What is the best location for the raised bed?

Which location is suitable for raised beds? Which plants also feel good in a shady raised bed? We clarify how you can achieve the maximum duration of sunlight and find the right raised bed location.

Raised beds have many advantages for hobby gardeners and plants. In addition to being able to work in a back-friendly way, the raised bed heats up faster and stores more moisture than conventional plant boxes. When building the raised bed, however, the first question that arises is the right location.

Raised bed location: what makes a good location?

In principle, there are many locations that are suitable for building a raised bed. A raised bed is largely independent of the ground below, which is why it can also be set up on waterlogged locations, for example. However, since the plants are more exposed on the raised bed, a sheltered place is an advantage. You can one

Raised bed on the balcony, on the terrace, in the garden or even in the greenhouse. The orientation of the raised bed is crucial here. It should be placed in such a way that the sunlight is optimally used, i.e. at right angles to the course of the sun. The shorter broad sides are positioned north-south in order to achieve a long exposure time.

tip: In addition to the choice of location, the filling with organic materials and different soils also determines the success of the cultivation. In our special article you can find out everything about the various Raised bed layers and their function.

Set up a raised bed in the shade or in the sun?

The location in the sun or in the shade depends entirely on which plants you want to grow in the raised bed. Basically, if possible, it should be exposed to the sun for at least a few hours a day.

Raised bed in the shade or partial shade

If your raised bed is in the shade, the selection of plants is limited to a few that still grow sufficiently in such locations and also produce yield. Various crops are adapted to life with little sunlight. This also includes Vegetable types for the (half) shadethat also reach maturity there. In addition to vegetables, there are also numerous Herbs in the shade or grow partial shade. Plants that tolerate shade include:

• salad (Lactuca sativa): Sowing and harvesting from spring until autumn.
• spinach (Spinacia oleracea): Sow between March and October, harvest possible until next spring.
• peas (Pisum sativum): Sow from March, harvest from May to July.
• Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris): Sow in March / April, harvest between May and October.
• Beetroot (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris): Sow in March / April, harvest from September.
• cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis): Sow from March / April, harvest time between June and October.
• Wild garlic (Allium ursinum): Perennial, leaves are harvested from March to April.
• cress (Lepidium sativum): Sowing and harvesting from spring until autumn.
• Woodruff (Galium odoratum): Perennial, leaves are harvested from March to April.
• Mountain mint (Calamintha nepeta): Perennial, leaves can be harvested between spring and late autumn.

Raised bed in the sun

If the raised bed is in the sun, the choice of plants is hardly limited. In the following we would like to give you a small overview of sun-loving species. Numerous other vegetables and herbs grow in a sunny location. In midsummer, however, more watering and mulching have to be carried out in order to provide sufficient water for the crops.

• tomato (Solanum lycopersicum): Growing indoors from March, harvest possible from July to October depending on the variety.
• aubergine (Solanum melongena): Growing indoors from February, harvest from August to October.
• chili (Capsicum): Growing indoors from February, harvest August to October.
• cucumber (Cucumis sativus): Growing indoors from April, harvest from June to October.
• melon (Citrullus lanatus & Cucumis melo): Growing indoors from March, harvest from August.
• pumpkin (Cucurbita): Cultivation in April / direct sowing in mid-May, harvest from September to October.
• leek (Allium porrum): Almost all year round with summer, autumn and winter leeks.
• garlic (Allium sativum): Planting in autumn and spring, harvest July to October.
• Carrots (Daucus carota): Sow from March to August, harvest June to October.
• basil (Ocimum basilicum): Sowing or planting from mid-May, harvest possible until October.

Have you found the ideal location for your raised bed? After filling it then goes to the Planting the raised bed. We give tips on creating a planting plan, mixed crops and green manure.