Raised beds are great for growing a vegetable garden. They make it easy to create a deep, fertile soil that’s high in organic matter (which your plants will love), they facilitate better drainage and runoff, and they provide easy access for gardeners with limited mobility.
Expand available space by using raised beds in flat areas and terraces on hillside slopes.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/Tim Butler
The size and shape of your raised bed is up to you. Beds can be square, round, rectangular or triangular – or even irregular in shape. You can combine small beds to fill larger areas, create L- or T-shaped layouts, or use them to make long, narrow rows. (For example, two square 4-foot beds can be combined to make a 4x8-foot rectangle.)
The following diagrams show various shaped beds that have been divided into roughly equal areas for planting. Dividing your beds like this before planting makes spacing your plants easier – and proper spacing helps reduce disease or pest problems, as well as can help yield a bountiful harvest. Then learn what great growing vegetables you can plant in your newly divided beds.
Vegetable Garden Layouts
2-Foot by 4-Foot Rectangular Bed Diagram
2-foot by 4-foot rectangular beds are a very traditional size.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/ Hildebrand Design
2-Foot Square Bed Diagram
2-foot square beds are easily accessible from all sides
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/ Hildebrand Design
4-Foot Square Bed Diagram
4-foot square bed is the basis for the Square Foot Gardening concept.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/ Hildebrand Design
8-Foot Circular Bed Diagram
You don't have to limit yourself to straight sided beds
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/ Hildebrand Design
8-Foot Triangular Bed Diagram
Some times different shapes will fit your garden space.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/ Hildebrand Design
