Buy or build your own raised bed?
Are you thinking of getting a raised bed or building one yourself? Here's what it takes to make one that will work with the Makkelijke Moestuin method.
What makes a good raised bed?
The main things to keep in mind when building or buying a raised bed are:
- size - you should be able to divide it into squares of 30x30 cm
- depth - about 20 cm deep
- material - non-toxic and safe
- durability - it should last for at least several years
- grid - for marking off your squares
- trellis - for tall or climbing plants (optional)
Also, think about your own situation and wishes: do you have lots of space for your Makkelijke Moestuin or just a tiny garden in the city? Or do you want to grow vegetables on your balcony?
Let's go through it together:
Let's go through it together:
The right dimensions
The most important thing is that the dimensions are right and that you can divide your raised bed into squares of 30 x 30 cm.
A standard Makkelijke Moestuin raised bed has inner dimensions of 120 x 120 cm, 60 x 120 cm, or 60 x 60 cm. Those are the easiest sizes to work with, and they are also the sizes we use in the app.
If you build your own raised bed in a different size, make sure you can still easily reach every square. That is the only way to care for all your plants without having to step into the raised bed.
A standard Makkelijke Moestuin raised bed has inner dimensions of 120 x 120 cm, 60 x 120 cm, or 60 x 60 cm. Those are the easiest sizes to work with, and they are also the sizes we use in the app.
If you build your own raised bed in a different size, make sure you can still easily reach every square. That is the only way to care for all your plants without having to step into the raised bed.
An adult can reach at least 60 cm.
So a long raised bed of 120 x 180 cm is fine if you can reach it from all sides. But if you place that raised bed against a fence, some squares will no longer be within reach. In that case, make it 60 x 180 cm instead.
A raised bed should be about 20 cm deep
Because you will fill the raised bed with Makkelijke Moestuinmix, it does not need to be very deep.
This mix gives your plants exactly what they need, so a 20 cm layer of mix is enough. If you make a deeper raised bed, you are really just wasting material.
This mix gives your plants exactly what they need, so a 20 cm layer of mix is enough. If you make a deeper raised bed, you are really just wasting material.
Which material do you use for a raised bed?
You are probably growing your own vegetables because you want fresh vegetables that have not been sprayed with pesticides. So use clean, untreated materials.
That rules out impregnated wood right away. The chemicals used to treat the wood end up in the soil through the water and are absorbed by your plants. And then you eat them.
That rules out impregnated wood right away. The chemicals used to treat the wood end up in the soil through the water and are absorbed by your plants. And then you eat them.
Wood
Most DIYers think of wood first. I made my first raised beds from the scaffolding planks left over after our house was built. But they did not last very long.
When we started selling raised beds ourselves, we had them made from high-quality Douglas fir and hardened planks.
But sooner or later, they all broke. That makes sense: a raised bed has to deal with wind and weather, and it is often wet on the inside and dry on the outside. So it warps much sooner than, say, a wooden fence, and rots more quickly too.
But sooner or later, they all broke. That makes sense: a raised bed has to deal with wind and weather, and it is often wet on the inside and dry on the outside. So it warps much sooner than, say, a wooden fence, and rots more quickly too.
A raised bed that falls apart is hugely frustrating when you are just getting into the flow. And if that raised bed stands on legs, it is even dangerous.
That is why we switched in 2018 to thick planks made from hardened bamboo or recycled plastic, with thick stainless steel legs.
Bamboo and recycled plastic
That's 1 of the reasons we no longer sell wooden boxes but opt for ultra-sturdy materials: rock-hard durable bamboo or thick planks of recycled plastic. Both are practically indestructible.
That may seem overkill, but this makes a Makkelijke Moestuin an actual investment in the future. And not a temporary project that you do just for fun and then discard pretty quickly.
The MM-Bamboos are made of thick planks of sustainably sourced bamboo, which stay beautiful for at least 20 years and then slowly break down.
The planks are rock hard and super heavy. And did you know that bamboo forests absorb much more co2 than regular forests? You can read more about that here.
The MM-Heroes last forever. They're made from equally thick planks of recycled plastic. Plastic that's difficult to recycle, and usually ends up in incinerators.
That may seem overkill, but this makes a Makkelijke Moestuin an actual investment in the future. And not a temporary project that you do just for fun and then discard pretty quickly.
The MM-Bamboos are made of thick planks of sustainably sourced bamboo, which stay beautiful for at least 20 years and then slowly break down.
The planks are rock hard and super heavy. And did you know that bamboo forests absorb much more co2 than regular forests? You can read more about that here.
The MM-Heroes last forever. They're made from equally thick planks of recycled plastic. Plastic that's difficult to recycle, and usually ends up in incinerators.
Unfortunately, these materials are not easy to get hold of. So if you want to build a raised bed yourself, you will need to use something else.
Other materials
Besides wood, bamboo, or durable plastics, you can also use stone. In 2008, my mother built a raised bed from leftover bricks. That raised bed is still there, although more and more bricks are coming loose now.
Concrete kerbs, small beams, garden edging, paving borders, and woven willow branches can all work too. The willow branches just will not last as long.
A clear grid for dividing the squares
A crucial part of the Makkelijke Moestuin method is working in squares of 30 x 30 cm. So do not skip dividing the raised bed into squares.
We use white plastic grids that are joined together with binding screws.
They look clean, last a long time, and sit loose on top of the mix. Because the grid is flexible, you can easily lift one section without having to take the whole thing off. Cleaning it is just as easy.
Wooden slats, bamboo canes, or strips from old blinds are less handy, but they work too. String breaks quickly and is hard to see, so it is useful at most as a temporary solution.
They look clean, last a long time, and sit loose on top of the mix. Because the grid is flexible, you can easily lift one section without having to take the whole thing off. Cleaning it is just as easy.
Wooden slats, bamboo canes, or strips from old blinds are less handy, but they work too. String breaks quickly and is hard to see, so it is useful at most as a temporary solution.
A trellis for climbing vegetables
You only need a trellis for climbing vegetables or really tall plants. If you have room for one, go for it. Then you can grow climbing zucchini and snack cucumbers - or even pumpkins. If you've got the space for it, I'd recommend it.
Our tall-growers and climbing plants produce a lot and get really big. So they need something to hold onto.
Our tall-growers and climbing plants produce a lot and get really big. So they need something to hold onto.
Our trellis - the MM-Klimrek- is made of scaffolding pipes with a net attached. You can also make your own from pipes and netting.
Just make sure the trellis is really sturdy. If it blows over when it's full of plants, it's a major bummer. I know all about that 😉
That's why we made our trellis so strong. You can do some chin-ups on it if you want.
Just make sure the trellis is really sturdy. If it blows over when it's full of plants, it's a major bummer. I know all about that 😉
That's why we made our trellis so strong. You can do some chin-ups on it if you want.
Bottom and optional legs
A raised bed with a bottom can be placed on legs or on a table. That is ideal for people who cannot or do not want to bend down.
Thinking about that kind of raised bed? Pay extra attention to the bottom, legs, and drainage.
Thinking about that kind of raised bed? Pay extra attention to the bottom, legs, and drainage.
Excess water must be able to drain away.
Plant roots that are always sitting in water will eventually rot. So make sure the excess water can drain away properly.
For a raised bed with a bottom, that means it needs enough holes. Put weed-control fabric over them so the mix does not wash out through the holes.
And keep in mind: because of the moist mix, the bottom stays wet too. So a wooden bottom will last much less long than the raised bed itself. That is why we use stainless steel: so the whole raised bed stays in good shape for a long time.
For a raised bed with a bottom, that means it needs enough holes. Put weed-control fabric over them so the mix does not wash out through the holes.
And keep in mind: because of the moist mix, the bottom stays wet too. So a wooden bottom will last much less long than the raised bed itself. That is why we use stainless steel: so the whole raised bed stays in good shape for a long time.
A strong, durable raised bed lasts a long time
As I said before: a raised bed stands outside and has a lot to deal with there. Think rain, sun, heat, and cold. On top of that, the mix is always moist, and that is a challenge too.
Let me start with this: nothing is more frustrating than a raised bed full of delicious vegetables that falls apart halfway through the season. If you buy a flimsy 25-euro bed, or build one yourself from cheap materials, there is a good chance that will happen.
It is much more satisfying to work in a good, durable raised bed year after year. If you buy one from our shop, you can be sure you are on the right track from every angle.
'It costs a few cents, but then you have something', as they say here in Groningen. In the long run, you are better off.
It is much more satisfying to work in a good, durable raised bed year after year. If you buy one from our shop, you can be sure you are on the right track from every angle.
'It costs a few cents, but then you have something', as they say here in Groningen. In the long run, you are better off.
Want to start carefully and not spend too much?
Our MM-Hero and MM-Bamboo raised beds are not the cheapest, because we want to deliver top quality. And that simply cannot be done at a low price.
But I completely understand if you do not want to make a big investment before you even know whether vegetable gardening is for you.
In that case, go for an MM-Airbak or a few MM-Minis. They are made from a felt-like material - also recycled plastic - and last for several years.
Because the material lets air through, your plants grow better in them than in ordinary pots. And because they take up little space and are easy to move, you can put them almost anywhere.
But I completely understand if you do not want to make a big investment before you even know whether vegetable gardening is for you.
In that case, go for an MM-Airbak or a few MM-Minis. They are made from a felt-like material - also recycled plastic - and last for several years.
Because the material lets air through, your plants grow better in them than in ordinary pots. And because they take up little space and are easy to move, you can put them almost anywhere.
That way, you still start with responsible materials, find out whether a Makkelijke Moestuin really is as fun and easy as we say, and you do not have to spend a lot right away.
Prefer to build one yourself after all?
If you are a real DIYer and want to get started yourself, you now know what your MM raised bed needs. There is also a DIY guide in the knowledge base with a few extra tips.
So, that covers the raised bed. On to the Makkelijke Moestuinmix:
Prefer to build one yourself after all?
If you are a real DIYer and want to get started yourself, you now know what your MM raised bed needs. There is also a DIY guide in the knowledge base with a few extra tips.
So, that covers the raised bed. On to the Makkelijke Moestuinmix:
