The Penn State Extension MG Edible Demonstration Garden at Fairmont Park’s Horticultural Center is expanding, again!

by Michelle L. Dauberman

Last year the edible demonstration garden expanded its footprint by adding five raised beds and this year the garden is adding four more!  

This fun expansion was spear headed by Lois Fischer and graciously supported by the Edible Garden Committee, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners & some philanthropic Drexel University students.

This is such an exciting time for the garden so check out the new additions while we celebrate Earth Day during the Penn State Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale on April 22, 2018.  Visit our location again over the summer when the garden at it peak!

Thanks to everyone who donated their generous time, materials and labor!

For more information on the Penn State Extension MG Garden Day and Plant Sale:

https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/philadelphia/news/2018/garden-day-and-plant-sale

For more information on raised beds:

https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/lancaster/idea-gardens/the-raised-bed-garden

Raised Beds for the Home Gardener

Michele K. Koskinen





As I was working on refurbishing my raised beds that got destroyed recently by Sandy I though of the reasons I will build again. In todays world of home gardening, raised beds, instead of in ground gardens, are the preferred way to grow your vegetables and herbs and even some flower gardens. No longer your grandma's garden of digging, tilling and weeding expansive gardens in the ground, the 4 foot by 8 plus plots with at least a 2' path are easier to maintain and have many advantages.






Advantages of Raised Garden Beds

• Raised beds warm quicker in the spring allowing earlier planting and stay warmer in the fall
• The soil in the beds does not get compacted becuse of easy accessibility on paths. Soil compaction is a major factor in reduced yields. 
• The soil can be easily made specific PH for different types of plants.
• roots are more easily established 
• Water conservation using a soakeer hose or drip system is more economical and helps deter disease
• they produce 60 to 80% higher yield
• successive planting in different beds is made easier
• they have better drainage 
• are great for intensive gardening
• don't require back breaking preparation every year 
• if you are older you can make them high enough you don't have to bend so far or can sit
• are great for the handicapped or elderly gardener

Once established raised beds do have to be watered a more. Setting up a drip or soaker hose system with a timer allows the busy home gardener to have more time to actually enjoy the garden "work" during the growing season and is a way to conserve water.

Materials for raised beds can be as economical or as expensive as the gardener wants. No longer for the person that knows how to build. Raised bed kits are sold for those that do not have the carpentry skills or the time. They can be wood, brick, stone, concrete block, metal, man made wood and a variety of heights. Instructions are easy and can be found on a variety of website as well as kits to be purchased and put together. Below a few sites for information and to inspire.

http://www.raisedgardenbedshowto.com

http://extension.psu.edu/cumberland/news/2012/raised-bed-gardening
How to Build: extension.psu.edu/philadelphia/programs/master-gardener/
http://eartheasy.com/grow_raised_beds.htm
www.houzz.com/raised-bed