Grow Higher: Elevated Raised Garden Beds

Elevated raised beds can be used to grow vegetables or flowers.

By growing in a raised bed, you can have a productive, abundant vegetable garden — even in just a few square feet. Even better, the elevated styles put the garden right at your fingertips for comfortable "no bend" gardening. Keep in mind that elevated gardens can dry out more rapidly, so you should monitor the bed every few days to check the moisture of the soil. Properly maintained wooden beds will last at least 5+ years and up to twice that or more. Metal beds will often last even longer (20 years plus). Raised beds do not need new soil every year, but the bed’s nutrients should be replenished yearly with our Raised Bed Booster Compost Mix Kit: Organic Compost Plus: Raised Bed Booster Kit | Gardener's Supply. 

Here's how to make the most of your elevated raised bed:

Use soil that's blended for planters.

• Fill your bed with potting soil that's formulated for raised beds and planters, such as our potting mix. Don't use ordinary garden soil; It won't drain properly. To figure out how much soil you need, use the Soil Calculator. If it's a Gardener's Supply bed, you'll find the soil quantity listed with the product details.
• When you're filling the beds, be sure to mix in some granular fertilizer, which will get the plants off to a good start. Follow up later in the season with regular applications of liquid fertilizer.

Choose a sunny site.

Where to Place Your Elevated Raised Bed

• Pick a sunny site; vegetables need at least eight hours of sun each day.³ A deck or patio is a great location for just about anything; a covered porch is best for shade-loving annuals.
• Make sure you have easy access to water.

Select compact varieties.

What to Plant

• Because elevated raised beds are compact, choose varieties that are known for their compact habit.
• Every year, try to include at least one variety that's new to you. Discovery is half the fun!
• If you're new to gardening, check out the Kitchen Garden Planner, where you can find pre-planned gardens that are designed to fit elevated raised beds.

Find out your frost date.

When to Plant

• Wait until danger of frost has passed. Check with your county's Cooperative Extension Service to get the dates, or use an online resource. Better yet, ask the best gardener in your neighborhood or a Master Gardener.
• If you're starting from seed, create a seed-starting schedule. Use the information on the seed packet to guide you.
• Crops that are tolerant of cool weather can be planted earlier, using season-extending techniques.

Monitor moisture levels every day.

Don't Forget to Water!

• Use your finger to check moisture levels throughout the season. The soil should be moist but not water-logged.⁴ Allow it to dry out a bit between waterings.
• Tiny seedlings require daily water — their root systems are too small and shallow!
• To automate the process, install a timer and a watering system, such as Snip-n-Drip.

Trellises make use of vertical space.

Grow Vertically

• Maximize your space by growing your vining plants vertically.¹ Peas, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash will all benefit from a trellis or other type of plant support that will keep fruits up off the soil. Plant supports also increase air flow between plants, which helps to prevent disease.²