Raised beds are brilliant. Instead of the hassle of digging up poor soil, you simply purchase raised beds, fill them with peat-free compost and then plant what you want. No weeds, no fuss and they are also ideal for people who can’t bend down or are in wheelchairs etc. Growing food in no-dig gardens is great, but if we want a country of food security (not always relying on supermarkets for fruits and vegetables), we need to make it super-easy for people to grow their own food.
Learn how to make gardens safe for pets (includes indoor plants to avoid) and use humane nontoxic slug/snail deterrence. Use wildlife-friendly netting alternatives as most is larger than 0.5mm gaps recommended that could trap).
The Raised Bed Book shows how to make an accessible raised bed with fertile soil, for any sized garden. Find clear diagrams, inspiring planting plans and photography, plus profiles of 8 designs from professional gardeners. Includes tips on choosing a site to designing and and plants to grow.
Raised Bed Gardening is for DIY enthusiasts, to show you not just how to plant, but how to build your own raised beds, using a few common tools. Plus find information on planting and spacing and how to harvest and store your produce.
where to buy ready-made raised beds
Marmax Products are suitable for gardens, schools and allotments, sold in self-assembly packs with instructions. Made from recycled plastic, these will not rot, corrode or splinter so outlast timber, and are also weatherproof. Brown in colour, they include a 25-year construction guarantee and include galvanised screws (stainless steel screws available at extra cost).
Woodblocx offer raised beds that are high enough to be accessible for people in wheelchairs. The modular system is easy to use, and they are sold with a 15-year guarantee (made from treated pine). The wood is treated with water-based preservative and dowels are made from recycled plastic.
Whether you have a small garden or indoor garden, growing food in pots is one way to enhance food security, and not be slave to supermarket food. You can grow many plants in pots from tomatoes to strawberries to herbs.
If planting food in pots, learn how to make gardens safe for pets (includes indoor plants to avoid). Avoid facing indoor foliage to gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows.
Grow Bag Gardening shows how to grow vegetables, fruits and herbs with no heavy lifting or digging, just use eco-friendly fabric planter bags that grow easily, with minimal space and care (then just fold them up when not in use). Ideal for rooftops, balconies and patios, these frostproof bags are easily moved to maximise sunlight. This no-weed and no-mess method of garden is a game-changer with no root circling.
about the author
Kevin Espiritu is an urban gardener who has taught 10 million people how to grow their own plants, focusing on practical and simple methods.
