How to germinate plants? – Raised Garden beds

The raised beds are the surface that is made at the elevated level making planting and watering the plants effective and easy. The raised beds are for protecting the plants from pests and weeds. Using a good soil mix, water them consciously to germinate plants for growing a variety of plants from flowers to herbs and veggies. Nowadays you might have noticed that raised beds are getting popular for the beauty they give to the garden plus the benefits. Let’s look at the raised beds and the comparison that you should know between the galvanized and wooden raised beds. 

What Is Seed Germination?

The process of growing plants by sowing the seed to the pot or ground instead of buying the plants from nearby stores. If you are sowing seeds indoors they are used to sprout which is an effective way to increase germination rate rather than sowing the seeds outdoors in the soil. Seeding the seed, and growing the plant with well-draining soil are considered the first steps to grow vegetable gardens, especially planting them in colder, northern climates in which young plants grow in difficult situations when they are planted outside.

What are raised garden beds? 

The raised garden beds look like garden boxes and that’s how they get this name.  These small areas made by using different materials are great protective barriers as well. They are actually the plot in which the soil is enclosed and the plant bottom stays protected, and plants dont get to compete with the weeds. There are many raised kits in the market that you can go for. These kits will have all stuff that you need. Anyway, If you are confused between galvanized steel and wooden raised beds then keep reading this article is for you. 

Easy Plants To Start From Seed:

The different plants do have different seed-starting requirements. For growing the plants to start from seeding you need to know which Veggies, Herbs, Flowers, and Foliage can be grown by seeding.

Veggies and Herbs	Flowers and Foliage
Basil	Zinnias
Tomato	Cosmos
Peppers	Celosia
Spinach	Marigold
Cucumber	Calendula
Lettuce	Nasturtium
Cilantro	Sunflowers
Dill	Coleus
Broccoli	Morning Glories
	Strawflower

Materials and tools required for seed germination:

Materials: 

The following are some materials required for seed germination:

• Seeds
• Seed-starting pots are required for seed germination or cell trays.
• Plant markers are required.
• Seed starting mixes that are homemade or you can buy from stores which will help them to provide nutrients to the seeds.
• You need a seed tray for making the humidity so that they grow quickly.
• To maintain the moisture you need to have a spray bottle or squirt bottle that needs to be filled with water.

Tools:

The following are some tools that are required for seed germination:

• Large bucket or tub
• Trowel

What Is the Best Way to Germinate Seeds Quickly?

To germinate seeds quickly there are many ways to help the seeds which depend on many factors such as resources, commitment level, and time. One of the best methods to germinate seeds quickly is paper towel testing and pre-soaking methods in which you don’t need preparation, resources, and risks.

A few basic steps to start seed germination:

The following are basic steps to start before seed germination:

• You need to take the right size and perfect container to sow the seed in it.
• The location for placing the container also matters and the right amount of light will help the seeds to germinate.
• You need to maintain the soil moisture but avoid underwatering or overwatering the plant.
• Prepare the seedlings in case you are moving them outdoors.

Advantages of raised garden beds 

• The soil in the raised has better drainage than the beds. The raised beds avoid spilling of sand or dirt from the corners. 
• The raised beds with no bottom provide the directed space for the roots to grow or extend depending upon the plant. 
• The raised beds give beautiful, elegant, and organized appease in the house or garden. 
• There will be the least soil compaction and weeds when you grow the plant in the raised beds. Overall using raised beds is part of qualitative gardening. 

Galvanized steel raised beds vs. wood raised beds

What are galvanized steel raised beds? 

There are a lot of gardeners out there who have shown their gardens with steel raised beds after 12 years how long-lasting they are. The galvanized steel raised beds are the new hype already as they are convenient, easy to use, and have a long working period. The galvanized steel beds are safe to use for your garden and very little maintenance is needed for them. 

Advantages of galvanized raised garden beds

• The galvanized raised beds are made of galvanized steel which means it will take about 20 years before they rust or weather.
  
• These raised beds need little or no replacement. You will have to worry less about the material. 
• The galvanized steel raised is so easy to set up and looks appealing in the home building. It is a modernized way to plant and use the soil with many benefits. 
• There is the least issue of bending in the garden.

Disadvantages of galvanized raised beds 

• The galvanized steel raised beds are more costly than the wooden raised beds 
• The metal raised beds get too hot and easily heated, which can harm the plants and even burn them. 
• The galvanized steel beds cannot be mobilized easily, they stay stationary and are too heavy and fixed to move. 
• The galvanized steel raised beds are not conveniently found. In the cold weather, they will not heat that easily being made of metal they will get cold quickly too. 

What are wooden raised garden beds?

The wooden raised garden beds are made of wood so you have to understand how easily they will be available in the market. Any gardeners love the simplicity and those who love to go for wooden raised beds. The wooden garden raised is not that costly, though also they are not long-lasting. 

Here is a link to buy wooden raised garden bed 

Advantages of wooden raised garden beds 

• The wooden raised garden beds keep the soil from washing away when there is heavy rainfall. 
• These raised beds are cheap and readily available in the market. The durability of wooden raised beds is lower than that of metal raised beds. 
• They last up to 10 years only depending on the type of wood used. (cedar wood- 12-20 years or redwoods- have high life). High-quality wood demands high cost as well. 

Disadvantages of wooden raised garden beds 

The wooden raised garden beds being all-natural will weather with time and dont last longer than metal ones. 

The weather if is humid or rainy for a long time, the wooden raised beds’ lifespan will keep reducing. 

The wooden raised beds need more frequent replacements than the metal raised beds. 

The woods that stay for long are highly pricy and not easily available. 

Final thoughts on the context: 

So I hope you have understood the difference between the wooden raised garden bed and the galvanized raised garden. We have written all the advantages and disadvantages related to these two options that you should know before buying any of them. The raised garden beds are costly but worth buying to add elegance and planting vegetables, herbs flowers, etc. Wooden raised garden beds have almost similar benefits to metal but metal raised beds are costly yet extremely long-lasting ones. Go further through the information and let us know in the comments about any queries. We are happy to help! Happy planting! 

FAQ: 

What is the safest material for raised garden beds? 

If you are using wooden raised beds make sure you use woods that are decay-resistant. Avoid the woods if you have too humid a climate or rain. The woods like black cherry, oak, redwood, and cedar have high durability. 

What are the disadvantages of raised garden beds? 

The raised garden instead of giving the beauty to garden and house is the costly option. They make gardening super easy and convenient, keeping the quality of the soil. But the raised beds kits are too pricey for some gardeners. Even you might need to water too frequently in raised beds as the soil gets dry too quickly having high drainage.

How deep should a raised garden bed be? 

The raised garden beds should be 8-12 inches deep so that the roots get proper air and space to grow.