Read on below to discover more reasons why growing vegetables in raised beds is the better than growing in the ground.
3. Root spread
It is quite evident that plant roots would find it easier to grow and spread in every direction when the soil is loose. Not only that but the framed beds retain moisture much longer than traditional raised beds since water loss from the sides is minimized. This keeps the beds from drying out between watering and facilitates good root run.
Plants that are growing in the ground usually have a shallow root system unless the ground is tilled deep before planting. Such plants cannot access the moisture in the lower layers of soil, and are more likely to get dehydrated as soon as the surface moisture evaporates. A well-developed root system anchors the plant and helps it gather water and nutrients from a larger area which is particularly important for vegetables. They have to grow vigorously and produce maximum yield within a short period.4. Less risk of soil compaction
Raised bed planting may not prevent your cats and dogs from rolling in the mud and digging up the soil, but there is less chance of people and larger animals casually walking on the beds and tamping down the soil. If the width of the beds is kept at 3-4 feet, you can conduct other gardening chores like fertilizing, weeding and harvesting without stepping on the bed.
Flooding during rains is another way the soil in cultivated fields gets compacted. The wet and heavy soil particles settle down, filling up the air spaces. As the water evaporates, it leaves behind a hard and dense layer of soil, making it less hospitable to plants. With water quickly draining away from raised planting beds, there?s no danger of soil compaction due to flooding.
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Feature photo: Carol Norquist
