Gardeners are obsessed with various innovative ideas to increase the yield of vegetable crops. One example is raised beds.
It is believed that the sun warms the soil better on them, moisture does not stagnate as much, hence the high yield and ease of care for the plantings. But there are also disadvantages.
Advantages of a raised bed
1. This method eliminates deep digging of the soil - cultivating the top layer is sufficient.
2. Thanks to the high sides, the number of weeds in the bed itself is reduced, and caring for the seedlings becomes simpler and easier.
3. Plants are not afraid of heavy rains – water will not stagnate.
4. The soil warms up better and faster (the temperature difference is up to 10 degrees Celsius compared to a regular bed), due to which the seedlings grow more actively and fruiting improves.
5. Improves oxygen access to the roots, reducing the risk of rot.
Flaws
1. You shouldn’t set up high beds in regions with hot, dry climates – moisture evaporates faster.
2. High soil temperatures attract insect pests (for example, mole crickets may settle in).
3. In this case, the soil becomes depleted faster, which means more feeding and fertilizers are required.
