Raised beds warm up earlier in spring, drain better after heavy rain and save your back. A bed 120 centimetres wide can be reached from both sides without stepping on the soil.
Fill the bottom with branches and coarse garden waste, then layers of leaves, compost and finally good topsoil. The lower layers rot slowly and feed the plants for several seasons.
Plan the planting by height: tall tomatoes and beans on the north side, lettuce and herbs in front. That way nothing shades its neighbours during the long summer days.
Water in the morning, at the base of the plants, and mulch with straw or grass clippings to keep moisture in. A raised bed dries out faster than the ground, especially in July.
At the end of the season sow green manure or cover the bed with leaves. The soil stays alive over winter and is ready for planting again in April.
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