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Transplanting Seedlings in the Raised Bed



Before planting seedlings in your raised bed or grow box, there are several important factors to consider:

 

1. Which types of crops are most suitable for a raised bed or grow box.

2. What spacing is necessary for these crops.

3. How do you select the healthiest seedlings for transplanting into the raised bed or grow box.




1. Crops that are best suited for a raised bed or  grow box

Crops that are best suited for a raised bed built from a single concrete block (8 inches or 20 cm in height) are typically shallow-rooted or short-term varieties. If you want to plant deep-rooted crops, you can easily create a deeper raisednbed by stacking the blocks on top of each other.




2. Plant Spacing

When planting seedlings in your raised bed, spacing is important. Spacing applies to both the distance between plants in a row and the distance between rows of plants.


Importance of Plant Spacing

Adequate spacing is essential for promoting faster, more vigorous, and healthy growth in plants. Overcrowding can hinder this growth. 

 

Proper spacing between plants is important for several reasons:

1. It allows the root systems of plants to grow and spread freely in the soil.

2. Each plant's roots have better access to moisture and nutrients.

3. The leaf canopy has room to expand.

4. Improved wind passage enhances gaseous exchange and helps prevent excessive humidity.

5. There is reduced competition for light, which facilitates more efficient photosynthesis.

6. Spacing enables closer inspection of individual plants, allowing for quicker detection of pests, diseases, and nutritional deficiencies.



3. Selecting Healthy Seedlings

Starting your grow box with healthy seedlings is crucial to ensuring the best quality crops. When selecting seedlings for transplantation into the raised bed, look for the following characteristics: 

  • The leaves should be glossy and green, indicating good health.
  • The roots must be healthy, typically appearing white and plentiful.
  • Healthy seedlings should be free from pests and diseases.
  • For crops such as tomatoes, eggplants (often referred to as melongene), and peppers, the seedlings should have thick, straight stems. Avoid seedlings that are spindly or tall, as they are more likely to break in the wind.

Here is an example of Lettuce being transplanted into a raised bed


One week after transplanting


Two weeks after transplanting



CROP SPACING CHART

The chart below outlines the ideal planting distances for various crops you may want to grow in your raised bed. It includes measurements in both Imperial and Metric units. To make the most of the space in your raised bed, it is recommended to follow the smaller spacing guidelines.


CROP

DISTANCE BETWEEN ROWS

DISTANCE BETWEEN

 PLANTS IN A ROW

Imperial

Metric

Imperial

Metric

inches

cm

inches

cm

Beet Root

8 - 10

20 - 25

4 - 6

10 - 15

Cabbage

20 - 25

50 - 60

8 - 12

20 - 30

Carrots

12 – 16

30 – 40

4 - 6

10 - 14

Corn

28 - 32

70 - 80

10 - 12

25 - 30

Green Beans

30

75

8 - 12

20 - 30

Hot peppers

40 - 48

100 - 120

40 - 48

100 - 120

Lettuce

10 – 12

25 – 30

5 - 10

20 - 25

Melongene

30 - 36

75 - 90

14 - 18

35 - 45

Ochro

32 - 36

80 - 90

20 - 25

50 - 60

Pak Choi

10 – 15

30 – 40

5 - 10

20 - 30

Sweet Pepper

25 – 30

60 – 75

10 - 15

35 - 45

Sweet Potato

24 - 30

60 - 75

10 - 12

25 - 30

Tomato

20 - 25

50 - 60

10 - 15

30 - 40


























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