Happy Spring! Now that seedlings are sprouting and flowers are beginning to bloom, Bismarck gardeners are eager to start preparing their garden beds. If you haven’t built any raised garden plots in your yard yet, then now is the time to do so! While some, hardier veggies prefer direct-seeding into the ground, many prefer the luxury of an elevated garden plot or container instead.
Raised garden beds provide the perfect environment for growing delicious vegetables. The loose, fertile soil in raised beds allows for better drainage and fewer weeds compared to traditional in-ground gardening. When planted densely, raised beds can yield impressive harvests even in a small space.
Certain vegetables thrive in the conditions provided by raised garden beds. Here are the top 15 vegetables to consider planting in your raised beds:
1. Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are ideal for raised beds. They grow quickly, tolerate close spacing, and flourish in the rich soil. Leafy greens prefer cool weather and appreciate the extra warmth raised beds provide in early spring and late fall. You can harvest greens continuously by sowing successions every couple of weeks.
2. Carrots
Long, straight carrots are easier to grow in the loose, rock-free soil of a raised bed Sow carrots densely, about 2 inches apart. Thin seedlings to 1-2 inches apart once they sprout Plant short varieties like ‘Little Finger’ or ‘Paris Market’ for container gardens.
3. Beets
Beets thrive in raised beds and their greens also make a tasty harvest Space beet seeds 2 inches apart and thin to 4 inches once seedlings emerge Plant a new succession every 2-3 weeks for continual harvests, Red and golden beets add color to the garden,
4. Radishes
Perfect for impatient gardeners, radishes mature quickly in just 3-4 weeks. Direct sow seeds 1-2 inches apart in a sunny spot. Choose a mix of radish varieties, like ‘Cherry Belle,’ ‘Easter Egg,’ and ‘White Icicle.’ Make successions every couple of weeks.
5. Green Onions
Also called scallions, green onions are an easy and versatile raised bed crop. You can transplant seedlings or sow seeds densely, 3-4 seeds per inch. Harvest green onions at any size by cutting just above the white base. They re-sprout readily after each cutting.
6. Potatoes
Potatoes produce abundant tubers even in limited space when grown in raised beds. Plant seed potatoes 4 inches deep and 12 inches apart. As plants grow, add soil or straw to cover stems. Grow early and late season varieties for extended harvests.
7. Bush Beans
Pole beans require substantial vertical space, so compact bush bean varieties are a better choice for raised beds. Plant seeds 1 inch deep, 5-6 inches apart once soil is warm. Pick beans young and often to encourage more production. Favorites include ‘Provider,’ ‘Contender,’ and ‘Blue Lake.’
8. Peas
Sugar snap and snow peas produce abundantly and use vertical space efficiently with their vining growth habit. Plant seeds 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart. Add trellises or fencing inside the beds for tendrils to climb. Peas thrive in cool conditions.
9. Tomatoes
Compact determinate tomatoes are bred to stay short, making them perfect for raised beds. Try ‘Sungold,’ ‘Sweet 100,’ or ‘Red Robin’ cherry types. Stake or cage plants to save space. Indeterminate varieties can be pruned and trellised to control size.
10. Peppers
Raised beds help peppers thrive by warming the soil. Choose compact varieties like ‘Sweet Banana’ pepper that won’t overtake the whole bed. Stake pepper plants or use wire cages to support fruits. Plant peppers when day and night temperatures are both consistently above 50°F.
11. Eggplant
Eggplants produce an impressive yield per plant, so they are well suited to raised beds. Transplant seedlings when soil and air temperatures are warm. Use minimal staking to support fruit laden branches. Favorites include ‘Ichiban,’ ‘Little Fingers,’ and classic ‘Black Beauty.’
12. Cucumbers
Grow vining cucumbers vertically with a trellis inside raised beds. Or opt for compact, bush-type cucumber varieties. Plant seeds or transplants after danger of frost when the soil has warmed. Provide consistent moisture and harvest cucumbers frequently to encourage more production.
13. Summer Squash
Plant bush-type summer squash varieties in raised beds, like ‘Eight Ball’ zucchini or ‘Sunray’ yellow squash. Give each plant adequate space to expand. Use lightweight fabric slings to support heavy squash fruits. Keep beds consistently watered.
14. Kale
Ornamental kales add beauty to fall and winter raised beds. Edible types produce tasty greens for salads and cooking into winter. Favorites include ‘Red Russian,’ ‘Lacinato,’ and ‘Winterbor.’ Start seeds in summer for fall harvests. Protect plants with cloches or cold frames to extend harvests.
15. Garlic
Plant garlic cloves in the fall 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes. Mulch with straw for winter insulation. Garlic sends up leafy green tops in spring. Bulbs begin swelling in early summer, when they can be harvested. Elephant garlic has extra-large cloves and mild flavor.
Best Veggies to Grow in Raised Beds
As tidy and attractive as they are, garden beds aren’t just for looks. Aside from adding interest to your landscape, raised gardens also provide the ideal environment for growing many veggies and can result in bountiful harvest. Like container gardens, they provide an elevated and more contained growing space, protecting your seedlings from frost, pests, weeds, and disease. Here are the best crops for raised beds:
Carrots and other root vegetables, like parsnip, radish, and beets, are perfect choices for raised gardens. Root veggies grow underground, where it’s difficult to control conditions in the landscape. Rocks and underground debris often lead to misshapen or stunted vegetables. With a contained area, you know exactly what’s going on beneath the surface and can guarantee a healthier harvest.
Loamy, well-draining soil mixes are ideal for planting carrots. Like other root vegetables, carrots can tolerate a light frost and should be directly seeded into your garden. You can even start sowing carrot seeds a week or two before the risk of frost has passed! They take 70-80 days to mature.
Growing potatoes in elevated beds is much easier than growing them right in the ground. Potatoes are planted about 6 inches deep, but when they sprout, they grow closer to the soil surface. As potato stalks grow, gardeners mound soil around the stalks to protect the plant and encourage continued growth. Container soils are much looser than landscape soil, which makes this process, called “hilling,” much easier.
Plant your potato tubers in full sun, in rich, slightly acidic soils. After planting, avoid watering the area until you actually see them starting to sprout—at which point, you can continue to keep the soil evenly moist. Once your plant has finished blooming, you can begin to pull baby spuds from the ground. When the foliage has died back, wait about two weeks to harvest the mature tubers.
Onions are already one of the easiest veggies to grow, but growing them in raised beds makes it even simpler! They thrive in the enriched, well-draining environment that good-quality soil mixes provide. Onions also require a fairly long growing season of 100 days or more, so being able to get them out earlier is a huge bonus.
Onions prefer fertile planting soils enriched with fresh compost and fertilizers. If you’re growing them from seed, we suggest starting them indoors earlier in the spring, having them ready for transplant as soon as the last frost date has passed.
Summer squashes, like yellow squash and zucchini, are versatile veggies to have handy in the kitchen. These warm-season favorites can’t tolerate frost, so they’ll appreciate the extra warmth and protection that elevated gardens provide. They’ll also enjoy ample sunlight, good drainage, and fertile soils.
Seed summer squash in the spring, after the soil has warmed up and the risk of frost has passed. You can direct-sow their seeds, but you may also opt to start them earlier, indoors, and transplant seedlings at this time. Summer squash should be ready to harvest just in time for your late-summer barbeques and labor day celebrations. Ever tried crunchy, pickled zucchini? It’s delicious!
As a cold-weather crop, lettuce doesn’t necessarily have to be grown in an elevated plot or container, but it’s super easy to do so. Some varieties take just 30 days to mature (even earlier if you harvest them as microgreens!), so being able to get them planted earlier means you could have fresh greens by the time your other crops are just starting to get planted!
Plant lettuce and other greens in full sun, in loose soils with ample drainage. Salad greens prefer cool conditions, so make sure to keep the soil consistently moist with frequent, light waterings (we aren’t trying to develop deep roots here). Once your lettuce reaches the size you want, go ahead and harvest it! We recommend harvesting in the morning for a better flavor.
10 vegetables that grow well in raised beds
FAQ
Which vegetables grow best in raised beds?
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Root vegetables:Raised beds are great for root vegetables like carrots, beets, and turnips because they provide a consistent soil environment without rocks or obstacles underground.
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Bushy plants:Bush-type vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are well-suited to raised beds due to their manageable size and ability to be supported with trellises if needed.
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Leafy greens:Lettuce, kale, and arugula grow well in raised beds with their shallow root systems.
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Climbing vegetables:Cucumbers and some bean varieties can be trained to climb up trellises in raised beds.
What vegetables should not be grown in a raised bed?
- Corn: Competes with tomatoes for nutrients when planted close together
- Potatoes: Can impact the growth cycle of tomatoes, which are planted later in the season
- Squash: Can get too large and take up too much space in a raised bed
- Mint: Can spread out above and underground, pushing out younger plants
- Fruit canes: Might not be ideal for raised beds
- Sprawling crops: Might not be ideal for raised beds
- Invasive herbs: Might not be ideal for raised beds
- Crops with large root systems: Might not be ideal for raised beds
How to arrange vegetables in a raised garden bed?
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Plant height:Tall plants like tomatoes, corn, or sunflowers should go at the back of the bed, while smaller plants like lettuce, herbs, or radishes should be placed in front.
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Sunlight needs:Position plants requiring full sun towards the south side of the bed.
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Vining plants:Provide trellises or supports for vining vegetables like cucumbers or peas to climb vertically.
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Spacing:Consult seed packets for proper spacing between plants to avoid overcrowding.
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Crop rotation:Change the location of plant families in your raised beds each season to prevent pest and disease issues.
What plants can you not plant in a raised bed?
- 01 of 10. Squash. John W. …
- 02 of 10. Melon. Willowpix / Getty Images. …
- 03 of 10. Corn. ©Studio One-One / Getty Images. …
- 04 of 10. Blackberries. Aldo Pavan / Getty Images. …
- 05 of 10. Mint. Tendo23 / Getty Images. …
- 06 of 10. Apple Trees. …
- 07 of 10. Asparagus. …
- 08 of 10. Pumpkins.
What vegetables can be grown in a raised bed?
A raised bed filled with quality compost provides an ideal, well-drained environment for roots. Tomatoes, basil, zucchini, lettuce, cucumbers, bush beans, snap peas, kale, and radishes are among the easiest vegetables for raised beds. These plants grow rapidly and yield well even in imperfect conditions.
What vegetables go well with a raised garden?
Vigorous plants like horseradish and pumpkins can quickly overwhelm small, raised beds, but small leafy greens and lettuce are easy to slip in between veggies in any raised garden.
What can you plant in a raised garden bed?
Raised garden beds are popular, and a quick look at pictures online will yield more images of lush green plants overflowing the bed walls than you can scroll through. But what can you plant in a raised garden? Short answer: Darn near everything! Let’s explore our favorite vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers.
How do you grow vegetables in a raised bed?
For a hearty harvest, plant them in open ground where their vines can soak up sunlight and their roots have room to grow freely. Consistent watering and loose soil will help produce robust, flavorful tubers. Growing vegetables in raised beds is a great way to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce.
Can you grow plants in a raised bed?
Most flowers, vegetables, herbs, and fruits found in a regular in-ground garden can be grown quite well in a raised bed. Pretty much the only limiting factor is space, i.e., large, sprawling plants. Almost every kind of plant will grow better in it for many reasons. The soil is loose and fluffy since you aren’t walking on it.
What fruit can you grow in a raised bed?
For sauce, giant ‘Opalka’ paste tomatoes are meaty and delicious. Small fruits like strawberries do especially well in a raised bed where you will have more control of soil quality, weeds can’t encroach upon them, and you can closely monitor the plants for optimum growth. Strawberries are probably the easiest fruit to grow.