What would you plant in raised beds if you didn't need those raised beds?

Hi friends. I have an awesome dilemma. I have a big open acre of property that I am on my way to unlawning as my budget and time permits. I already have a large annual and perennial food garden that was made by sheet mulching, and I will be installing more trees with other guilds soon, and building on those areas with sheet mulch every year. I have pretty good soil and tend to want to put things in the ground, rather than in raised beds. It seems that raised beds dry out faster, get more pests (slugs for wood) and are generally just more maintenance than growing right in the ground. HOWEVER, I work on the photo team for a gardening company and they are asking if I'd like a (FREE) install of some raised beds for a photo shoot, and then I'd get to keep them. WHAT?! I obviously said yes, but now I am wondering, what do I grow in them that makes the most sense? My first thought was something that tends to spread that I don't want to spread, but I can't think of that much that falls into this category...mostly because I don't think I'd mind anything spreading! Maybe ground nut or jerusalem artichokes??? My next thought was potatoes, bc I'll already have the super deep soil that I can pull out and then put back in as they grow. I'd like to know - what would you do with this windfall if you were in my situation and didn't "need" the growing space? Is there anything that does better in a raised bed than in the ground? Thanks for your input!

Think about bramble berries... raspberries/blackberries.  I have one bed dedicated to stawberries.  I also have one dedicated to herbs. a couple of sections boarded off for mint (think mojitos!!)... also good for spreading herbs like thyme and one the spread by seed like oregano, dill, chives etc.  Have fun!

Poppa

Kim Dostaler wrote:Hi friends. I have an awesome dilemma. I have a big open acre of property that I am on my way to unlawning as my budget and time permits. I already have a large annual and perennial food garden that was made by sheet mulching, and I will be installing more trees with other guilds soon, and building on those areas with sheet mulch every year. I have pretty good soil and tend to want to put things in the ground, rather than in raised beds. It seems that raised beds dry out faster, get more pests (slugs for wood) and are generally just more maintenance than growing right in the ground. HOWEVER, I work on the photo team for a gardening company and they are asking if I'd like a (FREE) install of some raised beds for a photo shoot, and then I'd get to keep them. WHAT?! I obviously said yes, but now I am wondering, what do I grow in them that makes the most sense? My first thought was something that tends to spread that I don't want to spread, but I can't think of that much that falls into this category...mostly because I don't think I'd mind anything spreading! Maybe ground nut or jerusalem artichokes??? My next thought was potatoes, bc I'll already have the super deep soil that I can pull out and then put back in as they grow. I'd like to know - what would you do with this windfall if you were in my situation and didn't "need" the growing space? Is there anything that does better in a raised bed than in the ground? Thanks for your input!

I would look at it from the opposite direction.  I wouldn't worry about planting things that would spread, I would plant things that I didn't want overrun. It's easier to keep raised container beds weed and grass free. Asparagus and strawberries would be my first choices.  If I had more room, I would plant things that would really benefit from loose deep soil. Carrots would be first, and then other root crops like rutabaga.  If I had still more room, I would put in herbs that self-seed so they would be become perennial-like.  

Thank you both for your responses. You got the wheels turning and I think I have a plan! Cheers!

I'd love to have your dilemma as I'm runnng out of room in mine.

I also recommend asparagus and strawberry, but Jerusalem artichokes will escape the confines of a bed (don't ask me how I know).  I also get great potato harvests from my raised beds.  If you don't need the space this year, consider seeding green manures or perhaps daikon radishes and letting them rot in place.  Both will greatly help the soil and increase the nutrients for next year.

One option is, instead of a food garden, make it into a flower and/or herb garden to attract pollinators and beneficial, predator bugs.
Not only will it benefit the food gardens, but it's something pretty to look at, which is a great mental/emotional boost.

I agree with Kc, make it a butterfly garden!

Here are some threads you might like:

https://permies.com/t/138194/Edible-Plants-Pollinators-Love

from that thread, sea kale:




https://permies.com/t/121389/design-hummingbird-garden

Hollyhocks:




https://permies.com/t/61605/Creating-Edible-Medicinal-Garden-Butterflies

https://permies.com/t/57129/Bumblebee-Garden-Project

Poppies:

I think I would be concentrating on medicinals in raised beds. Especially perennial or easily reseeds itself sorts. I use alot of spearmint and peppermint; they want to conquer the entire world, so keeping them "contained" is imperative. Chamomile, calendula, lavender...  And if there is still more room, kitchen herbs that I use alot of. I use plenty of marjoram, tons of garlic, cumin, cilantro, green onions. I would need to grow enough to get thru the remaining year so full beds (6'x4' or larger) wouldn't be too much. Or maybe you could turn 1 into a hugel sort, inoculate appropriate woods going in with mushroom spore and have a mushroom bed in a year or so! Sort of like these guys...   https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-start-your-very-own-Garden-Giant-Mushroom-P/    I have ordered from Fungi Perfecti and like their products. I might even make a couple of those unneeded beds into mushroom patches, planting a tree or 2 on the south side to provide some shade for those fungi!!

Good luck deciding, and please keep us up to date. Pictures appreciated!!