How do our garden boxes work?
A well-built Makkelijke Moestuin garden box gives your plants almost everything they need, with little work and a generous harvest. That is because the box has a few smart features. Let me walk you through them.
On the first page of this series I explained what plants need to grow really well: sunlight, air, water, nutrients and space. Plus a little love and attention from you. You can read that page here.
When you garden in a Makkelijke Moestuin, your plants get almost all of that automatically. At least the first five.
That is because we do not grow in open soil, but in garden boxes. And those boxes are the heart of our system.
When you garden in a Makkelijke Moestuin, your plants get almost all of that automatically. At least the first five.
That is because we do not grow in open soil, but in garden boxes. And those boxes are the heart of our system.
What is a Makkelijke Moestuin garden box?
To grow really well, your plants need sunlight, water, air, space and nutrients. Plus some love and attention from you.
We designed our garden box so your plants get those first five things almost automatically. You do not have to spend much time on it, or do anything complicated.
Let me explain.
Below you can see our largest Hero box: 16 squares, with an outside size of 126 by 126 centimetres. It is large, but still small enough to reach every part from the outside. So you never need to stand in it to care for your plants.
The side planks are 20 centimetres high, the base of the box is a sturdy water reservoir, there is a 180 cm high trellis, and the planks carry our slug fence.
We designed our garden box so your plants get those first five things almost automatically. You do not have to spend much time on it, or do anything complicated.
Let me explain.
Below you can see our largest Hero box: 16 squares, with an outside size of 126 by 126 centimetres. It is large, but still small enough to reach every part from the outside. So you never need to stand in it to care for your plants.
The side planks are 20 centimetres high, the base of the box is a sturdy water reservoir, there is a 180 cm high trellis, and the planks carry our slug fence.
A sunny spot
Put your garden box somewhere that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight, and preferably 8.
The front of the box faces south: that is where the low plants go. Taller plants go further back. That way every plant gets enough sunlight, without shading the others.
The front of the box faces south: that is where the low plants go. Taller plants go further back. That way every plant gets enough sunlight, without shading the others.
MM-Mix
Fill the box with a light, nutrient-rich mix that holds both moisture and nutrients well. When your box is filled to the top, you have a layer of 20 cm. That is deep enough for everything you will grow in it, even if the mix settles a little later.
Because the box sits on top of the ground, not in it, the mix warms up earlier in spring and you have less trouble from the first night frosts. It also means nobody accidentally steps on your vegetables, and your children's ball does not roll straight through them.
Because the box sits on top of the ground, not in it, the mix warms up earlier in spring and you have less trouble from the first night frosts. It also means nobody accidentally steps on your vegetables, and your children's ball does not roll straight through them.
Loosen the mix until it is light and crumbly before you sow, top it up with plant food regularly, and keep it moist. That gives your plants nutrients, air and water all at once.
Sowing in squares
We sow in squares, not in rows. That is why there is a loose white grid on top of the mix, dividing the box into 30 x 30 cm squares. That size is just right for giving each plant enough space to grow well.
For example, one square can hold:
For example, one square can hold:
- 16 small plants, such as French breakfast radishes
- 9 medium plants, such as Chioggia beetroot
- 4 large plants, such as pak choi
- or 1 XL plant, such as palm kale
Plant a different vegetable in each square and you get lots of variety, while also helping to prevent diseases and pests.
Water reservoir
The box in the picture sits on water reservoirs. That is optional, of course, but it means you do not have to water as often.
Seeds germinate more easily, and your plants grow faster too. The reservoir keeps the mix steadily moist, instead of soaking wet one moment and bone dry the next. And because there is also a layer of air inside it, the roots get oxygen as well as water.
Without a reservoir, you water by hand. That works fine too, but it takes more work and attention.
Seeds germinate more easily, and your plants grow faster too. The reservoir keeps the mix steadily moist, instead of soaking wet one moment and bone dry the next. And because there is also a layer of air inside it, the roots get oxygen as well as water.
Without a reservoir, you water by hand. That works fine too, but it takes more work and attention.
Trellis
If you also want to grow climbing and tall vegetables, such as tomatoes, climbing courgettes, baby pumpkins, runner beans and mangetout, your box needs a sturdy trellis. The trellis stands at the back of the box, on the north side.
Those tall plants then take up only one square, while still getting enough space. They also get plenty of sunlight, without getting in the way of the other plants.
Those tall plants then take up only one square, while still getting enough space. They also get plenty of sunlight, without getting in the way of the other plants.
Slug fence
You can garden without the MM slug fence, of course. But if, like us, you live in a real slug paradise, it saves you a lot of frustration. And a lot of harvest.
It also lets you put your attention somewhere else.
It also lets you put your attention somewhere else.
App
The heavy, annoying work of a vegetable garden is gone.
You can see your plants from every side. At a glance you can tell whether they are growing well, need water, or are ready to harvest. That overview makes it much easier, and much more fun.
What remains is giving your plants some love and attention: sowing in the right square at the right time, watering them, caring for them now and then, and harvesting on time.
Those are the enjoyable jobs. And even with those, you get help from the app.
You can see your plants from every side. At a glance you can tell whether they are growing well, need water, or are ready to harvest. That overview makes it much easier, and much more fun.
What remains is giving your plants some love and attention: sowing in the right square at the right time, watering them, caring for them now and then, and harvesting on time.
Those are the enjoyable jobs. And even with those, you get help from the app.
Sturdy materials
Okay, this is not shown in the picture of the box, but I still want to mention it. If you want to harvest from your Makkelijke Moestuin year after year, your boxes need to be made from sturdy materials that can handle wind and weather.
And that means a thick layer of snow and 8 degrees below zero too:
And that means a thick layer of snow and 8 degrees below zero too:
If you have one of our boxes in your garden, you do not need to worry about whether it can handle that. All the materials, including the water reservoirs, can withstand both heat and cold.
So now you know what a garden box needs in order to work with our system.
Next, let me tell you more about the Makkelijke Moestuin Mix:
So now you know what a garden box needs in order to work with our system.
Next, let me tell you more about the Makkelijke Moestuin Mix: