I built a 4x4 plant bed this morning for planting this season. I have only planted one time before and it was with pots. The results with the pots just were not good enough for me to do it again. I built the bed out of 2x10's, so the depth of my bed is 10 inches. I am gonna put some plant fabric at the bottom to prevent weed growth, but I have no idea what to fill it with. I have read so many different opinions online, but wanted to see what y'all thought.

I plan on hoping to plant some grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, regular tomato plants, and maybe some other peppers and such. I am very excited about the whole plant bed idea, I just want to fill it with the right soil.

I've used this in raised beds before with really good results. Found it online after a friend mentioned it to me.

Mel’s Mix
1/3 vermiculite
1/3 peat moss
1/3 compost (from as many sources as possible)

I used home made compost but threw in some fresh chicken litter which is awesome.

I planted everything from maters to peppers to beans and squash. So it should work for anything you got

Did the fresh chicken litter burn any of the plants? I have plenty of that but thought it had to be composted before it was safe to apply.

That's a good point, I use it in my compost bin but then I add fresh again when I'm getting my planters ready, first week or so of February. So while it's not fully composted I guess a month or so in the ground is enough for it to not burn anything as I haven't had a problem with it yet. definitely something I'll keep an eye on.

I've had raised beds for several years but most of mine are two feet deep. I put top soil [just some we had around the place] in the botttom about half full, added bagged top soil on top of that and then finished beds with potting soil mix. I feed the beds and replinish soils during the winter when they lay fallow. I have chickens, so chicken poop is a source of fertalizer, but I never put it on fresh....it will burn the plants because it is so hot. I fed beds with cottonseed meal about a month back.

I have not done much except with one bed where I planted buttercrunch lettuce and cabbage about a week or so back. We are due for frost Wednesday and Thursday, so I might throw a tarp over those plants but I might not worry with it.

Remember, with raised beds, regular water is a must. They drain and dry much easier than an inground garden. Best fo luck!

We have rabbits, so rabbit manure comprises the bulk of ours, and it doesn't have to be composted, it can be used straight from the factory. End of the year, I take out half, turn the remainder over, then put in 4 or 5 inches of leaves, and fill the rest with new rabbit manure.

Top soil, manure and sand is what I did in mine.