All the ideas given work well. The real thing is to do it, just do it. It can be moved fixed, added, made smaller, changed blah blah blah, see what works for you.
I used regular 2x8's 2for front back 1 for the ends (cut in half) I also used a 4x4 cut to 8" and drilled into it for the corners. Normally as seen in other posts you are buying soil, so mix in some organics (manure mulch compost old planting soil from house plants that didn't make it) You should find that weeding will be reduced with a raised garden and since the soil is not compacted year after year the weeding is also easier. They do tend to need a little more care in the watering dept, normally needing more water, but make sure its draining don't want it puddling. water longer with less to get more of a soak. If you really are ambitious a soak-er line could be buried, with the plants just above, but for me that was more work then i was willing to invest in a garden at an apartment.
In my opinion unless you are making a really large garden using power implements raised gardens sure work great. I currently have planted 4x8 with tomato/peppers/carrots and 2 cucumber plants. I have added marigolds to "look pretty" for the apartment but they also help (so I am told)to keep away the rabbits. My outside cat does the job too
. I have also planted 48 pepper plants (mixed types) and 3 types of tomatoes Also 48 plants with 2 30 foot rows of sweet corn and 2 30 foot rows of blue lake bush beans in a "regular garden". the raised bed gardens have very very little weeding, the bigger garden I run a rototiller down the rows and between the tomatoes and peppers but still there are weeds "everywhere".
Again just start and fix it later or next year.
My 1st attempt was 6 Ruppermaid totes with holes drilled in the bottom, looked bad worked good. Use what you have, read and adjust to what you have and what works for you.
I used regular 2x8's 2for front back 1 for the ends (cut in half) I also used a 4x4 cut to 8" and drilled into it for the corners. Normally as seen in other posts you are buying soil, so mix in some organics (manure mulch compost old planting soil from house plants that didn't make it) You should find that weeding will be reduced with a raised garden and since the soil is not compacted year after year the weeding is also easier. They do tend to need a little more care in the watering dept, normally needing more water, but make sure its draining don't want it puddling. water longer with less to get more of a soak. If you really are ambitious a soak-er line could be buried, with the plants just above, but for me that was more work then i was willing to invest in a garden at an apartment.
In my opinion unless you are making a really large garden using power implements raised gardens sure work great. I currently have planted 4x8 with tomato/peppers/carrots and 2 cucumber plants. I have added marigolds to "look pretty" for the apartment but they also help (so I am told)to keep away the rabbits. My outside cat does the job too
. I have also planted 48 pepper plants (mixed types) and 3 types of tomatoes Also 48 plants with 2 30 foot rows of sweet corn and 2 30 foot rows of blue lake bush beans in a "regular garden". the raised bed gardens have very very little weeding, the bigger garden I run a rototiller down the rows and between the tomatoes and peppers but still there are weeds "everywhere".Again just start and fix it later or next year.
My 1st attempt was 6 Ruppermaid totes with holes drilled in the bottom, looked bad worked good. Use what you have, read and adjust to what you have and what works for you.
