Vegepod bed review UK
This article is a review of the Vegepod raised garden bed. It also looks at whether they work in the UK climate and why you might choose them.
I’m always keen to explore gardening options that save strain on body, so I was pleased in early 2023 when Vegepod offered to send me one of their raised beds to try out.
Vegepod makes raised bed growing systems. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. And I was skeptical about whether the Vegepod would be any use in our garden. But I’ve never had my mind changed so completely about something!
We were sent a Large Vegepod with Canopy (Mesh), Stand and Polytunnel cover. This raised bed bundle arrived in kit form, in several boxes. And it took two of us a couple of hours to put together (with plenty of pauses to drink tea). It has a metal stand and plastic body and cover.
I think it took 11 x 60 litre bags of shop- bought peat free compost to fill it. The filled item is very heavy and you need to be sure to place it exactly where you want it to be. Once filled it won’t be moved without emptying it. However, it makes the raised bed stable and unlikely to tip over in high winds.
The domed cover can have a mesh cover or clear plastic cover. Both of which help to create a good growing atmosphere and protect against attack from caterpillars and birds. The cover clips on to the main body of the bed to keep it in place and has string supports to prevent it from falling to far backwards. I found the string braces fiddly to install, but were secure once in place.
Watering system for Vegepod bed
There is an integral watering sprinkling system to which a hose can be attached without the need to open the cover. And it will water the compost evenly from above. I found that some of the sprinkler points didn’t face straight down, so needed adjustment.
Adjusting the angle of the water sprayers was relatively easy to do, but I advise against doing it while the water is on. You’ll get very wet!
Vegepod wicking system
The Vegepod is a wicking bed. They have a water reservoir underneath the compost, however there are holes to let out excess water. This is to ensure that plants don’t sit in waterlogged soil. This is useful if you go on holiday or if, like me, you aren’t great at remembering to water plants in containers.
As it is a wicking bed, the surface of the compost can look dry, but below the surface, the compost is still moist, so it takes a little getting used to using.
Ensure that the bed is level to allow the water reservoirs to remain evenly filled. It also prevents excess water dripping onto your legs as you work at the bed.
Growing food in a Vegepod
Seeds are sown or young starts are planted into the compost. The hinged cover can be secured over the top to provide great growing conditions for your emerging and young plants. And this protects them. I found that seeds sown at the correct time, germinated quickly and evenly.
The only problem was that I sowed too thickly and didn’t give sufficient space between young plants for them to develop well.
The growing space has sufficient depth to grow root vegetables like carrots and plenty of height to grow herbs like rosemary.
It did not deter the local slug and snail population from visiting the plants growing in it, although the snails were easy to spot and remove by hand. To reduce the chances of slugs visiting the Vegepod, good garden tidiness and cleanliness would help. In particular, do not stack and store pots, plant trays or seed trays under the stand as this provides ideal hiding places for gastropods.
Design, size and price
The top of the bed, without the cover, is 81cm which find a comfortable height to work at while standing. And not so wide that I can’t reach it from the three open sides. If my mobility was restricted, I think I would have two smaller beds rather than the large, to allow me to access all round the sides and to reach the centre at the back.
This model is approximately 2 metres long and 1 metre wide. It measures 33cm deep without the stand.
For frugal gardeners, the Vegepod could be considered an investment item. For those with limited space, mobility or flexibility issues, it could allow you to continue gardening for years to come.
How and where to use
I have the Vegepod placed close to the house to allow easy access to culinary herbs all year round. It is ideal for a hard-standing or small courtyard. It offers a usable growing space for a selection of herbs, salads or vegetables.
If you garden on a balcony, it affords twice the growing space as you could place trays or pots below the growing bed, between the legs of the stand.
In a larger garden, a series of Vegepod would provide plenty of easily accessible growing space, with additional space below if required.
I like the height of the bed as it reduces bending and the need for leaning too far.
When the clear cover is used, the Vegepod can be used like a mini-greenhouse or polytunnel. It provides a sheltered environment to start seeds and protect young plants.
This Vegepod raised bed review for UK was written after 18 months of continuous use. I was gifted the item to try out, but was not paid for the review. This raised bed is also mentioned in a wider look at what makes the best garden beds. It includes basic in ground beds, no dig beds, raised beds from free to more costly.
Thanks to Tanya Anderson of Lovely Greens for introducing me to Vegepod raised beds.
- Vegepod bed review UK - December 19, 2024
- Great Plants with Pink Leaves - December 4, 2024
- Vertical Accent Plants - November 21, 2024