Raised bed gardens built of boards at the Noble Foundation Horticulture Center, Ardmore, Okla.

The Noble Foundation Horticulture Center was created to assist the market gardener and the serious home gardener in producing high quality vegetables, fruit and flowers on marginal soils.

To accomplish this, a project was initiated in 1990 to research and demonstrate the advantages of raised bed gardening.

After 16 years of utilizing this growing system, I'm converted to the gospel of raised bed gardening, and I'm not alone. Raised bed gardening has become the gardening system of choice by thousands of serious gardeners. In recent times, U.S. gardeners have discovered the benefits of growing with raised beds – benefits known to the Chinese thousands of years ago.

Improved drainage. This is the chief reason raised beds at the Noble Foundation are utilized. The soil at the horticulture center has poor internal drainage due to high clay content, making it inaccessible following periods of heavy rain.

Poorly drained soils tend to be oxygen deficient. Consequently, growth and development is impeded, and production potential is seldom achieved. Raising the soil above ground level allows excess moisture to drain out. As gravitational water moves out, air (oxygen) moves in. Plant roots require oxygen to function. This is why waterlogged plants fail to grow and even die if the poor drainage situation persists.

Higher yields. Because plants are uniformly spaced over the surface of a wide bed as opposed to single rows separated by pathways, a high plant density can be realized. This translates into increased yield per square foot of garden space.

Extended season. Raised beds heat up earlier in the spring. Because of their height, they intercept more of the sun's rays in late winter and early spring. This phenomenon permits earlier seeding and transplanting. Plants also grow faster once they are established.

No soil compaction. Once constructed, beds are never walked on during the growing season. In a traditional garden, walking along rows compacts the soil, often in close proximity to the plants. Plant roots struggle to penetrate compacted soil. Water and oxygen move more slowly in compacted soil. Surface tillage cannot alleviate compaction at a lower depth.