An elevated vegetable garden is basically exactly what it sounds like. Also known as a raised bed garden, it's simply a garden raised above the level of the surrounding ground. Why would anyone want to do this? Above ground vegetable gardens have many advantages.
The soil doesn't flood like low-lying land does.
You can mix lots of good stuff into the soil easier.
Your soil will reach warm temperatures earlier in the spring.
Less bending over to reach the soil and work it.
Alright, so we've covered the what and the why. Let's talk about where. The most important factor in deciding where to put a raised bed is the amount of sunlight it will get. In most cases, the more the better. Six to eight hours per day is a general minimum, but it's possible to grow stuff with less sunlight if you don't have any other option. You also want to avoid areas that are prone to flooding. This is another one that isn't essential, however, since the raised bed will help keep your plants' roots up above the puddles. The great thing about raised beds is how versatile they are.
You can use pretty much any material you want to build the beds. If using wood, you may want to consider cedar or some other rot-resistant species. Just build a frame and fill it with soil. It can be any height. Depending on the conditions of where you build it, you may also need to install some kind of drain tile or other way for excess water to get out.
Once you've built your beds, you need to fill them with soil. If they're only slightly raised you may be able to get by with what you have already. But if you have tall beds, you'll need to bring in material from somewhere else to fill them. For the bottom few inches, wood chips are great. If you use wood chips you want them to be covered by at least twelve inches of other materials. Compost is also excellent, but you shouldn't use only compost. It is not substantial enough to support large plants, and usually does not contain all of the minerals plants need for healthy growth. You need at least some actual soil, whether it's from somewhere else on your property or purchased.
That covers the basics of elevated vegetable gardens. The real trick is to just get started and experiment as you go. Good luck with all your gardening adventures!
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