Organic gardening is the method of gardening that utilizes only materials derived from living things, ie. all-natural plant foods and pesticides. Once you know the basic tenets of this practice, organic vegetable gardening is simple. And the payoff is enormous: no toxic chemicals, no waste, better for the environment as a whole, and not to mention a crop full of natural, delicious vegetables. Remember these 10 steps and you’ll have a successful crop in no time!
1. Plan Your Irrigation System
Soaker hose and drip irrigation are the two best ways to irrigate a raised bed. If you plan it ahead of time and install your irrigation system before planting, you can save yourself a lot of work and time spent standing around with a hose later on.
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2. Soil.
It all begins here. Amending your soil with organic material such as composted manure or yard and kitchen scrap compost will get your dirt off to a good start. The inclusion of organic material provides a solid basis of nutrients for your plants which helps to cut down on the need for commercially made fertilizers and improves soil structure making it easier for your plant to absorb the important minerals they need. Sandy soil will not hold its moisture well. Heavy clay soil may prove too dense for healthy root development.
3. Fertilizer.
In addition to compost, your plants will enjoy a healthy dose of other organic foodstuffs like worm poop and pee (we call this worm tea), eggshells, Epsom salts, bone meal, blood meal…the list goes on, but the key word is all-natural. Mother Nature knows what she’s doing and these sources provide essential vitamins and minerals for your plants.
4. Top-Dress Annually with Compost
Gardening in a raised bed is, essentially, like gardening in a really, really large container. As with any container garden, the soil will settle and deplete as time goes on. You can mitigate this by adding a 1- to 2-inch layer of compost or composted manure each spring before you start planting.
5. Fluff the Soil as Needed
To lighten compacted soil in your raised bed between seasons, simply stick a garden fork as deeply into the soil as possible and wiggle it back and forth. Do that in 8- to 12-inch intervals all over the bed, and your soil will be nicely loosened without a lot of backbreaking work.
6. Cover up Your Soil, Even When You’re Not Gardening
Add a layer of organic mulch or plant a cover crop at the end of your growing season. Soil that is exposed to harsh winter weather can break down and compact much faster than protected soil. Plus, by adding a cover crop, you can increase the soil fertility as the crop breaks down after it’s turned into the soil.
7. Plant Annual Cover Crops
Annual cover crops, such as annual ryegrass, crimson clover, and hairy vetch, that are planted at the end of the growing season can benefit your raised bed garden. They provide nutrients to the soil. Especially if you dig them into the bed in spring, reduce erosion. And in the case of vetch and clover, fix nitrogen in your soil.
8. Create a Pretty, Edible Garden.
Even the simplest raised bed can turn into a pretty destination in your garden. Plan an aesthetically pleasing arrangement of your favorite edibles, pair them with beautiful blooming companion plants to attract beneficial insects to the garden, and you can create a living work of art–and boost your harvests. By adding flowers along the border of your raised bed, pollinators will be attracted to the blooms–helping to pollinate your crops, too, for increased yields.
9. Install a Barrier to Roots and Weeds
If you have large trees in the area, place your raised bed away from their shade and roots. Most vegetables prefer full or at least partial sun to produce a good harvest. If you want to ensure that you won’t have to deal with weeds growing up through your perfect soil, consider installing a barrier at the bottom of the bed. This could be a commercial weed barrier or a thick piece of corrugated cardboard.
10. Think Ahead to Extend the Season
A little planning up front can enable you to grow earlier in the season. Or extend your growing season well into the fall. Consider installing supports for a simple low tunnel or cold frame. You’ll have minimal work when you need to protect your crops from frost.

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