What makes a real Makkelijke Moestuin raised bed?
Raised beds come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Small and large, cheap and expensive, sturdy and rickety. And made from all kinds of materials.
But not all raised beds are suitable for the Makkelijke Moestuin. A real Makkelijke Moestuin bed has to meet a number of requirements.
Just take a look at this picture:
The raised bed:
- Is in a spot with at least 6, but preferably 8 hours of sunlight (1)
- Is made of sturdy and durable material. You can make it yourself or buy it ready-made. (4)
- Is filled with Makkelijke Moestuingrond or Makkelijke Moestuinmix. (5) If it contains anything else, it is not an MM.
- Has a clear grid that divides the bed into 30x30 cm squares. (6)
The planting method:
There is also a different vegetable in each square (2). That gives you plenty of variety and helps prevent diseases and pests.
The front of the box faces south, and that’s where the low-growing plants go (3). The taller plants go further back.
The front of the box faces south, and that’s where the low-growing plants go (3). The taller plants go further back.
Useful, but not strictly necessary:
An MM-waterreservoir. If you use that as the base of your box, you’ll need to water far less often and it keeps the mix evenly moist. That makes it easier for your seeds to sprout, helps your plants grow better and faster, and means you can harvest earlier and more.
A sturdy climbing frame for climbing and tall vegetables such as tomatoes, courgettes, runner beans and mangetout. (7) A frame like that goes at the back of the box, on the north side.
Lastly: if you don’t want to or can’t bend down, a vegetable box at table height is ideal. In that case, you’ll need a box with a base and legs.
Right, now you know what a real Makkelijke Moestuin box needs to have.
You can read how to make one yourself here:
Success!
