Hill bed

Planted hill bed

The hill bed is a raised bed without a steep edging and therefore sloping at an angle. A hill bed offers around a third more cultivation area than a flat or raised bed.

climate

A hill bed partially receives increased solar radiation. Rainwater runs off faster in the hillbed, which is appreciated by many plants. These principles are also used in the herb spiral . Due to the build-up of the lower layer, the hill bed is additionally warmed up as the material used rots. The earth temperature, which has increased by 5 ° to 8 °, accordingly extends the usable cultivation time ("forward", that is, the soil of the hillbed is warmer in early spring and the first harvest can take place earlier).

Unplanted hillbed with watering channel (CDs are used to protect against birds)

construction

A hill bed is best built at the end of the year. When the other gardening work is done, the necessary materials like leaves and pruning will be available. The bed can then settle down a little over the winter.

The basic shape of the bed should be determined by about 25 cm of excavated soil. The width is about 1.8 m. A north-south axis is best because of the sun's rays. A fine-meshed wire net should be placed underneath to protect against voles . A narrow, 50 cm high layer of wood is laid out as the core of the bed. For this purpose, twigs or chopped material are used, which warm up the bed for three years (see also organic pile ); Or shrubs or hedge cuttings that only produce heat for two years but do not drain the bed as quickly. A layer of sod is laid over this , which takes up about 10 cm. On top of this, one again piles up thickly 25 cm high of wet leaves. This layer of leaves is then covered with 15 cm of compost and finally a blanket of 15 cm of good garden soil is applied.

It is important that all layers are firmly trodden down so that no voids are created. So that the water does not run down the sides when pouring, a so-called pouring trough is built on the “ridge”, from which the rain or irrigation water quickly reaches every layer of the hill bed.

maintenance

Depending on the type of planting, the hill bed has to be watered more intensively than a flat bed, as it drains faster.

planting

The planting should be aligned with the sun exposure and the nutrient supply ( crop rotation ). Zucchini can be grown to the south, and beans to the north . Planting lettuce or spinach should be avoided in the first two years, as they would still absorb too much nitrate ( heavy consumers ). After the last planting with potatoes in the sixth year, the hill bed must be renewed at the latest.

swell

Rainer Berling u. a .: Handbook garden. The comprehensive reference work for all questions about gardening practice . 6th edition BVL, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-405-16368-4 .