Use your Perma trays

1. Dimensions

2. Where should you install your permaculture bed?

You can install your permaculture beds inside your greenhouse, but also outdoors. The permaculture bed can also be installed on a terrace, in a garden, in the city or in the countryside.

The ideal location is somewhere with good sunlight during the day, sheltered from the wind and easy to access. Keep in mind that to grow vegetables, at least 25cm of potting soil depth is required and each plant needs 15cm spacing to develop properly.

3. Which substrate?

Plants need nutrients to grow and produce fruit and vegetables. In general, it is the soil that provides them with the essential elements: minerals, trace elements and water. That is why the choice of substrate plays a crucial role in the success of your crops.

Why is a good substrate essential?
Using simple horticultural potting soil does allow good initial plant growth, but this type of substrate often lacks the nutrients needed to cover the entire growth cycle. The result: plants tend to stall after a few weeks.

To avoid this and ensure continuous, vigorous growth, it is essential to choose a rich, balanced substrate.

Our recommendations:

Homemade mix
If you prepare your substrate yourself, we recommend a mix of:

Horticultural potting soil: for structure and water retention.
Vermicompost: rich in organic matter, it stimulates biological activity and provides natural nutrients for your plants.

Recommended professional substrate
If you are looking for a ready-to-use solution, we recommend our organic peat enriched with plant compost.

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A bit of background: why choose organic peat enriched with plant compost?
This professional substrate is specially designed to guarantee optimal plant growth throughout the whole cycle, thanks to a rich, balanced composition:

Blonde peat (light, fibrous structure):
Produced by the slow decomposition of plant matter in a low-oxygen environment, blonde peat has a low density and an airy structure. It improves:

Water retention thanks to its absorption capacity,

Root aeration, which is essential to prevent root asphyxiation.

Its naturally acidic pH promotes optimal nutrient uptake for young plants.

Black peat (compact, nutrient-rich structure):
Older and more decomposed than blonde peat, it is rich in stable organic matter (humus). It plays a key role in:

Improving soil structure,

Storing and gradually releasing nutrients.

The combination of blonde and black peat provides a balanced substrate between lightness and nutrient capacity.

Wood fibres:
Wood fibres, obtained from selected wood, have several functions:

They lighten the substrate, improving its porosity for better air and water circulation.

They facilitate re-wetting*, allowing the substrate to absorb water better after drying out.

Their lignocellulosic structure contributes to slow degradation, which improves substrate stability over time.

Plant compost (source of living organic matter):
Plant compost comes from the controlled decomposition of plant residues. It is a real driver of soil fertility:

It promotes nutrient mineralisation, making them directly available for plant uptake.

It stimulates natural microbial activity, creating a dynamic, living soil.

It provides essential trace elements for healthy growth.

Organic fertilizer (NPK 10:4:5):
This substrate is enriched with a complete organic fertilizer that respects the principles of organic farming:

Nitrogen (N): Promotes vegetative growth (leaves and stems) for vigorous plants.

Phosphorus (P): Stimulates root development and improves plant resistance.

Potassium (K): Optimises flower and fruit formation while strengthening natural defences against diseases.

The NPK 10:4:5 index guarantees a balanced nutrient supply, essential to support your plants throughout their cycle.

The advantages for your permaculture beds:
Continuous growth: Complete nutrition for your plants throughout their whole cycle.
Optimal retention : A perfect balance between water retention and aeration.
Stimulated biological activity : Thanks to plant compost, your soil becomes alive and fertile.
Compatible with organic farming : Approved by ECOCERT Inputs for environmentally friendly use.
Proven performance : Up to +70 % harvested mass for lettuce and +60 % yield for tomatoes.

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*Re-wetting
This is the process by which a dry substrate regains its ability to absorb and retain water. It allows the soil or potting mix to rehydrate effectively after a period of drying out, making water more accessible to plant roots.

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Where can you find organic peat?
To order this substrate, discover it now in the online shop.

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Preparing the potting soil/vermicompost mix
Watch our video tutorial on preparing your permaculture beds.
Find the quantities of each component to add according to the size of your bed here.

4. What watering?

There is now one parameter left to manage: watering.

A water reservoir is integrated into each permaculture bed. The sub-irrigation principle guarantees constant hydration of the substrate and the plants.

This compartment is filled through a tube that rises to the surface of the bed, using tap water, rainwater... An overflow indicates that the reservoir is full.

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Refill and watering frequency
Refill frequency depends on the season: once a week in the hottest part of summer versus once a month during winter.
It is still necessary to water the substrate and the plants from above.

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Water from above
Although the beds are self-watering, it is necessary to water from above. When, and how often?

Every time you refill the reservoir,

When you have made new plantings so the plants establish properly,

Every 2-3 days in summer depending on the temperature.

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Add root stimulator to boost the plants
To help plants establish well at planting time and keep them healthy, do not hesitate to water your plants with root stimulator once or twice a month.
Dilute one teaspoon in a 10L watering can.

5. Planting and direct sowing

Number of planting positions per bed
Below, you will find the plant capacity of the permaculture beds:

Small Size	Medium Size	Large Size
8 to 12 plants	12 to 18 plants	25 to 36 plants

The data mentioned above is provided for guidance only; it is possible to plant more or fewer than these capacities depending on the type of plants. These figures correspond to the optimal capacity based on the structure dimensions.

To optimise planting space and avoid crowding, plant in a staggered pattern.

Direct sowing
In your permaculture beds, you can:

Transplant sowings started beforehand in the propagator
Sow seeds directly into the substrate (at 5 cm depth)

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Carrot, radish, turnip, etc.: remember to thin out
Carrot, radish, turnip, beetroot (and other bulb/root crop) sowings are done directly in the soil (in a permaculture bed or outdoors). They are sown in rows, with rows spaced 15-20 cm apart.
Once the seeds have germinated and the plants reach 5 cm, it is essential to thin them out so the bulbs/roots form properly. This step consists of leaving only one seedling every 4-5 cm in the soil on each row. This way, each vegetable will have enough space to develop to maturity.
Warning: if you do not thin them out, you will only get foliage and the bulbs/roots will become "threads" instead of forming properly.

6. How do you maintain the beds?

Monitor the water level in the reservoir: in summer, it may need to be refilled more often.
Renew the mulch every 3 to 6 months to protect the soil.
Enrich the substrate:

As you move from one season to the next, it is important to remove the plants completely (including the roots). These plant removals cause the substrate level to drop and the soil tends to settle/compact.

The quantity of potting soil/vermicompost/biochar mix tends to decrease gradually. It is essential to top up the beds at least once a year to enrich and aerate the substrate.

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How do you top up a permaculture bed?

Set aside the BRF layer.

Add one full bag of organic peat enriched with plant compost.

Put the BRF layer back in place and add new BRF if needed, which is strongly recommended to maintain a good insulating layer.

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Make use of your compost
Feel free to replace part of the potting soil/vermicompost with your own compost.

7. Examples of planting combinations in a permaculture bed

Advantage of combination A:

Nitrogen added to the soil thanks to the beans.
Space optimisation by using the different plant sizes: radish < lettuce < beans < tomato
Variation in crop cycles: the radishes will be harvested to leave room for the tomato plants to grow.

Advantage of combination B:

Nitrogen added to the soil thanks to legumes (beans or broad beans).
Space optimisation by using the different plant sizes: above-ground growth for beans, deeper growth for beetroot.

Advantage of combination C:

Space optimisation by using the different plant sizes: height for aubergines, depth for turnips.
Variation in crop cycles: the lettuces will reach maturity quickly and free up space for the growth of aubergines and turnips.

Advantage of combination D:

Space optimisation by using the different plant sizes: height for Swiss chard, depth for leeks.

Advantage of combination E:

Space optimisation by using the different plant sizes: height for peppers, depth for turnips.

Advantage of combination F:

Space optimisation by using the different plant sizes: radish < lettuce < tomato < zucchini
Variation in crop cycles: the lettuces and radishes will reach maturity quickly and can be replanted. The growth cycle is longer for zucchini and tomato, but they will produce fruit throughout the season.

Advantage of combination G:

Space optimisation by using the different plant sizes: onion < lettuce < Swiss chard < aubergine < tomato < cucumber
Variation in crop cycles: continuous bed productivity throughout the season.