ability to garden on spots like a deck or patio, fewer weeds to deal with, and easier to reach (some are so high up, you don’t even need to bend over).  Many raised garden beds have special features to enhance the gardening experience, like self-watering reservoirs, attachable trellises, and wheels to make them easier to move. Some of these special features are present in our favorites, like the self-watering capabilities of our best design and best overall options. Why Trust The Spruce? I’m Mia Ingui, an editor at The Spruce who is an experienced gardener, growing bushels of tomatoes and cucumbers year after year. Though this was my first time trying a raised garden bed, I fell in love with the Vego Garden Self-Watering Bed as a great solution to my townhouse's lack of growing space. To compile this list, I took insights from my fellow editors and parsed through the feedback on their raised garden beds, all taking note of the ease of setup, size, durability, and overall value. The 5 Best Planters to Level Up Your Leafy Friends Source link

[tumibaba]

This spring, I moved into my first home, and though I love it, it’s a townhouse that lacks a proper backyard (which hurts my gardening heart). So, I got inventive and added a raised garden bed, and after testing, I may never go back to the worms and backaches of in-ground gardening again. My fellow editors and I put five more raised garden beds to the test so you can choose the right one for summer gardening—some have been beloved for over five years now, a testament to their longevity.   Before buying a garden bed, consider how much space you have, what you’d like to grow, and how much assembly sounds reasonable to you. Our recommendations will suit any situation, whether a patio herb garden or a large bed for tomatoes and zucchini. Credit: The Spruce What We Like Convenient self-watering feature Sturdy and durable (even in extreme weather) Great value for the price There was no clearer option for our best overall recommendation than the Keter Splendor Raised Garden Bed—our writer, Jeremy, has owned this now for five years without a single complaint. It’s survived a direct hit from a hurricane and still looks great and is perfect for many vegetables, from okra to heirloom tomatoes to banana peppers. The setup is easy and can be completed solo. The legs pop right in without needing tools, there's a false bottom that supports the soil with a space at the bottom for the water reservoir, and a tube that runs through to show when the reservoir is full. Meet the Tester Jeremy has been gardening since 2007, learning from his grandpa and great-grandma. He gardens in Florida using raised containers, since his only soil option is essentially sand from the canal. I love that this option includes a self-watering feature, since a common problem with raised beds is the soil drying out quickly. There is a little pop-up indicator (cutely shaped like a leaf) that shows how full the reservoir is and takes the guesswork out of watering.  Another smart feature: the drain plug at the bottom, which you can pull if you’re experiencing a lot of rainfall to avoid swamping plants. I think this bed is versatile for vegetables, flowers, and herbs, too, so it works for a variety of gardeners. Dimensions: 45 x 19 x 30 inches︱Material: Polypropylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Simple and easy-to-complete assembly Durable and weather-resistant Beautiful rustic, farmhouse look What I don’t love about raised garden beds is how costly it becomes to buy and fill raised garden beds, so saving a bit on the actual container is highly advantageous. That’s a great aspect of the Keter 29-Gallon Elevated Garden Bed, which provides tons of growing space at a nice price. During testing, we planted basil, tomatoes, and marigolds in this bed, but we think it’s great for growing anything. Though we wish the weather were better, we were impressed with how well this held up in the rain, cold, and wind. The faux wood helps ease your mind from fading or other damage. Meet the Tester Jenica has gardened for decades and used raised garden beds for the last five years (she swears by them!) In this bed, she grows basil, tomatoes, and some flowers.  The simple setup is a huge pro—this took less than an hour with clear directions and not-too-many small pieces. It’s also worth mentioning the gorgeous farmhouse design, which is sure to enhance the look of your patio.  Similar to our best overall, this has the same pop-up water level indicator and drain plug to avoid overwatering plants. It's unclear after putting it together if it’s truly self-watering, but we haven’t noticed any watering issues so far. We can’t think of much to change about this bed, other than the portability—once full, it would be really difficult to move, so we wish it came on wheels. But if you want a permanent piece to last for garden seasons to come, this is a great option. Dimensions: 44 x 19 x 31 inches︱Material: Plastic︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Gorgeous design with lots of space to grow Solid, sturdy construction Lots of size options As mentioned, raised garden beds are notorious for needing constant watering, since the moisture from the ground doesn’t help hydrate plant roots. But, in comes the self-watering garden bed from Vego Garden to save the day! Its large wicking cells store and distribute water to your plant babies as needed and provide lots of growing room for crops of all kinds. This is the option I have at my townhouse—while I thought moving was going to limit my growing options, I fit six tomato plants, six pepper plants, and over eight cucumbers towards the back, which will grow up a trellis. I think this bed would look beautiful with flowers, too. Meet the Tester I’m Mia, an experienced gardener going on my tenth growing season in New Jersey. I usually plant in the ground or in larger landscape garden beds, growing lots of veggies like tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers.  This holds whatever you like—fruits, veggies, flowers, or herbs, too. It stores water at the bottom and distributes it evenly to your plants, so you can be assured they’re staying hydrated from the bottom. I also love the iconic design and color options—it'll complement your yard without being an eyesore. As a note, the website says assembly takes “just a few minutes,” but this took me about an hour to build (with some teamwork). There are several small bolts and nuts to keep track of, but once built, it has a sturdy frame that hasn’t moved an inch. Dimensions: 2 x 4, 2 x 6, or 2 x 8 feet︱Material: VZ 2.0 (Steel & zinc alloy)︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Built-in water reservoir Beautiful, timeless design Withstands rain and wind with ease Not all garden beds have to look utilitarian, which is one of the many reasons we love the Devon Garden Planter from Grandin Road. Its beautiful design, simple assembly, and durable frame won us over during testing as we established our herb garden. Strong rain and winds are no match for this raised garden bed, likely thanks to the unique design of the plastic growing container and wooden legs. Our previous raised garden bed was all wood, and it looked worn in comparison to this one. Meet the Tester Daniela is in the early stages of her gardening journey, and this is her third year growing crops in New Jersey. She grew herbs and a few peppers in a wooden raised garden bed for the past two years. As she recently moved to a new home, she replaced that bed with this one. Assembling the raised garden bed was easy. We had to put together the legs, which form the frame of the bed. As a note, you do need a cordless drill to screw the nails in, which we figured out mid-assembly. Once the frame is done, place the plastic bin of the bed on it, and you’re done. One cool feature of the raised garden bed is the water reservoir. It's been raining a lot in New Jersey, so we love that the bed collects water underneath it to distribute later. We wish we had chosen the black color so it shows less dirt, though a little power washing or a garden hose can help. Dimensions: 48 x 18 x 30 inches︱Material: Polyethylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: Amazon Herbs are beautiful when planted between veggies, but why not give them their own dedicated space? This bed has several compartments to let each herb thrive in its own home, and the compact size doesn’t take up too much room on our patio. We’ve had this garden bed for four years now and can keep on growing in it. In our experience, it suits herbs best rather than larger crops like tomatoes, but we could see this as the perfect vessel for a flower garden, too. Meet the Tester Jenica is an experienced gardener in New York who uses wood and metal raised garden beds. In this bed, she planted her herb garden and cherry tomatoes (which didn’t hold up as well). Another great aspect of this is its construction. There’s a handy shelf underneath to store pots, garden tools, and soil, plus the height is perfect. We didn’t have to bend over to use it, though this might change for taller gardeners.  I recommend covering this in the wintertime or storing it in the garage, as the wood faded and weathered in a few places during testing.  Dimensions: 23 inches tall︱Material: Cedar Wood︱Assembly Required: Yes How We Tested Raised Garden Beds We tested several different raised garden beds across the country, varying in height, material, and features.  Ease of setup: No one wants to spend all day putting together a garden bed—you want to get to the good part, the planting! We noted how long assembly and setup took for each of these beds, including how involved it was, and how many little pieces were scattered around the yard afterwards. Credit: The Spruce Durability: You want peace of mind that your raised garden bed can stand up to the elements. Luckily, there was a lot of weather for us to deal with over the testing period. We were able to see how well the beds performed in wind, rain, and heat. Credit: The Spruce Spaciousness: Some beds are better suited for certain crops than others. We noted how spacious each was and what would grow best inside. Credit: The Spruce Design: These are now huge highlights of our backyards, so we awarded extra points if the design was particularly pretty and eye-catching. Credit: The Spruce Overall Value: Raised garden beds can be pricey, making the whole task cost much more than you’d like. We scored the overall value based on the quality and number of special features each bed has. Credit: The Spruce What to Look for in a Raised Garden Bed A Comfortable Height for Gardening Standard raised ground beds sit directly on the ground and are typically 6 to 8 inches high, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed. Because of their low height, users need to bend or crouch down when tending to plants. Elevated raised garden beds, like our best overall pick, the Keter Splendor Garden Bed, offer a growing space at a more comfortable standing or sitting height. These beds have legs or are supported by a stand or trolley. How deep should a raised garden bed be? The ideal growing conditions depend upon the depth of your raised garden bed. For compact herbs, plants, and flowers, the depth can be as little as 6 to eight inches. Deep-rooted plants, such as eggplant or watermelons, fare better in soil at least 12 to 18 inches deep. Durable Construction Materials You can find raised garden beds in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, steel, and polyethylene. Wood: Choose a wood such as cedar or fir that is naturally weather-resistant or comes pre-sealed to create a more traditional, rustic aesthetic. Plastic and polyethylene beds are often more modern or utilitarian in design. While not very stylish, plastic options are often more lightweight and easier to clean. Metal: If you live in a harsh climate and durability is a top priority, a bed made of steel, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed, is a solid option. What's the best soil for raised garden beds? The type of outdoor potting soil you choose depends on the plants you intend to grow, but a potting mix that gets its nutrients from a variety of sources, including peat, manure, compost, and fertilizer, provides the ideal nutrients for an assortment of plants. Extra Features Raised garden beds are advantageous for many reasons: the ability to garden on spots like a deck or patio, fewer weeds to deal with, and easier to reach (some are so high up, you don’t even need to bend over).  Many raised garden beds have special features to enhance the gardening experience, like self-watering reservoirs, attachable trellises, and wheels to make them easier to move. Some of these special features are present in our favorites, like the self-watering capabilities of our best design and best overall options. Why Trust The Spruce? I’m Mia Ingui, an editor at The Spruce who is an experienced gardener, growing bushels of tomatoes and cucumbers year after year. Though this was my first time trying a raised garden bed, I fell in love with the Vego Garden Self-Watering Bed as a great solution to my townhouse's lack of growing space. To compile this list, I took insights from my fellow editors and parsed through the feedback on their raised garden beds, all taking note of the ease of setup, size, durability, and overall value. The 5 Best Planters to Level Up Your Leafy Friends Source link

[romaleen]

This spring, I moved into my first home, and though I love it, it’s a townhouse that lacks a proper backyard (which hurts my gardening heart). So, I got inventive and added a raised garden bed, and after testing, I may never go back to the worms and backaches of in-ground gardening again. My fellow editors and I put five more raised garden beds to the test so you can choose the right one for summer gardening—some have been beloved for over five years now, a testament to their longevity.   Before buying a garden bed, consider how much space you have, what you’d like to grow, and how much assembly sounds reasonable to you. Our recommendations will suit any situation, whether a patio herb garden or a large bed for tomatoes and zucchini. Credit: The Spruce What We Like Convenient self-watering feature Sturdy and durable (even in extreme weather) Great value for the price There was no clearer option for our best overall recommendation than the Keter Splendor Raised Garden Bed—our writer, Jeremy, has owned this now for five years without a single complaint. It’s survived a direct hit from a hurricane and still looks great and is perfect for many vegetables, from okra to heirloom tomatoes to banana peppers. The setup is easy and can be completed solo. The legs pop right in without needing tools, there's a false bottom that supports the soil with a space at the bottom for the water reservoir, and a tube that runs through to show when the reservoir is full. Meet the Tester Jeremy has been gardening since 2007, learning from his grandpa and great-grandma. He gardens in Florida using raised containers, since his only soil option is essentially sand from the canal. I love that this option includes a self-watering feature, since a common problem with raised beds is the soil drying out quickly. There is a little pop-up indicator (cutely shaped like a leaf) that shows how full the reservoir is and takes the guesswork out of watering.  Another smart feature: the drain plug at the bottom, which you can pull if you’re experiencing a lot of rainfall to avoid swamping plants. I think this bed is versatile for vegetables, flowers, and herbs, too, so it works for a variety of gardeners. Dimensions: 45 x 19 x 30 inches︱Material: Polypropylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Simple and easy-to-complete assembly Durable and weather-resistant Beautiful rustic, farmhouse look What I don’t love about raised garden beds is how costly it becomes to buy and fill raised garden beds, so saving a bit on the actual container is highly advantageous. That’s a great aspect of the Keter 29-Gallon Elevated Garden Bed, which provides tons of growing space at a nice price. During testing, we planted basil, tomatoes, and marigolds in this bed, but we think it’s great for growing anything. Though we wish the weather were better, we were impressed with how well this held up in the rain, cold, and wind. The faux wood helps ease your mind from fading or other damage. Meet the Tester Jenica has gardened for decades and used raised garden beds for the last five years (she swears by them!) In this bed, she grows basil, tomatoes, and some flowers.  The simple setup is a huge pro—this took less than an hour with clear directions and not-too-many small pieces. It’s also worth mentioning the gorgeous farmhouse design, which is sure to enhance the look of your patio.  Similar to our best overall, this has the same pop-up water level indicator and drain plug to avoid overwatering plants. It's unclear after putting it together if it’s truly self-watering, but we haven’t noticed any watering issues so far. We can’t think of much to change about this bed, other than the portability—once full, it would be really difficult to move, so we wish it came on wheels. But if you want a permanent piece to last for garden seasons to come, this is a great option. Dimensions: 44 x 19 x 31 inches︱Material: Plastic︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Gorgeous design with lots of space to grow Solid, sturdy construction Lots of size options As mentioned, raised garden beds are notorious for needing constant watering, since the moisture from the ground doesn’t help hydrate plant roots. But, in comes the self-watering garden bed from Vego Garden to save the day! Its large wicking cells store and distribute water to your plant babies as needed and provide lots of growing room for crops of all kinds. This is the option I have at my townhouse—while I thought moving was going to limit my growing options, I fit six tomato plants, six pepper plants, and over eight cucumbers towards the back, which will grow up a trellis. I think this bed would look beautiful with flowers, too. Meet the Tester I’m Mia, an experienced gardener going on my tenth growing season in New Jersey. I usually plant in the ground or in larger landscape garden beds, growing lots of veggies like tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers.  This holds whatever you like—fruits, veggies, flowers, or herbs, too. It stores water at the bottom and distributes it evenly to your plants, so you can be assured they’re staying hydrated from the bottom. I also love the iconic design and color options—it'll complement your yard without being an eyesore. As a note, the website says assembly takes “just a few minutes,” but this took me about an hour to build (with some teamwork). There are several small bolts and nuts to keep track of, but once built, it has a sturdy frame that hasn’t moved an inch. Dimensions: 2 x 4, 2 x 6, or 2 x 8 feet︱Material: VZ 2.0 (Steel & zinc alloy)︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Built-in water reservoir Beautiful, timeless design Withstands rain and wind with ease Not all garden beds have to look utilitarian, which is one of the many reasons we love the Devon Garden Planter from Grandin Road. Its beautiful design, simple assembly, and durable frame won us over during testing as we established our herb garden. Strong rain and winds are no match for this raised garden bed, likely thanks to the unique design of the plastic growing container and wooden legs. Our previous raised garden bed was all wood, and it looked worn in comparison to this one. Meet the Tester Daniela is in the early stages of her gardening journey, and this is her third year growing crops in New Jersey. She grew herbs and a few peppers in a wooden raised garden bed for the past two years. As she recently moved to a new home, she replaced that bed with this one. Assembling the raised garden bed was easy. We had to put together the legs, which form the frame of the bed. As a note, you do need a cordless drill to screw the nails in, which we figured out mid-assembly. Once the frame is done, place the plastic bin of the bed on it, and you’re done. One cool feature of the raised garden bed is the water reservoir. It's been raining a lot in New Jersey, so we love that the bed collects water underneath it to distribute later. We wish we had chosen the black color so it shows less dirt, though a little power washing or a garden hose can help. Dimensions: 48 x 18 x 30 inches︱Material: Polyethylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: Amazon Herbs are beautiful when planted between veggies, but why not give them their own dedicated space? This bed has several compartments to let each herb thrive in its own home, and the compact size doesn’t take up too much room on our patio. We’ve had this garden bed for four years now and can keep on growing in it. In our experience, it suits herbs best rather than larger crops like tomatoes, but we could see this as the perfect vessel for a flower garden, too. Meet the Tester Jenica is an experienced gardener in New York who uses wood and metal raised garden beds. In this bed, she planted her herb garden and cherry tomatoes (which didn’t hold up as well). Another great aspect of this is its construction. There’s a handy shelf underneath to store pots, garden tools, and soil, plus the height is perfect. We didn’t have to bend over to use it, though this might change for taller gardeners.  I recommend covering this in the wintertime or storing it in the garage, as the wood faded and weathered in a few places during testing.  Dimensions: 23 inches tall︱Material: Cedar Wood︱Assembly Required: Yes How We Tested Raised Garden Beds We tested several different raised garden beds across the country, varying in height, material, and features.  Ease of setup: No one wants to spend all day putting together a garden bed—you want to get to the good part, the planting! We noted how long assembly and setup took for each of these beds, including how involved it was, and how many little pieces were scattered around the yard afterwards. Credit: The Spruce Durability: You want peace of mind that your raised garden bed can stand up to the elements. Luckily, there was a lot of weather for us to deal with over the testing period. We were able to see how well the beds performed in wind, rain, and heat. Credit: The Spruce Spaciousness: Some beds are better suited for certain crops than others. We noted how spacious each was and what would grow best inside. Credit: The Spruce Design: These are now huge highlights of our backyards, so we awarded extra points if the design was particularly pretty and eye-catching. Credit: The Spruce Overall Value: Raised garden beds can be pricey, making the whole task cost much more than you’d like. We scored the overall value based on the quality and number of special features each bed has. Credit: The Spruce What to Look for in a Raised Garden Bed A Comfortable Height for Gardening Standard raised ground beds sit directly on the ground and are typically 6 to 8 inches high, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed. Because of their low height, users need to bend or crouch down when tending to plants. Elevated raised garden beds, like our best overall pick, the Keter Splendor Garden Bed, offer a growing space at a more comfortable standing or sitting height. These beds have legs or are supported by a stand or trolley. How deep should a raised garden bed be? The ideal growing conditions depend upon the depth of your raised garden bed. For compact herbs, plants, and flowers, the depth can be as little as 6 to eight inches. Deep-rooted plants, such as eggplant or watermelons, fare better in soil at least 12 to 18 inches deep. Durable Construction Materials You can find raised garden beds in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, steel, and polyethylene. Wood: Choose a wood such as cedar or fir that is naturally weather-resistant or comes pre-sealed to create a more traditional, rustic aesthetic. Plastic and polyethylene beds are often more modern or utilitarian in design. While not very stylish, plastic options are often more lightweight and easier to clean. Metal: If you live in a harsh climate and durability is a top priority, a bed made of steel, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed, is a solid option. What's the best soil for raised garden beds? The type of outdoor potting soil you choose depends on the plants you intend to grow, but a potting mix that gets its nutrients from a variety of sources, including peat, manure, compost, and fertilizer, provides the ideal nutrients for an assortment of plants. Extra Features Raised garden beds are advantageous for many reasons: the ability to garden on spots like a deck or patio, fewer weeds to deal with, and easier to reach (some are so high up, you don’t even need to bend over).  Many raised garden beds have special features to enhance the gardening experience, like self-watering reservoirs, attachable trellises, and wheels to make them easier to move. Some of these special features are present in our favorites, like the self-watering capabilities of our best design and best overall options. Why Trust The Spruce? I’m Mia Ingui, an editor at The Spruce who is an experienced gardener, growing bushels of tomatoes and cucumbers year after year. Though this was my first time trying a raised garden bed, I fell in love with the Vego Garden Self-Watering Bed as a great solution to my townhouse's lack of growing space. To compile this list, I took insights from my fellow editors and parsed through the feedback on their raised garden beds, all taking note of the ease of setup, size, durability, and overall value. The 5 Best Planters to Level Up Your Leafy Friends Source link

[monaleen101]

This spring, I moved into my first home, and though I love it, it’s a townhouse that lacks a proper backyard (which hurts my gardening heart). So, I got inventive and added a raised garden bed, and after testing, I may never go back to the worms and backaches of in-ground gardening again. My fellow editors and I put five more raised garden beds to the test so you can choose the right one for summer gardening—some have been beloved for over five years now, a testament to their longevity.   Before buying a garden bed, consider how much space you have, what you’d like to grow, and how much assembly sounds reasonable to you. Our recommendations will suit any situation, whether a patio herb garden or a large bed for tomatoes and zucchini. Credit: The Spruce What We Like Convenient self-watering feature Sturdy and durable (even in extreme weather) Great value for the price There was no clearer option for our best overall recommendation than the Keter Splendor Raised Garden Bed—our writer, Jeremy, has owned this now for five years without a single complaint. It’s survived a direct hit from a hurricane and still looks great and is perfect for many vegetables, from okra to heirloom tomatoes to banana peppers. The setup is easy and can be completed solo. The legs pop right in without needing tools, there's a false bottom that supports the soil with a space at the bottom for the water reservoir, and a tube that runs through to show when the reservoir is full. Meet the Tester Jeremy has been gardening since 2007, learning from his grandpa and great-grandma. He gardens in Florida using raised containers, since his only soil option is essentially sand from the canal. I love that this option includes a self-watering feature, since a common problem with raised beds is the soil drying out quickly. There is a little pop-up indicator (cutely shaped like a leaf) that shows how full the reservoir is and takes the guesswork out of watering.  Another smart feature: the drain plug at the bottom, which you can pull if you’re experiencing a lot of rainfall to avoid swamping plants. I think this bed is versatile for vegetables, flowers, and herbs, too, so it works for a variety of gardeners. Dimensions: 45 x 19 x 30 inches︱Material: Polypropylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Simple and easy-to-complete assembly Durable and weather-resistant Beautiful rustic, farmhouse look What I don’t love about raised garden beds is how costly it becomes to buy and fill raised garden beds, so saving a bit on the actual container is highly advantageous. That’s a great aspect of the Keter 29-Gallon Elevated Garden Bed, which provides tons of growing space at a nice price. During testing, we planted basil, tomatoes, and marigolds in this bed, but we think it’s great for growing anything. Though we wish the weather were better, we were impressed with how well this held up in the rain, cold, and wind. The faux wood helps ease your mind from fading or other damage. Meet the Tester Jenica has gardened for decades and used raised garden beds for the last five years (she swears by them!) In this bed, she grows basil, tomatoes, and some flowers.  The simple setup is a huge pro—this took less than an hour with clear directions and not-too-many small pieces. It’s also worth mentioning the gorgeous farmhouse design, which is sure to enhance the look of your patio.  Similar to our best overall, this has the same pop-up water level indicator and drain plug to avoid overwatering plants. It's unclear after putting it together if it’s truly self-watering, but we haven’t noticed any watering issues so far. We can’t think of much to change about this bed, other than the portability—once full, it would be really difficult to move, so we wish it came on wheels. But if you want a permanent piece to last for garden seasons to come, this is a great option. Dimensions: 44 x 19 x 31 inches︱Material: Plastic︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Gorgeous design with lots of space to grow Solid, sturdy construction Lots of size options As mentioned, raised garden beds are notorious for needing constant watering, since the moisture from the ground doesn’t help hydrate plant roots. But, in comes the self-watering garden bed from Vego Garden to save the day! Its large wicking cells store and distribute water to your plant babies as needed and provide lots of growing room for crops of all kinds. This is the option I have at my townhouse—while I thought moving was going to limit my growing options, I fit six tomato plants, six pepper plants, and over eight cucumbers towards the back, which will grow up a trellis. I think this bed would look beautiful with flowers, too. Meet the Tester I’m Mia, an experienced gardener going on my tenth growing season in New Jersey. I usually plant in the ground or in larger landscape garden beds, growing lots of veggies like tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers.  This holds whatever you like—fruits, veggies, flowers, or herbs, too. It stores water at the bottom and distributes it evenly to your plants, so you can be assured they’re staying hydrated from the bottom. I also love the iconic design and color options—it'll complement your yard without being an eyesore. As a note, the website says assembly takes “just a few minutes,” but this took me about an hour to build (with some teamwork). There are several small bolts and nuts to keep track of, but once built, it has a sturdy frame that hasn’t moved an inch. Dimensions: 2 x 4, 2 x 6, or 2 x 8 feet︱Material: VZ 2.0 (Steel & zinc alloy)︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Built-in water reservoir Beautiful, timeless design Withstands rain and wind with ease Not all garden beds have to look utilitarian, which is one of the many reasons we love the Devon Garden Planter from Grandin Road. Its beautiful design, simple assembly, and durable frame won us over during testing as we established our herb garden. Strong rain and winds are no match for this raised garden bed, likely thanks to the unique design of the plastic growing container and wooden legs. Our previous raised garden bed was all wood, and it looked worn in comparison to this one. Meet the Tester Daniela is in the early stages of her gardening journey, and this is her third year growing crops in New Jersey. She grew herbs and a few peppers in a wooden raised garden bed for the past two years. As she recently moved to a new home, she replaced that bed with this one. Assembling the raised garden bed was easy. We had to put together the legs, which form the frame of the bed. As a note, you do need a cordless drill to screw the nails in, which we figured out mid-assembly. Once the frame is done, place the plastic bin of the bed on it, and you’re done. One cool feature of the raised garden bed is the water reservoir. It's been raining a lot in New Jersey, so we love that the bed collects water underneath it to distribute later. We wish we had chosen the black color so it shows less dirt, though a little power washing or a garden hose can help. Dimensions: 48 x 18 x 30 inches︱Material: Polyethylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: Amazon Herbs are beautiful when planted between veggies, but why not give them their own dedicated space? This bed has several compartments to let each herb thrive in its own home, and the compact size doesn’t take up too much room on our patio. We’ve had this garden bed for four years now and can keep on growing in it. In our experience, it suits herbs best rather than larger crops like tomatoes, but we could see this as the perfect vessel for a flower garden, too. Meet the Tester Jenica is an experienced gardener in New York who uses wood and metal raised garden beds. In this bed, she planted her herb garden and cherry tomatoes (which didn’t hold up as well). Another great aspect of this is its construction. There’s a handy shelf underneath to store pots, garden tools, and soil, plus the height is perfect. We didn’t have to bend over to use it, though this might change for taller gardeners.  I recommend covering this in the wintertime or storing it in the garage, as the wood faded and weathered in a few places during testing.  Dimensions: 23 inches tall︱Material: Cedar Wood︱Assembly Required: Yes How We Tested Raised Garden Beds We tested several different raised garden beds across the country, varying in height, material, and features.  Ease of setup: No one wants to spend all day putting together a garden bed—you want to get to the good part, the planting! We noted how long assembly and setup took for each of these beds, including how involved it was, and how many little pieces were scattered around the yard afterwards. Credit: The Spruce Durability: You want peace of mind that your raised garden bed can stand up to the elements. Luckily, there was a lot of weather for us to deal with over the testing period. We were able to see how well the beds performed in wind, rain, and heat. Credit: The Spruce Spaciousness: Some beds are better suited for certain crops than others. We noted how spacious each was and what would grow best inside. Credit: The Spruce Design: These are now huge highlights of our backyards, so we awarded extra points if the design was particularly pretty and eye-catching. Credit: The Spruce Overall Value: Raised garden beds can be pricey, making the whole task cost much more than you’d like. We scored the overall value based on the quality and number of special features each bed has. Credit: The Spruce What to Look for in a Raised Garden Bed A Comfortable Height for Gardening Standard raised ground beds sit directly on the ground and are typically 6 to 8 inches high, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed. Because of their low height, users need to bend or crouch down when tending to plants. Elevated raised garden beds, like our best overall pick, the Keter Splendor Garden Bed, offer a growing space at a more comfortable standing or sitting height. These beds have legs or are supported by a stand or trolley. How deep should a raised garden bed be? The ideal growing conditions depend upon the depth of your raised garden bed. For compact herbs, plants, and flowers, the depth can be as little as 6 to eight inches. Deep-rooted plants, such as eggplant or watermelons, fare better in soil at least 12 to 18 inches deep. Durable Construction Materials You can find raised garden beds in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, steel, and polyethylene. Wood: Choose a wood such as cedar or fir that is naturally weather-resistant or comes pre-sealed to create a more traditional, rustic aesthetic. Plastic and polyethylene beds are often more modern or utilitarian in design. While not very stylish, plastic options are often more lightweight and easier to clean. Metal: If you live in a harsh climate and durability is a top priority, a bed made of steel, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed, is a solid option. What's the best soil for raised garden beds? The type of outdoor potting soil you choose depends on the plants you intend to grow, but a potting mix that gets its nutrients from a variety of sources, including peat, manure, compost, and fertilizer, provides the ideal nutrients for an assortment of plants. Extra Features Raised garden beds are advantageous for many reasons: the ability to garden on spots like a deck or patio, fewer weeds to deal with, and easier to reach (some are so high up, you don’t even need to bend over).  Many raised garden beds have special features to enhance the gardening experience, like self-watering reservoirs, attachable trellises, and wheels to make them easier to move. Some of these special features are present in our favorites, like the self-watering capabilities of our best design and best overall options. Why Trust The Spruce? I’m Mia Ingui, an editor at The Spruce who is an experienced gardener, growing bushels of tomatoes and cucumbers year after year. Though this was my first time trying a raised garden bed, I fell in love with the Vego Garden Self-Watering Bed as a great solution to my townhouse's lack of growing space. To compile this list, I took insights from my fellow editors and parsed through the feedback on their raised garden beds, all taking note of the ease of setup, size, durability, and overall value. The 5 Best Planters to Level Up Your Leafy Friends Source link

[iamownerofme]

This spring, I moved into my first home, and though I love it, it’s a townhouse that lacks a proper backyard (which hurts my gardening heart). So, I got inventive and added a raised garden bed, and after testing, I may never go back to the worms and backaches of in-ground gardening again. My fellow editors and I put five more raised garden beds to the test so you can choose the right one for summer gardening—some have been beloved for over five years now, a testament to their longevity.   Before buying a garden bed, consider how much space you have, what you’d like to grow, and how much assembly sounds reasonable to you. Our recommendations will suit any situation, whether a patio herb garden or a large bed for tomatoes and zucchini. Credit: The Spruce What We Like Convenient self-watering feature Sturdy and durable (even in extreme weather) Great value for the price There was no clearer option for our best overall recommendation than the Keter Splendor Raised Garden Bed—our writer, Jeremy, has owned this now for five years without a single complaint. It’s survived a direct hit from a hurricane and still looks great and is perfect for many vegetables, from okra to heirloom tomatoes to banana peppers. The setup is easy and can be completed solo. The legs pop right in without needing tools, there's a false bottom that supports the soil with a space at the bottom for the water reservoir, and a tube that runs through to show when the reservoir is full. Meet the Tester Jeremy has been gardening since 2007, learning from his grandpa and great-grandma. He gardens in Florida using raised containers, since his only soil option is essentially sand from the canal. I love that this option includes a self-watering feature, since a common problem with raised beds is the soil drying out quickly. There is a little pop-up indicator (cutely shaped like a leaf) that shows how full the reservoir is and takes the guesswork out of watering.  Another smart feature: the drain plug at the bottom, which you can pull if you’re experiencing a lot of rainfall to avoid swamping plants. I think this bed is versatile for vegetables, flowers, and herbs, too, so it works for a variety of gardeners. Dimensions: 45 x 19 x 30 inches︱Material: Polypropylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Simple and easy-to-complete assembly Durable and weather-resistant Beautiful rustic, farmhouse look What I don’t love about raised garden beds is how costly it becomes to buy and fill raised garden beds, so saving a bit on the actual container is highly advantageous. That’s a great aspect of the Keter 29-Gallon Elevated Garden Bed, which provides tons of growing space at a nice price. During testing, we planted basil, tomatoes, and marigolds in this bed, but we think it’s great for growing anything. Though we wish the weather were better, we were impressed with how well this held up in the rain, cold, and wind. The faux wood helps ease your mind from fading or other damage. Meet the Tester Jenica has gardened for decades and used raised garden beds for the last five years (she swears by them!) In this bed, she grows basil, tomatoes, and some flowers.  The simple setup is a huge pro—this took less than an hour with clear directions and not-too-many small pieces. It’s also worth mentioning the gorgeous farmhouse design, which is sure to enhance the look of your patio.  Similar to our best overall, this has the same pop-up water level indicator and drain plug to avoid overwatering plants. It's unclear after putting it together if it’s truly self-watering, but we haven’t noticed any watering issues so far. We can’t think of much to change about this bed, other than the portability—once full, it would be really difficult to move, so we wish it came on wheels. But if you want a permanent piece to last for garden seasons to come, this is a great option. Dimensions: 44 x 19 x 31 inches︱Material: Plastic︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Gorgeous design with lots of space to grow Solid, sturdy construction Lots of size options As mentioned, raised garden beds are notorious for needing constant watering, since the moisture from the ground doesn’t help hydrate plant roots. But, in comes the self-watering garden bed from Vego Garden to save the day! Its large wicking cells store and distribute water to your plant babies as needed and provide lots of growing room for crops of all kinds. This is the option I have at my townhouse—while I thought moving was going to limit my growing options, I fit six tomato plants, six pepper plants, and over eight cucumbers towards the back, which will grow up a trellis. I think this bed would look beautiful with flowers, too. Meet the Tester I’m Mia, an experienced gardener going on my tenth growing season in New Jersey. I usually plant in the ground or in larger landscape garden beds, growing lots of veggies like tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers.  This holds whatever you like—fruits, veggies, flowers, or herbs, too. It stores water at the bottom and distributes it evenly to your plants, so you can be assured they’re staying hydrated from the bottom. I also love the iconic design and color options—it'll complement your yard without being an eyesore. As a note, the website says assembly takes “just a few minutes,” but this took me about an hour to build (with some teamwork). There are several small bolts and nuts to keep track of, but once built, it has a sturdy frame that hasn’t moved an inch. Dimensions: 2 x 4, 2 x 6, or 2 x 8 feet︱Material: VZ 2.0 (Steel & zinc alloy)︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Built-in water reservoir Beautiful, timeless design Withstands rain and wind with ease Not all garden beds have to look utilitarian, which is one of the many reasons we love the Devon Garden Planter from Grandin Road. Its beautiful design, simple assembly, and durable frame won us over during testing as we established our herb garden. Strong rain and winds are no match for this raised garden bed, likely thanks to the unique design of the plastic growing container and wooden legs. Our previous raised garden bed was all wood, and it looked worn in comparison to this one. Meet the Tester Daniela is in the early stages of her gardening journey, and this is her third year growing crops in New Jersey. She grew herbs and a few peppers in a wooden raised garden bed for the past two years. As she recently moved to a new home, she replaced that bed with this one. Assembling the raised garden bed was easy. We had to put together the legs, which form the frame of the bed. As a note, you do need a cordless drill to screw the nails in, which we figured out mid-assembly. Once the frame is done, place the plastic bin of the bed on it, and you’re done. One cool feature of the raised garden bed is the water reservoir. It's been raining a lot in New Jersey, so we love that the bed collects water underneath it to distribute later. We wish we had chosen the black color so it shows less dirt, though a little power washing or a garden hose can help. Dimensions: 48 x 18 x 30 inches︱Material: Polyethylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: Amazon Herbs are beautiful when planted between veggies, but why not give them their own dedicated space? This bed has several compartments to let each herb thrive in its own home, and the compact size doesn’t take up too much room on our patio. We’ve had this garden bed for four years now and can keep on growing in it. In our experience, it suits herbs best rather than larger crops like tomatoes, but we could see this as the perfect vessel for a flower garden, too. Meet the Tester Jenica is an experienced gardener in New York who uses wood and metal raised garden beds. In this bed, she planted her herb garden and cherry tomatoes (which didn’t hold up as well). Another great aspect of this is its construction. There’s a handy shelf underneath to store pots, garden tools, and soil, plus the height is perfect. We didn’t have to bend over to use it, though this might change for taller gardeners.  I recommend covering this in the wintertime or storing it in the garage, as the wood faded and weathered in a few places during testing.  Dimensions: 23 inches tall︱Material: Cedar Wood︱Assembly Required: Yes How We Tested Raised Garden Beds We tested several different raised garden beds across the country, varying in height, material, and features.  Ease of setup: No one wants to spend all day putting together a garden bed—you want to get to the good part, the planting! We noted how long assembly and setup took for each of these beds, including how involved it was, and how many little pieces were scattered around the yard afterwards. Credit: The Spruce Durability: You want peace of mind that your raised garden bed can stand up to the elements. Luckily, there was a lot of weather for us to deal with over the testing period. We were able to see how well the beds performed in wind, rain, and heat. Credit: The Spruce Spaciousness: Some beds are better suited for certain crops than others. We noted how spacious each was and what would grow best inside. Credit: The Spruce Design: These are now huge highlights of our backyards, so we awarded extra points if the design was particularly pretty and eye-catching. Credit: The Spruce Overall Value: Raised garden beds can be pricey, making the whole task cost much more than you’d like. We scored the overall value based on the quality and number of special features each bed has. Credit: The Spruce What to Look for in a Raised Garden Bed A Comfortable Height for Gardening Standard raised ground beds sit directly on the ground and are typically 6 to 8 inches high, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed. Because of their low height, users need to bend or crouch down when tending to plants. Elevated raised garden beds, like our best overall pick, the Keter Splendor Garden Bed, offer a growing space at a more comfortable standing or sitting height. These beds have legs or are supported by a stand or trolley. How deep should a raised garden bed be? The ideal growing conditions depend upon the depth of your raised garden bed. For compact herbs, plants, and flowers, the depth can be as little as 6 to eight inches. Deep-rooted plants, such as eggplant or watermelons, fare better in soil at least 12 to 18 inches deep. Durable Construction Materials You can find raised garden beds in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, steel, and polyethylene. Wood: Choose a wood such as cedar or fir that is naturally weather-resistant or comes pre-sealed to create a more traditional, rustic aesthetic. Plastic and polyethylene beds are often more modern or utilitarian in design. While not very stylish, plastic options are often more lightweight and easier to clean. Metal: If you live in a harsh climate and durability is a top priority, a bed made of steel, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed, is a solid option. What's the best soil for raised garden beds? The type of outdoor potting soil you choose depends on the plants you intend to grow, but a potting mix that gets its nutrients from a variety of sources, including peat, manure, compost, and fertilizer, provides the ideal nutrients for an assortment of plants. Extra Features Raised garden beds are advantageous for many reasons: the ability to garden on spots like a deck or patio, fewer weeds to deal with, and easier to reach (some are so high up, you don’t even need to bend over).  Many raised garden beds have special features to enhance the gardening experience, like self-watering reservoirs, attachable trellises, and wheels to make them easier to move. Some of these special features are present in our favorites, like the self-watering capabilities of our best design and best overall options. Why Trust The Spruce? I’m Mia Ingui, an editor at The Spruce who is an experienced gardener, growing bushels of tomatoes and cucumbers year after year. Though this was my first time trying a raised garden bed, I fell in love with the Vego Garden Self-Watering Bed as a great solution to my townhouse's lack of growing space. To compile this list, I took insights from my fellow editors and parsed through the feedback on their raised garden beds, all taking note of the ease of setup, size, durability, and overall value. The 5 Best Planters to Level Up Your Leafy Friends Source link

[shelyold]

This spring, I moved into my first home, and though I love it, it’s a townhouse that lacks a proper backyard (which hurts my gardening heart). So, I got inventive and added a raised garden bed, and after testing, I may never go back to the worms and backaches of in-ground gardening again. My fellow editors and I put five more raised garden beds to the test so you can choose the right one for summer gardening—some have been beloved for over five years now, a testament to their longevity.   Before buying a garden bed, consider how much space you have, what you’d like to grow, and how much assembly sounds reasonable to you. Our recommendations will suit any situation, whether a patio herb garden or a large bed for tomatoes and zucchini. Credit: The Spruce What We Like Convenient self-watering feature Sturdy and durable (even in extreme weather) Great value for the price There was no clearer option for our best overall recommendation than the Keter Splendor Raised Garden Bed—our writer, Jeremy, has owned this now for five years without a single complaint. It’s survived a direct hit from a hurricane and still looks great and is perfect for many vegetables, from okra to heirloom tomatoes to banana peppers. The setup is easy and can be completed solo. The legs pop right in without needing tools, there's a false bottom that supports the soil with a space at the bottom for the water reservoir, and a tube that runs through to show when the reservoir is full. Meet the Tester Jeremy has been gardening since 2007, learning from his grandpa and great-grandma. He gardens in Florida using raised containers, since his only soil option is essentially sand from the canal. I love that this option includes a self-watering feature, since a common problem with raised beds is the soil drying out quickly. There is a little pop-up indicator (cutely shaped like a leaf) that shows how full the reservoir is and takes the guesswork out of watering.  Another smart feature: the drain plug at the bottom, which you can pull if you’re experiencing a lot of rainfall to avoid swamping plants. I think this bed is versatile for vegetables, flowers, and herbs, too, so it works for a variety of gardeners. Dimensions: 45 x 19 x 30 inches︱Material: Polypropylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Simple and easy-to-complete assembly Durable and weather-resistant Beautiful rustic, farmhouse look What I don’t love about raised garden beds is how costly it becomes to buy and fill raised garden beds, so saving a bit on the actual container is highly advantageous. That’s a great aspect of the Keter 29-Gallon Elevated Garden Bed, which provides tons of growing space at a nice price. During testing, we planted basil, tomatoes, and marigolds in this bed, but we think it’s great for growing anything. Though we wish the weather were better, we were impressed with how well this held up in the rain, cold, and wind. The faux wood helps ease your mind from fading or other damage. Meet the Tester Jenica has gardened for decades and used raised garden beds for the last five years (she swears by them!) In this bed, she grows basil, tomatoes, and some flowers.  The simple setup is a huge pro—this took less than an hour with clear directions and not-too-many small pieces. It’s also worth mentioning the gorgeous farmhouse design, which is sure to enhance the look of your patio.  Similar to our best overall, this has the same pop-up water level indicator and drain plug to avoid overwatering plants. It's unclear after putting it together if it’s truly self-watering, but we haven’t noticed any watering issues so far. We can’t think of much to change about this bed, other than the portability—once full, it would be really difficult to move, so we wish it came on wheels. But if you want a permanent piece to last for garden seasons to come, this is a great option. Dimensions: 44 x 19 x 31 inches︱Material: Plastic︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Gorgeous design with lots of space to grow Solid, sturdy construction Lots of size options As mentioned, raised garden beds are notorious for needing constant watering, since the moisture from the ground doesn’t help hydrate plant roots. But, in comes the self-watering garden bed from Vego Garden to save the day! Its large wicking cells store and distribute water to your plant babies as needed and provide lots of growing room for crops of all kinds. This is the option I have at my townhouse—while I thought moving was going to limit my growing options, I fit six tomato plants, six pepper plants, and over eight cucumbers towards the back, which will grow up a trellis. I think this bed would look beautiful with flowers, too. Meet the Tester I’m Mia, an experienced gardener going on my tenth growing season in New Jersey. I usually plant in the ground or in larger landscape garden beds, growing lots of veggies like tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers.  This holds whatever you like—fruits, veggies, flowers, or herbs, too. It stores water at the bottom and distributes it evenly to your plants, so you can be assured they’re staying hydrated from the bottom. I also love the iconic design and color options—it'll complement your yard without being an eyesore. As a note, the website says assembly takes “just a few minutes,” but this took me about an hour to build (with some teamwork). There are several small bolts and nuts to keep track of, but once built, it has a sturdy frame that hasn’t moved an inch. Dimensions: 2 x 4, 2 x 6, or 2 x 8 feet︱Material: VZ 2.0 (Steel & zinc alloy)︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Built-in water reservoir Beautiful, timeless design Withstands rain and wind with ease Not all garden beds have to look utilitarian, which is one of the many reasons we love the Devon Garden Planter from Grandin Road. Its beautiful design, simple assembly, and durable frame won us over during testing as we established our herb garden. Strong rain and winds are no match for this raised garden bed, likely thanks to the unique design of the plastic growing container and wooden legs. Our previous raised garden bed was all wood, and it looked worn in comparison to this one. Meet the Tester Daniela is in the early stages of her gardening journey, and this is her third year growing crops in New Jersey. She grew herbs and a few peppers in a wooden raised garden bed for the past two years. As she recently moved to a new home, she replaced that bed with this one. Assembling the raised garden bed was easy. We had to put together the legs, which form the frame of the bed. As a note, you do need a cordless drill to screw the nails in, which we figured out mid-assembly. Once the frame is done, place the plastic bin of the bed on it, and you’re done. One cool feature of the raised garden bed is the water reservoir. It's been raining a lot in New Jersey, so we love that the bed collects water underneath it to distribute later. We wish we had chosen the black color so it shows less dirt, though a little power washing or a garden hose can help. Dimensions: 48 x 18 x 30 inches︱Material: Polyethylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: Amazon Herbs are beautiful when planted between veggies, but why not give them their own dedicated space? This bed has several compartments to let each herb thrive in its own home, and the compact size doesn’t take up too much room on our patio. We’ve had this garden bed for four years now and can keep on growing in it. In our experience, it suits herbs best rather than larger crops like tomatoes, but we could see this as the perfect vessel for a flower garden, too. Meet the Tester Jenica is an experienced gardener in New York who uses wood and metal raised garden beds. In this bed, she planted her herb garden and cherry tomatoes (which didn’t hold up as well). Another great aspect of this is its construction. There’s a handy shelf underneath to store pots, garden tools, and soil, plus the height is perfect. We didn’t have to bend over to use it, though this might change for taller gardeners.  I recommend covering this in the wintertime or storing it in the garage, as the wood faded and weathered in a few places during testing.  Dimensions: 23 inches tall︱Material: Cedar Wood︱Assembly Required: Yes How We Tested Raised Garden Beds We tested several different raised garden beds across the country, varying in height, material, and features.  Ease of setup: No one wants to spend all day putting together a garden bed—you want to get to the good part, the planting! We noted how long assembly and setup took for each of these beds, including how involved it was, and how many little pieces were scattered around the yard afterwards. Credit: The Spruce Durability: You want peace of mind that your raised garden bed can stand up to the elements. Luckily, there was a lot of weather for us to deal with over the testing period. We were able to see how well the beds performed in wind, rain, and heat. Credit: The Spruce Spaciousness: Some beds are better suited for certain crops than others. We noted how spacious each was and what would grow best inside. Credit: The Spruce Design: These are now huge highlights of our backyards, so we awarded extra points if the design was particularly pretty and eye-catching. Credit: The Spruce Overall Value: Raised garden beds can be pricey, making the whole task cost much more than you’d like. We scored the overall value based on the quality and number of special features each bed has. Credit: The Spruce What to Look for in a Raised Garden Bed A Comfortable Height for Gardening Standard raised ground beds sit directly on the ground and are typically 6 to 8 inches high, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed. Because of their low height, users need to bend or crouch down when tending to plants. Elevated raised garden beds, like our best overall pick, the Keter Splendor Garden Bed, offer a growing space at a more comfortable standing or sitting height. These beds have legs or are supported by a stand or trolley. How deep should a raised garden bed be? The ideal growing conditions depend upon the depth of your raised garden bed. For compact herbs, plants, and flowers, the depth can be as little as 6 to eight inches. Deep-rooted plants, such as eggplant or watermelons, fare better in soil at least 12 to 18 inches deep. Durable Construction Materials You can find raised garden beds in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, steel, and polyethylene. Wood: Choose a wood such as cedar or fir that is naturally weather-resistant or comes pre-sealed to create a more traditional, rustic aesthetic. Plastic and polyethylene beds are often more modern or utilitarian in design. While not very stylish, plastic options are often more lightweight and easier to clean. Metal: If you live in a harsh climate and durability is a top priority, a bed made of steel, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed, is a solid option. What's the best soil for raised garden beds? The type of outdoor potting soil you choose depends on the plants you intend to grow, but a potting mix that gets its nutrients from a variety of sources, including peat, manure, compost, and fertilizer, provides the ideal nutrients for an assortment of plants. Extra Features Raised garden beds are advantageous for many reasons: the ability to garden on spots like a deck or patio, fewer weeds to deal with, and easier to reach (some are so high up, you don’t even need to bend over).  Many raised garden beds have special features to enhance the gardening experience, like self-watering reservoirs, attachable trellises, and wheels to make them easier to move. Some of these special features are present in our favorites, like the self-watering capabilities of our best design and best overall options. Why Trust The Spruce? I’m Mia Ingui, an editor at The Spruce who is an experienced gardener, growing bushels of tomatoes and cucumbers year after year. Though this was my first time trying a raised garden bed, I fell in love with the Vego Garden Self-Watering Bed as a great solution to my townhouse's lack of growing space. To compile this list, I took insights from my fellow editors and parsed through the feedback on their raised garden beds, all taking note of the ease of setup, size, durability, and overall value. The 5 Best Planters to Level Up Your Leafy Friends Source link

[iammeandmy]

This spring, I moved into my first home, and though I love it, it’s a townhouse that lacks a proper backyard (which hurts my gardening heart). So, I got inventive and added a raised garden bed, and after testing, I may never go back to the worms and backaches of in-ground gardening again. My fellow editors and I put five more raised garden beds to the test so you can choose the right one for summer gardening—some have been beloved for over five years now, a testament to their longevity.   Before buying a garden bed, consider how much space you have, what you’d like to grow, and how much assembly sounds reasonable to you. Our recommendations will suit any situation, whether a patio herb garden or a large bed for tomatoes and zucchini. Credit: The Spruce What We Like Convenient self-watering feature Sturdy and durable (even in extreme weather) Great value for the price There was no clearer option for our best overall recommendation than the Keter Splendor Raised Garden Bed—our writer, Jeremy, has owned this now for five years without a single complaint. It’s survived a direct hit from a hurricane and still looks great and is perfect for many vegetables, from okra to heirloom tomatoes to banana peppers. The setup is easy and can be completed solo. The legs pop right in without needing tools, there's a false bottom that supports the soil with a space at the bottom for the water reservoir, and a tube that runs through to show when the reservoir is full. Meet the Tester Jeremy has been gardening since 2007, learning from his grandpa and great-grandma. He gardens in Florida using raised containers, since his only soil option is essentially sand from the canal. I love that this option includes a self-watering feature, since a common problem with raised beds is the soil drying out quickly. There is a little pop-up indicator (cutely shaped like a leaf) that shows how full the reservoir is and takes the guesswork out of watering.  Another smart feature: the drain plug at the bottom, which you can pull if you’re experiencing a lot of rainfall to avoid swamping plants. I think this bed is versatile for vegetables, flowers, and herbs, too, so it works for a variety of gardeners. Dimensions: 45 x 19 x 30 inches︱Material: Polypropylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Simple and easy-to-complete assembly Durable and weather-resistant Beautiful rustic, farmhouse look What I don’t love about raised garden beds is how costly it becomes to buy and fill raised garden beds, so saving a bit on the actual container is highly advantageous. That’s a great aspect of the Keter 29-Gallon Elevated Garden Bed, which provides tons of growing space at a nice price. During testing, we planted basil, tomatoes, and marigolds in this bed, but we think it’s great for growing anything. Though we wish the weather were better, we were impressed with how well this held up in the rain, cold, and wind. The faux wood helps ease your mind from fading or other damage. Meet the Tester Jenica has gardened for decades and used raised garden beds for the last five years (she swears by them!) In this bed, she grows basil, tomatoes, and some flowers.  The simple setup is a huge pro—this took less than an hour with clear directions and not-too-many small pieces. It’s also worth mentioning the gorgeous farmhouse design, which is sure to enhance the look of your patio.  Similar to our best overall, this has the same pop-up water level indicator and drain plug to avoid overwatering plants. It's unclear after putting it together if it’s truly self-watering, but we haven’t noticed any watering issues so far. We can’t think of much to change about this bed, other than the portability—once full, it would be really difficult to move, so we wish it came on wheels. But if you want a permanent piece to last for garden seasons to come, this is a great option. Dimensions: 44 x 19 x 31 inches︱Material: Plastic︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Gorgeous design with lots of space to grow Solid, sturdy construction Lots of size options As mentioned, raised garden beds are notorious for needing constant watering, since the moisture from the ground doesn’t help hydrate plant roots. But, in comes the self-watering garden bed from Vego Garden to save the day! Its large wicking cells store and distribute water to your plant babies as needed and provide lots of growing room for crops of all kinds. This is the option I have at my townhouse—while I thought moving was going to limit my growing options, I fit six tomato plants, six pepper plants, and over eight cucumbers towards the back, which will grow up a trellis. I think this bed would look beautiful with flowers, too. Meet the Tester I’m Mia, an experienced gardener going on my tenth growing season in New Jersey. I usually plant in the ground or in larger landscape garden beds, growing lots of veggies like tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers.  This holds whatever you like—fruits, veggies, flowers, or herbs, too. It stores water at the bottom and distributes it evenly to your plants, so you can be assured they’re staying hydrated from the bottom. I also love the iconic design and color options—it'll complement your yard without being an eyesore. As a note, the website says assembly takes “just a few minutes,” but this took me about an hour to build (with some teamwork). There are several small bolts and nuts to keep track of, but once built, it has a sturdy frame that hasn’t moved an inch. Dimensions: 2 x 4, 2 x 6, or 2 x 8 feet︱Material: VZ 2.0 (Steel & zinc alloy)︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: The Spruce What We Like Built-in water reservoir Beautiful, timeless design Withstands rain and wind with ease Not all garden beds have to look utilitarian, which is one of the many reasons we love the Devon Garden Planter from Grandin Road. Its beautiful design, simple assembly, and durable frame won us over during testing as we established our herb garden. Strong rain and winds are no match for this raised garden bed, likely thanks to the unique design of the plastic growing container and wooden legs. Our previous raised garden bed was all wood, and it looked worn in comparison to this one. Meet the Tester Daniela is in the early stages of her gardening journey, and this is her third year growing crops in New Jersey. She grew herbs and a few peppers in a wooden raised garden bed for the past two years. As she recently moved to a new home, she replaced that bed with this one. Assembling the raised garden bed was easy. We had to put together the legs, which form the frame of the bed. As a note, you do need a cordless drill to screw the nails in, which we figured out mid-assembly. Once the frame is done, place the plastic bin of the bed on it, and you’re done. One cool feature of the raised garden bed is the water reservoir. It's been raining a lot in New Jersey, so we love that the bed collects water underneath it to distribute later. We wish we had chosen the black color so it shows less dirt, though a little power washing or a garden hose can help. Dimensions: 48 x 18 x 30 inches︱Material: Polyethylene resin︱Assembly Required: Yes Credit: Amazon Herbs are beautiful when planted between veggies, but why not give them their own dedicated space? This bed has several compartments to let each herb thrive in its own home, and the compact size doesn’t take up too much room on our patio. We’ve had this garden bed for four years now and can keep on growing in it. In our experience, it suits herbs best rather than larger crops like tomatoes, but we could see this as the perfect vessel for a flower garden, too. Meet the Tester Jenica is an experienced gardener in New York who uses wood and metal raised garden beds. In this bed, she planted her herb garden and cherry tomatoes (which didn’t hold up as well). Another great aspect of this is its construction. There’s a handy shelf underneath to store pots, garden tools, and soil, plus the height is perfect. We didn’t have to bend over to use it, though this might change for taller gardeners.  I recommend covering this in the wintertime or storing it in the garage, as the wood faded and weathered in a few places during testing.  Dimensions: 23 inches tall︱Material: Cedar Wood︱Assembly Required: Yes How We Tested Raised Garden Beds We tested several different raised garden beds across the country, varying in height, material, and features.  Ease of setup: No one wants to spend all day putting together a garden bed—you want to get to the good part, the planting! We noted how long assembly and setup took for each of these beds, including how involved it was, and how many little pieces were scattered around the yard afterwards. Credit: The Spruce Durability: You want peace of mind that your raised garden bed can stand up to the elements. Luckily, there was a lot of weather for us to deal with over the testing period. We were able to see how well the beds performed in wind, rain, and heat. Credit: The Spruce Spaciousness: Some beds are better suited for certain crops than others. We noted how spacious each was and what would grow best inside. Credit: The Spruce Design: These are now huge highlights of our backyards, so we awarded extra points if the design was particularly pretty and eye-catching. Credit: The Spruce Overall Value: Raised garden beds can be pricey, making the whole task cost much more than you’d like. We scored the overall value based on the quality and number of special features each bed has. Credit: The Spruce What to Look for in a Raised Garden Bed A Comfortable Height for Gardening Standard raised ground beds sit directly on the ground and are typically 6 to 8 inches high, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed. Because of their low height, users need to bend or crouch down when tending to plants. Elevated raised garden beds, like our best overall pick, the Keter Splendor Garden Bed, offer a growing space at a more comfortable standing or sitting height. These beds have legs or are supported by a stand or trolley. How deep should a raised garden bed be? The ideal growing conditions depend upon the depth of your raised garden bed. For compact herbs, plants, and flowers, the depth can be as little as 6 to eight inches. Deep-rooted plants, such as eggplant or watermelons, fare better in soil at least 12 to 18 inches deep. Durable Construction Materials You can find raised garden beds in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, steel, and polyethylene. Wood: Choose a wood such as cedar or fir that is naturally weather-resistant or comes pre-sealed to create a more traditional, rustic aesthetic. Plastic and polyethylene beds are often more modern or utilitarian in design. While not very stylish, plastic options are often more lightweight and easier to clean. Metal: If you live in a harsh climate and durability is a top priority, a bed made of steel, like our best self-watering pick, the Vego Garden Self-Watering Garden Bed, is a solid option. What's the best soil for raised garden beds? The type of outdoor potting soil you choose depends on the plants you intend to grow, but a potting mix that gets its nutrients from a variety of sources, including peat, manure, compost, and fertilizer, provides the ideal nutrients for an assortment of plants. Extra Features Raised garden beds are advantageous for many reasons: the ability to garden on spots like a deck or patio, fewer weeds to deal with, and easier to reach (some are so high up, you don’t even need to bend over).  Many raised garden beds have special features to enhance the gardening experience, like self-watering reservoirs, attachable trellises, and wheels to make them easier to move. Some of these special features are present in our favorites, like the self-watering capabilities of our best design and best overall options. Why Trust The Spruce? I’m Mia Ingui, an editor at The Spruce who is an experienced gardener, growing bushels of tomatoes and cucumbers year after year. Though this was my first time trying a raised garden bed, I fell in love with the Vego Garden Self-Watering Bed as a great solution to my townhouse's lack of growing space. To compile this list, I took insights from my fellow editors and parsed through the feedback on their raised garden beds, all taking note of the ease of setup, size, durability, and overall value. The 5 Best Planters to Level Up Your Leafy Friends Source link