In the past few years, raised Grow garden beds have become the favorite among home gardeners (even Joanna Gaines approves!). The plant structures can be constructed with wood, composite wood, steel, or stone, and can be shaped and sized to fit your space. No matter what your chosen material, garden beds are a good choice for anyone who wants to plant both edibles and ornamental plants.
If you’re eager to plot out your crops, experts share five veggie plants that even beginner gardeners can grow with ease in raised garden beds.
Raised Garden Bed Best Practices
Although climate will play a part in what may be planted within raised beds, overall, Kevin Lenhart—Yardzen design director—has this reminder to keep in mind: “Raised beds offer you control of soil mix, moisture level, and soil exposure,” he states. “Theoretically, you can adapt them for almost any plant that will fit physically in the bed.” Lenhart does suggest ensuring that the soil in the beds remains properly moist, since they have a tendency to dry out faster, being raised above the soil and not insulated by soil that is around them. “This tends to cause them to heat or cool with changes in air temperature and sun exposure.”
Soil should be loose, draining well and rich in nutrients. “You want a loamy texture that’s heavy on the organic matter to make it easier to retain moisture,” advises Shannon Cowan, gardener and editor at Earth easy. “Compost and organic fertilizer can help.”
If your mind is made up on rows of decorative flowers, six-inch-deep garden beds will do, but, Cowan says, they must be 12 to 24 inches deep for vegetables to support their intricate root systems. When it comes to sun, make sure to put them somewhere in your yard where they’ll get at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day.
Beets
Sweet, earthy and colorful, beets do well in garden beds because of the “loose, deep soil, which is perfect for growing root vegetables,” says Lenhart. Beets prefer consistently moist (but not wet), well-draining soil and need a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day. Once your seedlings have grown a few leaves, you need to thin them out; around four inches apart should suffice. You can harvest beets in 50-70 days.
Optimal time to plant: Early spring or early fall, as beets will grow well in cooler temperatures.
Carrots
Carrots are another root crop that flourishes in raised beds, Lenhart says. They thrive in cool, damp conditions. “It is essential to provide good drainage to prevent assurance that roots of such plants don’t develop root rot,” he adds. Provide them ample vertical room to grow, 12 to 18 inches deep at least.
Similar to beets, the sproutlings will need thinning once the leaves appear. Be careful with planting carrots near other root vegetables. “This can be harmful by competing with each other for resources and for transmitting diseases and pests to each other,” warns Lenhart. Harvest when tops are green, around 70 to 80 days after seeding.
Best time to plant: Early spring two to three weeks before the last frost, or early fall 10 to 12 weeks before the first frost.
Bush Beans
Bush beans, or green beans or string beans, are well-suited to raised garden beds and are easy to cultivate, producing quickly and in quantity. “These require beds that are two feet or deeper receiving eight hours of full sun daily,” says Cowan. If your bush bean plants aren’t showing pods (which should be harvest-ready in a about 45 days), it is definitely because they don’t have enough sunshine. Lenhart suggests never planting bush beans on the same bed as onions, as they can inhibit their growth.
Best time to plant: Late spring to midsummer, when the soil temperature is between 65 and 75 degrees.
Kale
“Most leafy greens, such as kale, prefer cool, damp areas, which sweeten with a gentle frost,” according to Lenhart. Kale grows best in rich, well-drained soil that is sandy, loamy in texture, and receives a lot of direct sunlight.
Hoping for some tomatoes with that kale salad? Lenhart warns that they’ll have to grow in separate beds, because brassicas such as kale can inhibit the growth of nightshades. Harvest roughly seven weeks from planting seeds, when the stems are about 12 inches long. Remember, kale will continue to produce after harvesting the older leaves.
Best season to plant: Early to mid-spring for a summer harvest and throughout the fall.
Cucumbers
“Newbies should ease into gardening with relatively fuss-free species like cucumbers,” says Lenhart. The most complex part of growing this fruit is the added trellis you’ll need for the bed, adds Cowan, which keeps the growth above the ground to help reduce risk of disease. Plus, they’ll be easier to harvest this way. Cucumbers like nutrient-dense soil, with weekly waterings (more when it’s hot and dry in the summer). As long as the ground is warm, you can have a harvest within 50 to 70 days.
Optimum time to sow: Mid-may, or during soil temperatures of 65 to 85 degrees.
Companion Flowers to Plant in Raised Garden Beds
Placing ornamentals with edible plants draws pollinators—thus boosting pollination for certain food plants—keeps some pests away, and overall produces a healthier garden environment over monoculture crops,” states Cowan, who suggests marigolds, zinnias and nasturtiums when planted at garden bed edges.
In hot, dry environments, milkweed and coneflower are especially effective at bringing beneficial insects to the beds, Lenhart suggests. “Other flowers, such as clover, enrich soil by adding nitrogen,” he goes on. Landscape architect adds that in cool, moist conditions, bee balm, goldenrod, columbine, and trillium will thrive and complement an edible garden nicely.
FAQS:
What are some of the simplest vegetables to grow in raised garden beds?
The simplest vegetables to grow are lettuce, radishes, carrots, green beans, and spinach. They need little attention and do well under the climate-controlled conditions of raised beds.
Why are raised beds suitable for growing vegetables?
Raised beds are better drained, have better soil quality, fewer weeds, and are more accessible for planting and weeding. They warm up sooner in spring too, which lengthens the growing season.
What is the depth of a raised garden bed that is best for vegetables?
The ideal depth would be 12 to 18 inches for most vegetables. Root vegetables can be grown in deeper soil.
Do I need to fertilize vegetables that grow in raised beds?
Yes, even though soil in raised beds tends to be more fertile, periodic fertilizing ensures that the nutrient content remains for sustained growth and harvest.
