Garden Combo - The Dynamic Duo

Gardening can be a very rewarding experience but can also cause you a lot of grief due to poor soils conditions, garden pests, or unpredictable weather patterns. Here is a great way to work around these problems and have a more successful garden crop for the dinner table.

Raised bed gardening is a great way to manage a small garden space in both urban and rural settings. Your efforts can be concentrated on tending your garden and not repairing the tiller. Raised beds are also open and exposed like most gardens. If you live in a region where temperatures drop drastically at night, or you are plagued by furry little pests or hopping little critters, it can leave you in a situation where your plants are vulnerable. To increase the viability of a raised bed garden, there is a simple way to fix this problem.

Cold frames have been in use for quite some time as a way to protect plants from the effects of unpredictable weather and colder temperatures. If used in combination with a raised bed, you can have the benefit of both in your gardening efforts.

Now the dimensions for making a raised bed garden with a cold frame combo will vary depending upon the space you may have available, especially since there can be a big difference between urban and more rural areas. The pictures that have been included are just an example of how you can use the two concepts together to assist you in your gardening. The approximate size of the one pictured is 8’ X 16’ give or take a couple of inches.

The basic raised bed is simply made from beams that should be large enough to make a sturdy frame to hold your soil, allow sufficient depth for proper root growth and support the cold frame assembly that will be used as a cover. The type and size of beams is not that critical. As long as your beams provide enough room to support the edges of the cold frame cover and satisfy the other main requirements. Your individual space limitations should be the ruling factor in this regard.

The cold frame cover in this example is made from a combination of 2X6’s and 1X4’s. The 2X6’s make up the basic frame which was configured at a 45 degree angle. A simple speed square is all that is needed to make the 45 degree cuts (or you can use a plain old straight edge tool and some basic high school geometry) and includes a middle support due to the cold frame opening being divided into two sections which allows easier access. The 2X6’s also add some additional weight and stability to the cold frame covering for the raised bed and provide sufficient width to support the edges of the access covers. In addition, small garden pests and insects (rabbits, grasshoppers, etc.) will have a harder time getting to your plants.

The opening on the cold frame cover was divided into two sections in this example but more or less openings can be used. The only requirement is additional supports if you have more openings due to a longer raised bed. The openings of the cold frame are supported by the use of 1X4’s that have been notched when working the raised bed garden. This gives you easy access. The entire cold frame cover can be removed in one piece by one person by simply flipping it over backwards. Just do it easy so you don’t damage it. You could also get another person to help you.

The plastic sheeting was attached using old wooden tomato stakes but you can use whatever materials that are handy. Use the thickest plastic sheeting you have available to achieve the most durability.

Hinges and handles will also need to be added. You can get by without the handles but they sure make it easier to lift the covers. The hinges are pretty much a necessity.

Simple thumb latches were used to secure the openings of the cold frame. The actual cold frame is not secured directly to the raised bed itself but is probably something that needs to be done. It could easily be secured directly to the beams of the raised bed if needed.

Whether you are in a rural or an urban setting using the combination of a raised bed garden and a cold frame as a cover will help you get the most out of your garden and the space you have available. Less wasted space, less effort, and less vulnerability makes for a truly dynamic duo!

Got garden combo?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker