How to Make Your Own Raised Sleeper Bed
How to Make Your Own Raised Fruit and Vegetable Patch
If you want to create your own fruit and vegetable patch in your garden, raised beds are an ideal solution. Not only do they offer improved drainage, less weeds and better soil conditions, but these higher-level beds can also help to reduce back, neck and shoulder strain when gardening.
You can grow almost any herbs, fruits or vegetables in a raised bed and the good news is they couldn’t be easier to make.
See our diagram below for inspiration and read through our top four tips and steps when you give this a go!
Raised Sleeper Bed Configuration:
Choose Your Materials
The first step is choosing which materials to use to make the frame for your raised bed. You could use timber, metal or even recycled plastic. Wood is one of the most popular choices because it is easy to find, comes pre-treated and is usually a more cost effective option. For a modern and stylish finish you may wish to consider railway sleepers to form the walls of your raised bed.
Add Protection
If you do choose to build a wooden frame for your raised bed, it is important to add a plastic membrane to the inside before filling with soil. This will create a barrier between the wood and the wet soil, which will prevent rotting. In addition, if you are building your raised bed directly onto the ground, we recommend using a weed control fabric to stop weed growth in your vegetable patch.
Fill With Soil
Before you fill your raised bed with soil, it is a good idea to add some shingle or pebbles to the bottom of the bed to improve drainage. The most suitable soil for growing vegetables should include a mix of topsoil and compost. Try to incorporate enough organic material so that your soil breaks apart easily. If your soil is too dry and compact it can hinder root growth.
Choose Your Fruit or Veg:
If you’ve never grown your own vegetables before, it is a good idea to start with some easy-to-grow crops first. Potatoes, broad beans, radishes and beetroot are some great options for beginners. If you want to get the children involved, you could also get some courgette seeds. Let your children sow the seeds in pots first (one seed per pot) and when they reach about 15cm tall you can add them to your vegetable patch.
We will be bringing out our own Sleeper Kit and instructions so that you can easily construct a raised bed for you to plant whatever you wish! Keep your eyes peeled because it will transform your space cheaply and effectively!
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