One of my all-time favorite movies is Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein and the scene where Igor, Marty Feldman, has to tell the Dr about the brain he took - Abby Normal, which is exactly how I feel about 2020 so far! Mama said there'd be days like this, but stop already! Just waiting now for the locust and Sharknado..
This year in the garden everything I normally would be doing is just not working. That’s not to say that I don’t have some beautiful plants this year it’s just very very different. Course, I don't need to tell you that!
Look at the difference in these plants – my extra/back-up Covid-19 tomatoes and peppers stuck in random pots v.s. the very pampered ones planted in my raised beds. Same - identical - planted the same day.
The only difference is the potted ones didn’t have to withstand 50 miles an hour wind and rain from who knows where? I prepped for this storm even though we didn’t get the baseball size hail predicted we did get everything else and fortunately, I stuck all the potted plants under the eaves, but really? This much different? I don’t get it.
Check out this storm!
I have raised veggies in a “flat garden”, raised beds, and occasionally in pots when I haven’t had garden beds ready, which the deer consumed immediately but that’s a story for a different time.
Spending time researching why there would be such a difference, of course, keeping consistent with the theme of 2020, no clear answer. The only thing that may be influencing the plants in the pots is the temperature of the soil. We definitely have not had many warm nights and maybe that smaller amount of soil is just staying a little bit warmer? The soil in my raised beds is so much better than the cheap 2 yr old potting soil I used in the pots? So, what's the difference? Here is some great info from -https://farmandgardendiy.com/
Raised Bed vs. Container Gardening
Container gardening is different from raised garden beds. If you’re new to gardening, you may be confused between raised beds vs. container gardening. While you could plant your garden directly into the ground, your soil may be too sandy or heavy. In that case, you want to consider using raised beds or containers for your garden plants.
What are the differences between raised beds and a container garden?
Raised beds rest directly on the ground and raise the soil level up by as much as two feet, while container gardening uses enclosed pots that you can move. Raised beds are often larger than containers, although some pots hold as much soil as raised garden beds.
However, there are other factors to consider when choosing between raised beds vs. container gardening. You’ll need to assess these factors and the benefits of each, depending on the type of plants you want to grow.
While most gardeners use amended soil in their raised beds, the most critical difference between them and potting containers is that they don’t have a bottom. Some raised beds are piled soil and amendments with no sides. They’re placed directly on the ground, with no barrier. This offers several advantages:
Better drainage to prevent root rot
Reduces the risk of fungal disease
Allows the entry of beneficial microbes
Welcomes earthworms to aerate the soil
Container gardening means growing your flowers or vegetables in a suitable pot using potting soil or compost mix. The roots and soil are entirely enclosed, which better protects the plant:
Lower risk of bacterial disease
Can prevent pest infestation
Ability to relocate during a winter freeze
Ability to move the plant out of scorching sunlight
Deciding Between Raised Beds vs. Container Gardening
If you’re not sure which is best for you, first consider how much room you have. Raised beds take more space, with the smallest being about 4 x 4 feet.
With container gardening, you can grow plants anywhere, as long as you have a suitable pot. If your outdoor space is limited to a small yard or patio space, container gardening lets you make the most of it.
One critical factor to consider is what you plan to grow. While some plants do well in containers, others may need more room. Specifically, plants with deep roots may not flourish in a container. Beets, Broccoli, Brussel sprouts not so much. Peppers, Tomatoes, Kale, Potatoes probably really good choices.
The size of your plants also comes into play when deciding between raised bed vs. container gardening. Even with shallow roots, some plants have a lot of top growth, so they’ll need support.
Most gardeners find heavy plants with supports in containers become quite top-heavy. So, they fall over frequently and become damaged when bumped or blown over by strong winds - I'll keep you updated on how that works out for me!
In a raised bed, you have plenty of room to use additional staking for support whenever necessary. Just make sure to provide some drainage holes.
Jaime always provides excellent drainage whether I need it or not.
Pretty much my view of Jaimie whenever I'm working in the garden. Such a good helper.
Now we just need a little heat - I've got Dahlias coming up.
Frost warnings tonight, I'm so surprised!
See you in the dirt -