The soil does not get compacted. This helps aeration and drainage. Consequently you have healthier plants. The soil is also easier to work with as it stays loose.
Being off the ground and higher, the soil warms up more quickly in the Spring. This allows you to plant your vegetables earlier.
Root vegetables thrive in the looser soil.
You are able to decide what soil mix goes into your raised bed.
Maintaining your vegetable garden is easier. As it is higher you have less bending down. With the right frame you can sit down while you work.
Weeds come out effortlessly because the soil is looser.
Yields can be higher.
There is no digging. The soil remains loose because it is not walked on and because the organisms within it keep it aerated with plenty of space between particles.
It is easier to protect your seedlings from birds, rabbits, frost and other pests, by attaching covers and nets etc.
There are other advantages for your raised bed organic gardening venture which will become clear as you read on.
Unframed raised bed garden design
Before I show you how to build a raised bed for your vegetables I should mention that raised beds do not necessarily have to be framed. There are disadvantages compared to a framed bed though. However, unframed raised beds are used by some gardeners, often as a temporary measure (a frame being erected around the bed once the soil mix is in place), so I will outline the steps for creating one before going on to a framed bed.
Mark out your plot area.
Dig out the soil in that area to a depth of around 8 and put it to one side. You can do this all at once or do it in sections as I do. See picture 1
Dig into the next layer of soil in the plot area to loosen it all up.
Add enough organic matter such as compost and/or manure to cover the area and raise it by 4-8. See picture 2 where I have added a mix of organic animal manure and composted grass.
Transfer the soil that you first removed back onto the plot area, or in my example over the manure and compost, and mix it with the organic matter, taking care not to compact it, but keeping it loose.
You now have a raised bed garden.
Unframed raised beds do run the risk of soil erosion from the edges as the soil is unsupported. This can happen through heavy rain. Soil nutrients can be lost in this way.
To avoid the risk, learn how to build your own framed/contained raised bed garden (or buy one) by clicking on building raised garden beds
