The Ultimate Guide to Raised Bed Gardening for Beginners, 2nd Edition

How to Grow Flowers and Vegetables in Raised Beds for a Successful Garden

By: Lindsey Pylarinos

Narrated by: Millian Quinteros

If you're looking for something that's space-efficient but can produce high yields, raised bed gardening would be the best option for you to try. Besides being efficient when it comes to space, it also solves a number of other issues, such as dealing with difficult soil as well as your garden's accessibility.

Raised bed gardens are basically made up of mounded soil that's surrounded by a frame to make sure it doesn't fall apart. They are usually at least three to four inches above the ground, and each "bed" is typically separated by a pathway. Plants would cover the entire surfaces of these beds, and the paths would provide the gardener with ample space to work in, making sure that they don't end up stepping on the soil in the process. A raised bed can be three to five feet across, and the length can vary depending on the need. You'll be able to grow a wide variety of crops of vegetables in them as well as herbs. Perennial and annual flowers also thrive in this type of gardening along with roses, shrubs, and even berry bushes.

The thing with raised beds is that they actually provide the best conditions for crop growth. Because the soil in the bed tends to be loose, deep, and fertile, it results in more efficient yields, regardless of what you plant. Of course, there are other factors to consider, but for the most part, if you do the actual planting right, you'll get good results from it.

©2014 Lindsey Pylarinos (P)2015 Lindsey Pylarinos

Short but informational

This book was short, but packed with information. I especially liked the info on good plants for raised beds, easy flowers and companion planting

Too much time spent on bed options...

I was looking for more in-depth tips as a beginner with raised beds. Converting a bedframe, a boat or a file cabinet are all clever ideas, but more plant information would have better met my needs.

short and sweet

I would love to have another book by the same person that has more information on the same subject.

Fine if you have an old wooden boat without rot

Pros: Great if you have an old child's bed, old wooden boat without rot. or an old filing cabinet (be prepared to remove the paint from the inside.) Quick run through of companion plants.
Con: Disappointing. No discussion of constructing a raised bed as pictured on the cover, no discussion of soil composition, As with many topics, intensive planting was recommended but not discussed. Really not what we, with boards and nails, were looking for.