Whether garden, terrace or balcony - a raised bed offers real added value. However, the raised planting bed often lies fallow in winter. We will show you some worthwhile alternatives for using your raised bed in winter.

In a nutshell

  • With the right plants and measures, a yield can be achieved in raised beds even in winter
  • a foil tunnel helps improve growing conditions
  • in place of crop yields, winter cover dressing helps prepare the depleted soil for the next season

winter vegetables

Why shouldn't you also use your raised beds in winter to generate income? This is particularly easy with plants that also thrive outdoors in autumn and winter. For example, the following are ideal for this:

  • All domestic types of cabbage, such as Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, kale, broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, etc.
  • Lamb's lettuce
  • arugula
  • endive salad
  • spinach
  • Parsely

protective measures

Although these plants can cope with low temperatures and sometimes even frost, the soil must not freeze completely. Otherwise there is a risk of irreparable damage to the roots, which will inevitably lead to the death of the plants. Since a raised bed is particularly badly affected by the all-round exposure to wind and weather and especially the cold in winter, you should take appropriate protective measures in the event of foreseeable frosts. For undisturbed use, pack the bed with the following materials as insulation and frost protection:

  • Corrugated cardboard (Caution: moisture protection with foil etc. required)
  • brushwood
  • bubble wrap
  • bast mats

Tip: Place the insulation all around against the raised bed and fix the materials with one or more horizontally folded tension belts.

summer and autumn crops

Of course you can also keep the plants cultivated from the main planting period from spring to autumn into winter. For this type of use, the already described protection of the soil in the raised bed is important, since the roots of summer plants are particularly sensitive to cold temperatures and frost. In addition, you should also ensure effective protection from above to prevent frostbite on the leaves and stems. A small format foil tunnel is suitable for this. You can easily create this yourself from household items:

  • Cut strong wire and bend it in a semicircle
  • Insert arches into the ground at the edge of the bed in front of the boundary
  • Spacing of the arches around 15 to 20 centimeters
  • Pull transparent film, e.g. garden tarpaulin or tear-resistant tarpaulin from the painting supply, tightly over wire bends
  • Weigh down the edges of the foil with earth or stones

Notice: Pay attention to closed joints of the foil. Wind and drafts in particular quickly lead to cooling of the air, soil and of course plants!

Pre-sowing for insensitive seedlings

Instead of sowing directly into the raised bed, which is familiar from summer, you can prefer more sensitive plants in the house. Pre-sowing in a sheltered environment gives the seedlings a chance to develop some resilience and hold up against the colder winter conditions. Proceed in the same way as for pre-breeding in spring and give the plants enough time to develop size and recharge their batteries.

green manure

The small volume of soil within the raised bed means that summer use quickly leaches the soil and robs it of its nutrients. Therefore, use the autumn and winter time to give the soil its positive properties back. Instead of artificial fertilizer, foundation offers a good opportunity to combine an attractive appearance with the desired effect. In addition to the nutrient supply, these intercrops have other beneficial properties:

  • Loosening of the soil through root activity
  • storage of water
  • Formation of humus by adding biomass
  • Natural nitrogen supply

Well suited and at the same time decorative plants are:

  • Phacelia
  • buckwheat
  • crimson clover
  • tagetes
  • violas
Green manure with buckwheat

Sow the plants in the fall after removing summer plantings. After the plants used as the foundation have withered and possibly died, cut them into small pieces and work them into the top layer of soil as biomass. By spring, the components should have largely decomposed and the beneficial hummus should have formed.

Tip: A foil tunnel is also suitable for foundations to promote growth and humus formation!

to winterize

If you do not want to take care of a winter planting, you can make your raised bed winter-proof with simple means. Cover it with a waterproof and opaque film. The watertightness prevents nutrients from being washed out of the ground by precipitation. Without light, on the other hand, weeds and other unwanted plants only develop sparingly and usually take care of themselves.

Attention: In this case, avoid attaching antifreeze! An unused raised bed can freeze through in winter, so that weeds are also likely to die off.

decoration

Finally, you can use the construction of the raised bed in connection with the winterization in a completely different way. Add a layer of planks to the foil cover and get a wonderful base for any winter or seasonal Christmas decoration. Easy-care and attractive, these weatherproof decorative items are ideal for beautifying the raised bed:

  • arrangements
  • Decorative objects made of clay, stone or wood
  • lanterns
  • Plant pots with hardy perennials or shrubs

frequently asked Questions

Do I have to protect my raised bed from mice etc. in winter?

No. The usual structure usually provides for wire mesh or other grids at the bottom anyway to prevent vermin from moving in. This protection is sufficient even in winter to effectively keep mice, rats and dormice at bay.

How long can I grow summer and fall plants in winter?

This clearly depends on various factors, such as the weather, the exposure of the location and, above all, your protective measures. It is unrealistic to harvest summer crops throughout the winter. With a little effort, however, you can easily extend the cultivation period to November or December.

Despite good protection, my plants do not thrive in winter. Why?

A common reason could be lack of light. In the dark season, the sun's rays are hardly sufficient for some plants. Above all, wind and weather-protected locations often only get moderate sunshine and cause problems with exposure.

Category:

Garden design