How to prepare your Makkelijke Moestuingrond

Option B: directly in your raised bed

Watch the video (in Dutch), or read the step-by-step instructions below.

Step by step

1. Spread the cocopeat blocks across your raised bed

One cocopeat block is enough for one square. A raised bed with eight squares therefore needs eight cocopeat blocks.

2. Pour plenty of water over the blocks

Use about 4 litres per block in total. A garden hose is easiest, but a large watering can works too.

This also starts filling your water reservoirs.

3. Watch the blocks slowly expand

This takes a few minutes.

4. Scrape off the loose cocopeat fibres with a trowel

Push them to one side, between the blocks. Do this with every block.

5. Pour plenty of water over the blocks again

6. Pick out any dry pieces from your raised bed

Place them on top of the loose fibres.

7. Pour more water over them

8. Use your hands to loosen everything thoroughly

9. Take the worm castings

1 square = 1 bag of 1.5 litres of worm castings
4 squares = 1 bag of 6 litres of worm castings
8 squares = 2 bags of 6 litres of worm castings
16 squares = 4 bags of 6 litres of worm castings

10. Spread them across your raised bed

Repeat this with all the bags.

11. Take the plant food

1 square = 1 bag of 30 g of plant food
4 squares = 1 bag of 125 g of plant food
8 squares = 1 bag of 250 g of plant food
16 squares = 2 bags of 250 g of plant food

12. Spread it over the worm castings

13. Mix everything together thoroughly

Mix the cocopeat, plant food and compost thoroughly throughout the raised bed, making sure you reach right down to the bottom.

Spread the mixture evenly across your raised bed.

Extra tip: it is even easier, and better, to put the compost and plant food in a tub or bucket first and mix them together thoroughly. This helps you distribute both evenly through the cocopeat.