Amending raised bed vegetable gardens to maintain proper moisture levels (irrigation, growing)

[The Triangle Explorer]

Long time lurker first time poster here. I am planning ahead for the growing season in the spring and need to get some good answers to something. My raised bed vegetable gardens kept drying out too fast this year. What amendments should I add to the soil in order to maintain more consistent moisture? I made a homemade soil mix and evidently made it too light with too much drainage.

Any help will be a lot of help. Thx.

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by The Triangle Explorer

Long time lurker first time poster here. I am planning ahead for the growing season in the spring and need to get some good answers to something. My raised bed vegetable gardens kept drying out too fast this year. What amendments should I add to the soil in order to maintain more consistent moisture? I made a homemade soil mix and evidently made it too light with too much drainage.

Any help will be a lot of help. Thx.

One "amendment" would be to bury a "U" of soaker hose about 4 to 6 inches under the surface of the dirt. When surface watering, you lose most of your water to evaporation and getting water to deep roots is not an exact science. You get a lot more bang for your buck if you can skip the whole surface absorption thing...

[The Triangle Explorer]

Originally Posted by jimboburnsy

One "amendment" would be to bury a "U" of soaker hose about 4 to 6 inches under the surface of the dirt. When surface watering, you lose most of your water to evaporation and getting water to deep roots is not an exact science. You get a lot more bang for your buck if you can skip the whole surface absorption thing...

I did not know soaker hoses could be buried. Thank you for the suggestion.

[roadrat]

Vermiculite is a good amendment that helps hold water and peat moss also.
I believe the recipe from Square foot gardening is 1/3 peat moss 1/3 course vermiculite 1/3 compost.



bill

[Bulldogdad]

If the native soil you have if clay like in composition that would be good to add into the beds as it retains moisture. Also most garden materials suppliers have clean loam for sale that usually is a great solution for your problem. I would go drip irrigation and micro sprays for the watering.

[The Triangle Explorer]

Originally Posted by bulldogdad

If the native soil you have if clay like in composition that would be good to add into the beds as it retains moisture. Also most garden materials suppliers have clean loam for sale that usually is a great solution for your problem. I would go drip irrigation and micro sprays for the watering.

I was thinking about trying to install quick connects to each of the beds, with micro sprays in each. This way I water just where I want to.

[gardner2]

I might have the answer you are looking for.
I am new to gardening and I have followed the sq ft gardening method in attempting to establish a perfect vegetable garden. However I have taken it to a couple of levels higher when I built a 28" high 5 ft wide by 16 ft long raised cinder block bed and am presently building a 15x24 hoop house over it to protect my investment from hail, wind, rain, sun, deer, rabbits and wees. I have posted how to videos on YouTube about how I did what I did if it helps anyone else. You may watch the videos at the following YouTube links. This is ongoing until I am completely finished with my large project. I talk about the amendments and also how gravel can help.

[SIZE=3]Raised bed garden using cinder blocks and hoop house VIDEO ONE OF FIVE[/SIZE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_GNU_0TRwA

[SIZE=3]Raised bed garden using cinder blocks and hoop house VIDEO TWO OF FIVE[/SIZE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeJO5wvJb2Y
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Raised bed garden using cinder blocks and hoop house VIDEO THREE OF FIVE[/SIZE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaSZ4aAB5RU
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Raised bed garden using cinder blocks and hoop house VIDEO FOUR OF FIVE[/SIZE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0gD107Z1xA
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Raised bed garden using cinder blocks and hoop house VIDEO FIVE OF FIVE[/SIZE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5nLF_SpK6M

Laszlo Zone 7b