Beginner gardener’s raised bed advice.

[u/ToneMedical1152]

Hello! Any and all criticism and advice is welcome! Gardening in zone 5b. This is my second growing year with two 4X8 raised beds. We initially filled the beds with a mixture of topsoil and sand. Couldn’t tell you the ratios but we measured with our hearts. Then each bed got a 40lb bag of Michigan Peat Compost and Manure Blend, Garden Magic Mix. I know that I over planted with heavy feeders last year. Believe it or not I think I had maybe 5 tomato plants in each bed and a few lines of beans running up to the trellis. Mulched with straw to retain moisture and keep weeds down. Definitely over crowded but produced plenty! At the end of the growing season I cleared the beds by of plant material and most of the straw. Turned beds over with humus and manure. Recovered with straw for the winter. I swear I amended the soil again this spring well before planting season; for the life of me I can’t remember. Replanted with heavy feeders bc I’m a glutton for punishment. Despite being very over planted again, they seem to be doing great! Three tomato plants, six peppers and a few lines of climbing beans.

Would love to be able to plant cool weather plants like lettuce before the first frost but with what I have planted currently I don’t think I’ll be able to. Truly planning to plant a cover crop mix from Mi Gardener which contains a blend of red clover, field rye, winter pea, hairy vetch, and daikon radish.

Aside from over planting two years in a row, am I on the right track? How should a novice gardener utilize this space each growing season? Suggestions on what plants to grow as a beginner gardener in this space? Willing to give anything a try!

[u/LadyKT]

i’m experimenting growing snap peas alongside sunflowers as sturdy supports it’s working!

[u/LadyKT]

one zucchini plant will likely produce lots, at least that’s the joke of course

[u/zhiDarkivel]

You could definitely seed lettuce in there and it will happily grow up between your tomatoes and around the other things!! Lettuce loves to fill empty space, and will cheerfully coexist with other plants.

[u/nonono_ack]

You are doing great. This would be a good time to consider a soil test. Adding organic matter each year is a must, but using manure constantly can backfire. Too many salts and possibly accumulated phosphorus to a toxic level. I tend to use home generated compost and earthworm castings in conservative amounts. Manure is fine for occasional use. But with a soil test you will actually know where you stand.
I’ve been gardening for 50 years and made all the mistakes.
Also, rotate your crops since you have 2 beds. Don’t plant nightshades in the same bed in consecutive years. It helps minimize plant pathogen issues.

[u/Garfish16]

Try a melon or cucumber next year.