Raised Vegetable Bed

Raised Gardens are All The Buzz

Raised Vegetable Bed Options. Whether you buy a ready made raised vegetable garden kit or build your own from recycled materials, here's what you need to know.

Raised Garden Beds

Why a Raised Bed? There are a lot of good and green reasons.

raised vegetable bed

Raised garden beds are here to stay, and for very good reason.

Easy to plant and maintain, raised gardens can be started anywhere you like.

For a tidy garden area that's a delight to work in try the ultimate in container gardening.

Our recommendations are that the bed be no more than 4 feet wide if you'll be able to access it from both sides. If the bed will be established against a fence or wall and accessible from only one side 2 feet is a comfortable width. This makes it easy to plant and maintain your garden without needing to get inside and tramp down the soil.

The length of a raised vegetable garden bed can be tailored to your area and the depth can be between 6 inches and 2 feet (14 to 56 centimeters) whatever you choose but the deeper the bed the more soil and amendments will be needed. If you'll be growing root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, sweet potato, turnips and the like the bed should be at least a foot (25 centimeters) deep.

Here's what we like about raised vegetable gardens.

Soil amendments are easier to achieve and maintain.
The soil warms faster so planting can begin earlier in the season.
It's easy to cover to protect plants from frost or critters.
Trellises, obelisks and cages fit well and add functionality.
Raised vegetable beds limit the area that invasive plants can overtake.
Access is easy just by reaching into the bed.
Soil stays fluffier.
Easy to keep the water where you want it.

If you have limited space, poor soil or an aversion to heavy gardening techniques, a raised vegetable garden is a simple solution. Try this Cedar Raised Bed that's constructed in Vermont.