Raised bed instructions

Ollas, Spanish for "pots," are clay vessels used, among other applications, for plant watering. This simple principle has been utilized for thousands of years: When the soil around the watering pot is dry, it draws water through the clay vessel's walls into the soil, thereby hydrating the roots. If the soil is wet from rain or hasn't dried out, the tension is missing, and the water is not drawn through the wall of the Olla. Advantages of Irrigation Ceramics: Autonomous watering system Saves water (>50%) Increases biomass & yields higher crops Reduces leaching Reduces weeds Promotes deeper root formation 100% natural materials, 0% plastic Maintenance-free We are convinced of the Ollas principle and proud to have developed our own Ollas – the OYEAS. Thanks to years of experience in industrial ceramic production, we've learned what's crucial. The clay's properties are precisely adjusted so that exactly the right amount of water is released to the soil and plants – not too much, but also not too little, ensuring that even thirsty plants receive sufficient water at their roots. The large volume of the OYEAS, with a 13-liter capacity, significantly reduces the refilling effort. As an additional feature, the OYEAS lid serves as a bird and insect bath. Fill the lid with water to guarantee fun bathing for birds. For an insect bath, we recommend placing stones, branches, and moss in the water. In addition to the OYEAS ceramic irrigation with a 13-liter capacity, we have also developed another watering solution for indoor plants and balcony boxes. With a 700 ml capacity, it's ideal for indoor and balcony plants.

Vitality and loose soil in your raised bed Unlike «greenwashing», green manure is actually ecologically valuable and very easy to implement. This means sowing plants that loosen and nourish the soil through their growth and roots. The plants are usually not allowed to grow to fruit, but are usually cut off close to the ground before flowering. The roots are left in the ground and the greens of the plants are roughly chopped up and placed in the top layer of your soil.  With green manure in the fall, you can prepare your raised bed for the coming gardening season and revitalize depleted soil from the last gardening season.  Green manure plants bring great benefits to your substrate. The often deep and sturdy roots help keep your raised bed loose and counteract compaction. They protect against leaching of nutrients in wintry wet conditions and dead plant residues ensure that the beloved humus-producing soil organisms continue to find food over the winter. This protects your valuable garden soil from harsh weather conditions in winter and in spring you can start gardening full of energy on busy, aerated beds. When it is time for spring sowing, the cover plants are chopped off and left on the ground as mulch. As the soil rots, the humus content in the bed continues to build up, the substrate is strengthened and the soil creatures enjoy the additional food. Alternatively, you can add the chopped plant matter to your vermicompost bin.     Our tips for green manure in your raised bed:   Crimson Clover: Suitable for all soils, brings nitrogen into the soil and loosens the soil with its up to 60cm long taproots. A real eye-catcher when in bloom. Also pleases many insects. Phacelia: At 12-18°C the seeds germinate within 14 days. The seedlings survive the winter without much growth. In the spring, the plants have a head start and flower earlier than those that are only sown in the spring. Bee pasture, bee friend, tufted beauty or tufted flower are alternative names for this pretty green manure. Winter rape: Is also suitable for all soils, loosens the soil with robust roots and is considered a good humus producer. Winter Rye: Improves soil structure thanks to roots that grow up to 120cm long. Suppresses weeds and is suitable for building humus.         Other green manure ideas for October: camelina, buckwheat, oats, winter protein peas, winter vetch, winter spelled and wheat.

Harvest your own vitamins even in the cold season If you not only want to make the bode creatures happy, but also yourself, you can plant and sow vegetables and salads for the winter in the raised bed in autumn.  Especially in the darker season, our organism is happy about vitamins and minerals. Nut lettuce, garlic and winter spinach are just a few of the vitamins that can be sown or planted in autumn and continue to grow through the winter. Garlic can then be harvested and eaten in spring. Depending on the time of sowing and the temperatures, spinach and lamb's lettuce can also be harvested throughout the winter. Raised beds are great for winter gardening. The height of the bed makes it easier to see and harvest the plants, even in cold, damp weather. In addition, a fleece or a roof can be stretched over the bed to gain access to the lettuce even in snow. If, despite care and attention, the vegetables are not ready for harvest, you have still done your raised bed a favor. Just like with green manure, you have protected the soil surface from the weather and provided your soil organisms with food from plant residues. In addition, you can cut off the remaining plant greens in spring, leave the roots in the ground and simply work the greens into the top layer of the substrate, thus ensuring a wonderful build-up of humus in the bed.   Planting tips for your WormUp RAISED BEET in autumn Lamb's lettuce: The hardy version can be sown until October. Grown in rows or scattered, the lettuce is fairly easy to grow, requires little nutrition and the low temperatures reduce the risk of the plant starting to shoot and bloom.   Spinach: There is also a hardy version and the plant can withstand winds down to -10 degrees Celsius. Due to the short growing time, spinach is suitable as a pre- or post-culture for other plantings. If sown until the end of October, it can be harvested in spring.   Garlic: Is omnipresent and gives many dishes that certain something. Planted in autumn, the plant hibernates in the bed and can already be eaten in spring. Due to the strong smell, garlic has the property of keeping pests such as aphids, mites and Colorado potato beetles away from the raised bed and thus preparing good soil for subsequent planting.   Perennial plants  Perennials and berries: If you want to enjoy certain flowers or berries in the summer of the following year, fall is just the right time to plant these perennial plants in raised beds. Planted sufficiently early before the first frosts, the perennial plants will already have rooted in autumn and can start growing immediately with the first warm days in spring. A fleece can protect these plants from the cold and too much moisture should also be avoided over the winter.   Spring bloomers/onion sets : Flowers such as crocuses, snowglöggli, May cups, tulips or other bulb plants are also perennial. Many of these bulbs are hardy and plant these bulbs in autumn before the first frosts for a colorful raised flower bed in spring.   Plant in late summer to harvest in winter   Kale: Only really edible at low temperatures, since the production of bitter substances against predators is stopped during longer cold periods or during frost and the tart-sweet taste unfolds. The plant thrives in humus-rich, nutrient-rich substrate and likes sunny places. Brussels sprouts : Is a small mineral and vitamin bomb. As with kale, the taste of the florets benefits from frost and the harvest can therefore take place between November and March. The plant appreciates mulch and fertilizer and should be watered adequately.