To get a healthy and productive garden, good soil is key. One great way to build solid soil for your veggies is by setting up a garden bed. Sure, there are other methods like growing directly on the ground or using planters, but these can get pricey or be a hassle to manage. Sometimes, garden beds aren’t the best choice, like if you’re growing potatoes or off-season tomatoes. For those, using grow bags with drip irrigation can be easier to handle on a small scale and help you make the most of your harvest.
Georgia is famous for its red clay soil, which can be tough for many leafy veggies. The strong sunlight and high mineral content can mess with the flavor. A few years ago, my parents tried growing cucumbers in Georgia. Unfortunately, the skins turned out tough, and the soil couldn’t hold moisture well, so the cucumbers didn’t grow properly. We switched to store-bought soil and got much better results. In this case, garden beds weren’t just nice to have—they were necessary.
The best type of garden bed uses three layers of 6×6 oak lumber or another hardwood. But this can get really expensive, up to $300 for a 4×8 unit. Unless you’ve got a big budget, it’s not worth it. Metal options are also available, easy to assemble, and require less maintenance. However, they can get damaged easily if you have heavy machinery around, and adding extras like a moisture retention hoop can be tricky. If you’re planning just one or two growing spaces, metal garden beds might be the way to go.
When I designed my garden bed, I focused on two main things: having enough growing space on a reasonable budget, and making it last 5 to 10 years. A width of 4 feet is usually best because you can reach everything without stepping into the bed. The length can be whatever you need, but 8 to 12 feet is common and easy to find. Using 2-inch thick wood is cost-effective. For the bottom, use pressure-treated wood like ACQ (Ammoniacal Copper Quat) or MCA (Micronized Copper Azole), which are safer than traditional treated wood. You can also add a layer of fiber or plastic lining on the bottom. The chemicals in treated wood are more likely to be absorbed through direct contact than through the soil.
You can optionally apply two coats of raw linseed oil or raw tung oil to the top plate only. I don’t recommend oiling the whole thing, as it might trap moisture inside and cause the wood to rot faster. Just oiling the top helps avoid that issue.