We believe gardening should be joyful, rewarding, and low-stress, especially when you're just getting started. Raised bed gardening checks all those boxes and more.
Whether you're planting your very first lettuce seeds or dreaming of a summer filled with fresh tomatoes, raised beds make it easy to dig in and grow something great.
What Are Raised Beds and Why Use Them?
Raised beds are essentially garden boxes that sit above ground, filled with rich soil and framed with wood, metal, or composite. They're a favorite among home gardeners, and for good reason.
Here’s why we love them:
- Better soil control (great if your native soil is heavy clay or sandy)
- Improved drainage and fewer weeds
- Easier on your back and knees
- Neat, tidy, and beautiful—especially in small spaces
If you're starting a garden in your backyard, along a patio, or even on a balcony, raised beds are a flexible solution that fits right in.
Step 1: Pick the Perfect Spot
Most vegetables need 6–8 hours of sunlight a day. Choose a level, sunny area that’s easy to access and water.
Think about convenience too. You’re more likely to visit, water, and harvest if your garden is just a few steps from the kitchen door.
Step 2: Choose Your Bed Size
A good starter size is 4 feet wide by 8 feet long, and at least 6 to 12 inches deep. Keep it narrow enough so you can reach the middle without stepping on the soil.
Don’t be afraid to start small. One or two beds are more than enough to grow a bounty of fresh food.
Step 3: Build or Buy Your Beds
You can purchase raised bed kits at most garden centers, or build your own using natural, untreated wood. (We love cedar or pine—they age beautifully and are safe for growing food.)
For added protection, lay hardware cloth (a metal mesh) at the bottom before filling to keep burrowing critters out.
Step 4: Fill It with the Good Stuff
The secret to raised bed success? Healthy, loose, living soil. A good soil for raised beds typically includes topsoil, compost and some sort of drainage layer in the bottom (such as sand or crushed stone).
We recommend a mix like this:
- 1/3 topsoil
- 1/3 compost
- 1/3 peat moss
You can also buy various pre-mixed soils at most garden centers.
Top it off with a layer of with a mulch like straw, shredded leaves, or bark. It keeps moisture in and weeds out.
Step 5: Time to Plant
Now comes the fun part—planting!
A few of our favorite beginner crops:
- Lettuce and salad greens
- Beets and carrots
- Tomatoes and peppers
- Cucumbers and zucchini
- Beans and peas
Our Stress-Free Vegetable Seed Kit includes a great selection of old favourites for a productive vegetable garden.
Step 6: Keep It Growing
- Water deeply and regularly, especially in warm weather. Morning is best.
- Feed your soil every few weeks with compost or an organic fertilizer.
- Mulch again if needed to hold moisture and suppress weeds.
- Keep an eye out for pests and invite pollinators by planting flowers nearby.
Tip: Raised beds dry out a bit faster than in-ground gardens, so regular watering is key.
Step 7: Harvest, Replant, Repeat
Raised beds make harvesting easy. Just step to the side and pick!
To keep your beds productive all season long, try succession planting. As soon as you pull up one crop (lettuce), pop something else in its place (like beans, or more lettuce).
At the end of the season, refresh your soil with compost and mulch.
Common Raised Bed Troubles (And Easy Fixes)
- Soggy soil? Improve drainage with more compost and ensure your bed isn't sitting in a low spot.
- Soil sinking? Top off with fresh mix as needed.
- Pests or disease? Rotate crops yearly and remove affected plants promptly.
- Crowded plants? Thin seedlings to give plants space to grow.
You’ve Got This
Raised bed gardening is simple, satisfying, and just plain fun. Whether you’re growing for your family, your community, or just for the joy of it, there’s something deeply rewarding about planting a seed and watching it flourish.