The Complete Guide to Preparing Raised Beds for Winter

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  • Опубликовано: 21 окт 2020
  • One of the most important things a gardener can do is look after and cherish the soil they use to grow vegetables, and this video shows you how I do just that. This is the complete guide to preparing raised beds for winter and offers an updated version of how I go about that, with the addition of new steps designed to propel soil health. Growing your own food is made easier and more productive if we look after our beds properly, and this method is exactly what I use in my permaculture kitchen garden to do just that.
    Think of preparing raised beds for winter as an investment in your vegetable gardening. Adding organic matter to the ground replenished all the soil microbes and gives you a head start when it comes to planting again in the beds in spring. An investment in soil yields greater crop returns, provided you use other permaculture principles to limit pest issues. I hope this vegetable gardening method will become a key part of your gardening year and help your kitchen garden or allotment become even more abundant.
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Комментарии • 321

  • @HuwRichards
    @HuwRichards  3 года назад +50

    It's so nice to be back! I'm currently in the garden filming next week's video so please do comment if you have any questions etc and I look forward to replying later this evening☺️🌱

    • @cameronmac338
      @cameronmac338 3 года назад +2

      love the new bits of editing and the use of drone. credit to your dad on the camera 👍. it's my first year growing in the garden, it's been a trial this year, with what works and where it worked well in the garden. I'm in Carmarthen, so it's handy watching your channel and seeing what works well because of our challenging weather patterns 🤣. i over done it with tomato plants and ended up with over 80 black cherry tomato plants 😂 hilarious mistake.

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад +6

      @@cameronmac338 hi Cameron, I actually have a dedicated videographer who is now a co-director with me :) I hope you enjoyed all the tomatoes!!!

    • @cameronmac338
      @cameronmac338 3 года назад

      @@HuwRichards I had to compost a load of them, which was a shame. I won't make the same mistake 🤣.

    • @BaerbelBorn
      @BaerbelBorn 3 года назад +1

      Hi! I havent seen all of your videos because I just found your channel recently, but in all the no dig videos I keep asking myself: What happens after some years... if you keep adding more and more compost, won`t the bed overflow? Or will the compost vanish and rot so the level keeps the same? Greetings from Germany, as a mom and gran I love to see how the next generation is inspired and inspires others.

    • @tinnerste2507
      @tinnerste2507 3 года назад

      @@HuwRichards is a videographer like a camera man? Or like an editor too? Ive never seen that word before!

  • @UrbanHomesteadMomma
    @UrbanHomesteadMomma 3 года назад +18

    Mulching with garden waste (or chop and drop as you call it) is 100% the best way to feed your garden... tip: use a mower with a bag to chop all your plant matter... it chops it finer and makes it much easier 🌱
    Edit to add: I actually mulch it quite thickly... 6” or so deep... the mulch then helps insulate the beds over winter, then during the growing season it keeps the moisture in so you don’t need to water, and it suppresses almost all the weeds! And then you don’t need to be putting plastic in your garden 👍

    • @laurastrachan7943
      @laurastrachan7943 3 года назад +4

      I also mulch thickly, but in my climate in Canada we don't have many problems with slugs or snails. In fact by summer, it's good to have the soil well covered to protect it in the very got weather we get. Greg from Maritime Gardening is a big advocate of this method.

    • @thomasfuchs9451
      @thomasfuchs9451 3 года назад +3

      +1 on the mower. I run everything through the lawn mower, either for compost or mulching, including parts of hedges and bushes, old tomato stems, everything! Gasoline powered chop & drop ;-)

    • @flatsville1
      @flatsville1 3 года назад +4

      Agreed. What doesn't decompose can be raked off & moved. A bit of green topped with thick shredded leaves in the fall makes for good worm activity.

    • @thomasfuchs9451
      @thomasfuchs9451 3 года назад +2

      @@flatsville1 I am currently converting large parts of my lawn. Just let it grow since summer and now knocked it down in cover it with bags of lawn clippings and leaves. Gras underneath is dying of and soil looks amazing.

    • @flatsville1
      @flatsville1 3 года назад +1

      @@thomasfuchs9451 3/4 times that worked for me. The exception was some Devils Spawn rhizome grass THAT WOULD NOT DIE!!! After the first season (post cover) I had to dig it out, tarp it (spring & summer,) compost cover it with chopped greens & leaves over wintering & then cover crop in the spring/ summet to kill it. ARGHHH!!!

  • @kingucci
    @kingucci 3 года назад +4

    You seem like to be such a nice and kind person, it's so lovely and relaxing to watch and listen to your useful videos, which you put a lot of work in. So thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience, it is truly much appreciated

  • @innerstream
    @innerstream 3 года назад +20

    This was awesome! Glad you’re still sharing your wealth of knowledge! Thank you! 😊🇨🇦

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад +2

      My pleasure! More to come :D

  • @marisadaniela6
    @marisadaniela6 3 года назад +12

    Oooh sometimes procrastinating works out! I really was feeling I should have put my garden to bed already, but I would have done it the old way without these helpful tips, had I been on top of things! Thank you!

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад +2

      That is so true haha! Good luck with the garden prep!

  • @kimr4005
    @kimr4005 3 года назад +18

    Glad you are back!

  • @janbroekhuizen5
    @janbroekhuizen5 3 года назад +7

    Great to have you back, Huw! Perfect timing on the video too, I'm working on 'putting my beds to sleep' at the moment. I have some big greens around, so they will come in nicely with this method. Thanks!

  • @itsallaboutlight
    @itsallaboutlight 3 года назад +3

    So glad to hear that my idea to put my partially composted bin material, on my garden, is better than nothing.

  • @TheWelshGardener
    @TheWelshGardener 3 года назад +2

    Great to see you back on our screens Huw! I took a break from uploading last week before I'll be filming more videos next week (half term)! Stay safe! :)

  • @micheleyates3625
    @micheleyates3625 3 года назад +5

    Glad to see you back, Huw. Just planted softneck garlic today! Did some chop and drop on the soil so I am encouraged by this video. Cheers from the humid southeastern US.

  • @ohio_gardener
    @ohio_gardener 3 года назад +24

    Glad to see you back on the channel! Also, glad to see others are getting onto the idea of cutting off plants and leaving the roots in the soil. Have been doing this for many, many years, and by spring the roots are all decomposed and ready to feed the next crops. This is especially important with legume crops that have nitrogen nodules on their roots to feed the microbes.

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад +5

      Thank you so much, I've missed making videos but very much needed a break! Roots are awesome :)

    • @wcndave
      @wcndave 3 года назад +1

      @@HuwRichards Question on the roots though. I finish harvesting in Sept, and in Nov the ground is frozen. It doesn't thaw until end of May, when I am ready to plant again. So - will the roots actually decompose? Also, for 1" of compost in your garden, you must need 30 compost bins, not 3! Do you really put 1" everywhere?

    • @nevaeha4048
      @nevaeha4048 2 года назад +2

      @@wcndave he did mention the darker covering keeps the bed warmer. Perhaps after you add your chop and drop + compost if you have trees that lose leaves collect them and then really layer them on to add extra insulation. As someone who lives in Colorado and just moved I’m trying to prepare the “garden bed” (mostly clay💀) and it’s starting to freeze and I’ve found where I put the leaves the ground doesn’t freeze sometimes in thinner spots it slightly frozen. If by your next planting season after doing his recommendations + a leafy mulch there is still some of the leaves left you could either mix them in to the soil or rake them off and add them to a compost pile.

    • @wcndave
      @wcndave 2 года назад

      @@nevaeha4048 Thanks. I don't have a lot of leaves, and with -15 celcius for 4 months I think freezing is inevitable. Was just curios in terms of the video, cos in the UK it would be frozen for a few months and no ideas like yours were mentioned.

    • @AeriolNicols
      @AeriolNicols 2 года назад

      @@wcndave in the U.K. winter starts usually late Nov. early Dec. and by late Feb. the spring flowers are popping up. It’s a total different climate. Where we once lived ground didn’t freeze in winter. Just got very cold. So depends on where he is.

  • @mgrey1602
    @mgrey1602 3 года назад +8

    Glad you are back! Thanks for the info on leaving roots in the ground! You are so right about soil health being a priority! Thanks for showing us how to build it up!

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад +6

      Awh thank you! There will be plenty of videos in the future looking at greater detail into soil health

  • @benjaminrobinson7203
    @benjaminrobinson7203 3 года назад +3

    Huw, one of my professors is from Lincoln! I recognized the accent from hearing you and when he described his home and how the soil is great for farming, I put two and two together. Love your content! Glad to see you're back! ❤️

    • @benjaminrobinson7203
      @benjaminrobinson7203 3 года назад

      @@TheMihilization Not sure. I just know that Huw sounds similar to my professor. The w sound replacing many of the r sounds for example. It also seems to come from the nose rather than the throat. Idk tho

  • @theirishcountrywoman6218
    @theirishcountrywoman6218 3 года назад +6

    Welcome back! Great video as always!! 😊

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад +1

      Thank you so much Aine! :D

  • @EstibalizG
    @EstibalizG 3 года назад +1

    I've just found your channel and i love it!!!! I'm from Spain and I understand your English very well. I've just suscribed because i don't wanna miss any vídeos!! Congrats for your channel

  • @racenuke
    @racenuke 3 года назад +2

    Looks like i have work to do! I'm excited to do it. Thanks!

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад

      Good luck - it is a worthy investment!

  • @laurieanne9712
    @laurieanne9712 3 года назад +2

    So helpful! Thank you!

  • @avechristusrex31
    @avechristusrex31 3 года назад

    Great advice. Thank you!

  • @dogankurban
    @dogankurban 2 года назад

    Great video, thanks for sharing!

  • @bristolveggiebeds5310
    @bristolveggiebeds5310 3 года назад +3

    I did this to one of my beds just last week!

  • @dannygooyer5926
    @dannygooyer5926 Год назад

    I love autumn !!

  • @judyplater8559
    @judyplater8559 Год назад

    Thanks so much for all your info much appreciated 🤗

  • @iw9338
    @iw9338 Год назад

    Excellent, thanks very much.

  • @clintonstonich
    @clintonstonich 3 года назад

    Great tips! Definitely going to try this next fall. Thanks!

  • @blancaestelarivera3711
    @blancaestelarivera3711 3 года назад

    Muchas gracias! 😃 Es hermoso!🙆

  • @karencolcomb1823
    @karencolcomb1823 3 года назад +2

    I have had my plot for 14 years and I thought like this about 3 years in but the resources weren’t as easily accessible as now. It makes total sense to start with healthy soil and less soul disturbance. Enjoying your videos and glad to see you back

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад

      Thank you so much Karen, really appreciate it!

  • @susanaruizdesousa1320
    @susanaruizdesousa1320 3 года назад

    Fantastic video!

  • @marycielo7790
    @marycielo7790 2 года назад

    Thanks for the good information.

  • @janetwm1891
    @janetwm1891 2 года назад

    Thank you for this excellent video!

  • @geoffanddebshipton6797
    @geoffanddebshipton6797 3 года назад +1

    Glad to have you back Huw!

  • @litomora8468
    @litomora8468 3 года назад +2

    hello!! it's good to be back ☺

  • @janefryer6750
    @janefryer6750 3 года назад

    Thanks so much for your great tips!

  • @garygariano4952
    @garygariano4952 3 года назад

    I love your set up that's what I am planning to do

  • @gailadler7823
    @gailadler7823 3 года назад +2

    So good to see you back, Huw. Love those yin yang peas!

  • @joseruiz7575
    @joseruiz7575 3 года назад

    Glad to see you back! Great ideas for my raised beds over winter. Hope to see more videos soon.

  • @ricarda8715
    @ricarda8715 3 года назад

    I really enjoy the videos you do. Thanks for your great work :)

  • @nemmanchena901
    @nemmanchena901 3 года назад

    Impressed with this guy's helpful tips 👍

  • @minhhop3208
    @minhhop3208 2 года назад

    You always work so hard!!! Thanks so much for sharing ! Very helpful !

  • @TheFarmDream
    @TheFarmDream 3 года назад +1

    Welcome back! Good to have all your energy back on the screen. Thanks for the info

  • @marywassef4931
    @marywassef4931 3 года назад

    Great idea. It save a lot of time and effort, thank you

  • @ShielaJolo
    @ShielaJolo 3 года назад +4

    nice video...i agree with you we should be mending the soil with nutrients especially during winter season as it is the key for an abundant harvest next season.

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад

      Absolutey 100%! Thank you for watching

  • @lyndaturner3592
    @lyndaturner3592 3 года назад +1

    Really helpful video Huw, glad to see you back .

  • @patriciahogg5763
    @patriciahogg5763 2 года назад

    Awesome!!

  • @SadieScarlett
    @SadieScarlett 3 года назад +5

    Your name came up a couple times at the National Permaculture Convergence at the weekend and I thought, where's he been at?!
    Glad you're back, and just with the video I needed ^_^

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад +4

      Awh thanks Sadie! I've been resting and refocusing

    • @SadieScarlett
      @SadieScarlett 3 года назад

      @@HuwRichards wise and deserved :)

  • @ulrikahogberg6477
    @ulrikahogberg6477 3 года назад +1

    Finally! Good to see you again Huw! 🌻🍁🍂

  • @peggygilbertsen9099
    @peggygilbertsen9099 3 года назад

    Huw thank you . Greetings from chilly Chicago, and thanks for this valuable info. Will chop and drop today thanks to you. Perfect timing .

  • @_cephalotus4187
    @_cephalotus4187 3 года назад

    Your soil looks so healthy!

  • @ElleCappuchino
    @ElleCappuchino 3 года назад

    This was sort of my plan. But knowing that I'm doing it 'right' helps me to get on with it. Thank, Huw. Very helpful!

  • @denniskiewiet422
    @denniskiewiet422 3 года назад +2

    Welcome back. I enjoy your videos!
    This is what I've been doing this afternoon. I agree with leaving the roots in, but I'm not to sure about chop & drop in our climate. It will provide slugs, snails and other critters with a lot of food. I'm pretty sure it's the way to go in hotter climates.
    I've stopped using plastic to cover ground for many reasons, but indeed paper or cardboard seem like a good idea. I'll have to look around for free or cheap materials.
    People have also suggested me to use leaves or let specific weeds grow in winter. The problem with leaves would be that some leaves contain unwanted chemicals and sorting them is too much work. Using specific weeds would require intelligent weeding all winter long.

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад +3

      Thank you very much Dennis! Slugs, Snails and other critters already have a lot of food! I could argue that cardboard or paper layers provide habitat to slugs to hide under. There has to be a palce where you test things to see if they work or not. I am happy with my slug control here in my garden and so I am not phased about chop and drop. It'll be covered anyway :)

    • @laurastrachan7943
      @laurastrachan7943 3 года назад +1

      I hardly ever get slugs or snails where I am in North America, but they do appear under cardboard! Mulch also importantly provides food for earthworms, with healthy soil they can eat through the mulch pretty quickly.

  • @gallopingg1
    @gallopingg1 3 года назад

    BRILLIANT JOB/TIPS. GREAT VID.

  • @LivadaBio
    @LivadaBio 3 года назад

    Incredibly inspiring!

  • @McAwesome777
    @McAwesome777 Год назад

    This is great, never thought about this when doing raised beds. Going to start doing this

  • @kristinanoall
    @kristinanoall 2 года назад

    SO much great information here, thanks so much! Not surprisingly, I’ve been doing it wrong. Happy to know how to do it right after this!

  • @chelsealeilani64
    @chelsealeilani64 3 года назад

    I'm so glad you're back. Thank you for the video.

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад

      You're very welcome Chelsea!

  • @SurfinScientist
    @SurfinScientist 3 года назад +1

    Thanks. Great video!

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад

      Thank you for watching! So glad you enjoyed it

  • @myjunkmail007
    @myjunkmail007 3 года назад +5

    Beautiful garden! I've often wondered about leaving the roots in ground. Peppers and tomatoes have big roots, would you leave those too?

  • @LizZorab
    @LizZorab 3 года назад +1

    Nice to see you back and looking so well. Another great video Huw, lots of information, thank you.

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад

      Awh thank you Liz!! It's nice to be back into the groove of making videos

  • @peggykeating
    @peggykeating 3 года назад

    Thank you very much!!!!

  • @rebeccad8552
    @rebeccad8552 2 года назад

    I love Huw and his videos. Hello from Australia 😊

  • @davidthegood
    @davidthegood 3 года назад +4

    Looks lovely - great work as always.

  • @lornapenn-chester6867
    @lornapenn-chester6867 3 года назад +1

    Yay! Lovely to watch this vid. Welcome back. Hope you had a good break from social media 👏❤️👍

  • @MyFamilyGarden
    @MyFamilyGarden 3 года назад +1

    Great technique, I've been teaching this particular method of chop and drop for a few years, nice to see it catching on

  • @csifan52
    @csifan52 3 года назад

    I’m a new gardener and I found this video incredibly helpful! Thank you so much!
    Also your voice is calming and that is nice for this crazy year too lol

  • @martinsuarezmonroy4917
    @martinsuarezmonroy4917 7 месяцев назад

    Very interesting to learn about the chop and drop method. It makes sense. Thank you!

  • @Eon0007
    @Eon0007 3 года назад +3

    Good to see back once again! Great tips as always 😊

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад +1

      Thank you so much Ian - very pleased to hear you enjoyed it :D

  • @keithronson2624
    @keithronson2624 3 года назад +1

    Huw. Welcome back! R&R no bad thing. Inspiring and informative as always. Chop and drop it is then. Have used lawn mower method. Autumn does reward in so many, beautiful ways. Stay safe. And Thank You.

  • @kathdurham9304
    @kathdurham9304 3 года назад +1

    So nice to see you back 🤩

  • @everichard568
    @everichard568 3 года назад

    Glad to see you back Huw!

  • @Asa-df8kb
    @Asa-df8kb 3 года назад

    And the day just got a lot better!

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад

      Hahaha I am glad to hear it :)

  • @stevendowden2579
    @stevendowden2579 3 года назад +2

    nice video been a while

  • @myrustygarden
    @myrustygarden 3 года назад

    Good to see you back, I like Marie’s version of chopping and bagging with the lawnmower. As always stay safe and stay gardening 🇨🇦🥬☮️✌️🙏

  • @heididemesa414
    @heididemesa414 3 года назад

    Brilliant. So glad you're back! From Nova Scotia. PS we use the finished plants plus leaves from the neighbours yard waste and then rip open the paper yard waste bags to spread open on top!

  • @maryannditullio2581
    @maryannditullio2581 3 года назад +2

    So good to see you again! Glad everything is okay with you! Loved all the recommend things to do at the end of the growing season!

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад

      Awh thank you very much Mary!!

  • @ExploringNatureTogether
    @ExploringNatureTogether 3 года назад +1

    Awesome video, Huw!! I love when you spend time on the soil! Excellent tip on the roots! The decision to have a videographer was a great one! Very professional and it shows!! Impressive! You've come a long way my friend, a long way! You should be very proud of what you've accomplished, what you continue to accomplish!! It's been a joy to watch you through the years! Glad to be able to return to comment on your videos once again! All the very best! 💚~Chris

  • @silvertonguedaywalker9116
    @silvertonguedaywalker9116 3 года назад

    Hi so happy to see youu back x

  • @lynnrushton7458
    @lynnrushton7458 3 года назад

    Good to see you back Huw 👍

  • @ashleydanielle1118
    @ashleydanielle1118 9 месяцев назад

    Very helpful ❤

  • @alonacayanan8500
    @alonacayanan8500 Год назад

    Thank you

  • @stephenzaffarano4520
    @stephenzaffarano4520 3 года назад

    Sprinkled some egg shells and crushed pumpkin pieces, etc on my raised beds, to work in to the soil before topping them off with new compost. Great video! Thanks!!

  • @iwonakoza4709
    @iwonakoza4709 Год назад +1

    Hi, I just found your channel and I'm amazed by your tips and hints ☺️. I'm a very new at growing my own vegetables so every easily presented news are so precious to me. And I love the look of your garden! Thank you for your great job! 👌👍

  • @DanCampbellend
    @DanCampbellend 3 года назад +2

    Huw is back! I was starting to get withdrawal symptoms 😬 hope you're feeling properly rested from your break!

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад

      Awh thank you Dan! I am thank you :)

  • @watsonandbscuriousdays
    @watsonandbscuriousdays 3 года назад

    snowing plant bits might not be as exciting as the real thing, but it‘s exciting for the microbes :) that is so sweet! love this channel´

  • @keithwhitnell5343
    @keithwhitnell5343 3 года назад +1

    Some really good, timely advice coupled with some new ideas. What more can you want from my favourite kitchen gardener.

  • @jeanettegoodier3495
    @jeanettegoodier3495 3 года назад +2

    Fantastic video and informative just Perfect for what we’re attempting next on our allotment plot, our first winter preparation. Thank you so much 😊

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад +1

      That is so exciting Jeanette and good luck with it!

  • @kimburgess2897
    @kimburgess2897 3 года назад

    Love your videos Huw, hi from NZ.🥰

  • @bertiew6771
    @bertiew6771 3 года назад

    Great video with some really interesting tips. Best 11 minutes 30 seconds spent today. Thanks.

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад

      I'm glad to hear it Bertie! :)

  • @fishhooks100
    @fishhooks100 3 года назад

    Great info! Enjoyed!

  • @scoopdecoop
    @scoopdecoop 2 года назад

    Great tips, thank you from a lazy gardener

  • @RLCinGA
    @RLCinGA 2 года назад +1

    All your tips were great! I have three compost piles going all the time. I mulch for over winter, but never added the top barrier layer. That goes to the top of my garden chore list. Thanks!

  • @KevinCdva
    @KevinCdva 3 года назад +1

    Give us a tour of your fall garden king!

  • @marycampbell4160
    @marycampbell4160 3 года назад

    Awesome tips

  • @roccoconte2960
    @roccoconte2960 3 года назад

    Glad too see you back , i dont like just leaving old plants back in beds , i worry about deseases from old plant i think they schould be composted first ,nice video keep up the good work.

  • @memberson
    @memberson 3 года назад

    I like what you did in your video for a good job. You actually said the word weeds as fertilizer. That is never been done since I've done it. Most people don't like to use the word chop and drop weeds.

  • @vladimirtv7210
    @vladimirtv7210 3 года назад

    Super !!!

  • @anabelenespasandin3807
    @anabelenespasandin3807 3 года назад +1

    Muy interesante, seria genial ver la evolucion de un bancal paso a paso durante una temporada completa

  • @Jardin-de-invierno
    @Jardin-de-invierno 2 года назад

    Thanks for the video… doing the same here in Kansas City…

  • @laurafrey5244
    @laurafrey5244 2 года назад

    Just found you channel - and I've been binge watching! Your videos are very well done and very informative! Thank you!

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  2 года назад +1

      Glad you like them! Thanks for watching :)

  • @MC-ko2mx
    @MC-ko2mx 3 года назад +2

    Welcome back!

  • @sirnearlyheadlesnick
    @sirnearlyheadlesnick 3 года назад

    Welcome back Hew .
    Great tips and tricks as always 😉.
    From the opposite seasons in a 30deg• plus heatwave on the highveld of South Africa 🇿🇦.

    • @HuwRichards
      @HuwRichards  3 года назад

      Thank you so much Nicholas and enjoy the heat on my behalf!

  • @chillday29
    @chillday29 3 года назад

    Love you guy