15 Easy Vegetables For A Raised Garden Bed

15 Easy Vegetables For A Raised Garden Bed

Gardening in a raised garden bed doesn’t have to be hard, and it certainly shouldn’t be boring. That’s why we’ve got this list of the 15 best vegetables that aren’t just easy for beginners, but they’re also delicious!

And remember, gardening isn’t just about growing food, it’s also about having fun, connecting with nature, and creating beautiful food and experiences that you can share.

First off, what is a raised bed?

A raised bed is a specific type of garden commonly used for small space gardening techniques in backyards. It is built above the ground, usually using wood planks or metal frames to hold it together.

Why garden with raised beds?

Growing veggies in a raised bed provides many benefits, including:

• Good drainage and more consistent soil moisture, which helps eliminate poor air circulation and allows for stronger, more consistent plant growth
• Rich soil and better air circulation, which means the roots can more easily penetrate the garden soil/potting soil and access essential nutrients
• Warmer soil temperatures, which can lead to earlier and longer-lasting growing seasons
• Easy access to the plants, which makes care for and harvesting of the vegetables a breeze
• Better control over the soil quality and nutrients in the garden bed, which leads to healthier, more fruitful conditions where plants thrive

Why it’s best to start with easy-to-grow vegetables for raised bed gardens

When making your first raised bed garden, it’s important to choose vegetables that are both simple to grow and fun to mix into your meals. Not only will this make the gardening experience more enjoyable, but it will also ensure success and provide a bountiful harvest. By choosing easy-to-grow vegetables, new gardeners can avoid frustration. Soon you’ll be confident with your gardening skills and ready to lead a lifelong love of gardening!

1. Lettuce

• Fast-Growing: Lettuce can be harvested in as little as 30 days, making it an ideal vegetable for gardeners who want quick results in their raised bed.
• Works in Shade or Sun: Lettuce is a versatile vegetable that grows in both shade and sun, making it perfect for raised garden beds that receive less sunlight.
• Easy Harvesting: You just snip the outer leaves of lettuce, which allows the inner leaves to continue growing for a continuous harvest, providing you with fresh lettuce all season long!

2. Radishes

• Fast-Growing: Radishes are one of the fastest vegetables for raised beds. They reach harvest time as quickly as 30 days and up to 60.
• Multiple Harvests Per Season: Every season allows for sowing them multiple times for multiple harvests. So they’re a great choice for gardeners who want to maximize their seasonal yield.
• Provides a Crisp Crunch to Salads: Radishes add a snappy texture to salads, making them a great addition to a variety of meals.

3. Carrots

• Perform Well in Raised Beds: Carrots, similar to other root crops grow well in raised beds.
• Harvest Time in as Little as 2 Months: With such a fast turnaround, carrots are a great choice for gardeners who want quick results.
• Crunchy and Slightly Sweet: Combining a snappy texture and sweet flavor, carrots make for a great snack or salad addition.

4. Spinach

• Good for Partial Shade: Spinach is shade-tolerant, meaning it can grow in partial shade. So it’s perfect for gardeners who have less sunlight in their yard.
• Multiple Harvests Per Season: The spinach growing season allows for multiple harvests. So it’s a great choice for gardeners who want to maximize their seasonal yield.
• Meal Versatility: Spinach can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to soups to even chinese stir-fries.

5. Green Beans

• Perfect Companion to Trellises or Fences: Green beans are climbers that can be grown up trellises and/or fences, making them perfect for gardeners who want to maximize their raised beds by going vertical.
• Easy Harvesting: Green beans are easy to harvest, making them a great choice for gardeners of all skill levels.
• A Summer Staple: Green beans can add a fresh and crunchy flavor to any meal all summer long.

6. Zucchini

• Easy to Grow: Zucchini grows quickly and easily in raised beds, making it a great choice for beginner gardeners.
• Can Produce in Abundance: Zucchini comes in bunches, making it a great selection for gardeners who want to maximize their yield.
• Compliments Many Meals: Zucchini is an extremely versatile vegetable that can be used to enhance a lot of dishes, everything from stir-fries to baked goods.

7. Peas

• Cold Weather Tolerant: Peas are a cool-weather vegetable that performs wonderfully in a raised bed environment.
• Can be Eaten Fresh or Used in Cooking: Peas are great as simple snacks eaten raw or mixed in with cooked meals, making them a great choice for gardeners who want versatility from their vegetables.
• Slightly Sweet: Peas can add a sweet flavor to dishes, making them perfect to bring a little balance to many meals.

8. Cucumbers

• Warm Weather Friendly: Cucumbers love full sun and warm soil, and also perform great in raised beds.
• Fresh or Pickled: Cucumbers can be eaten fresh or pickled, making them a great choice for gardeners who like to can vegetables and save them for winter.
• Crispy Crunch: Cucumbers add a fun, snappy texture to salads.

9. Tomatoes

• Perform Beautifully in Raised Beds: Tomatoes are warm-weather friendly and grow well in raised garden beds.
• Easy Harvesting: Tomato plants are easy to harvest, making them work wonderfully for gardeners who are both beginners and experts.
• Sweet and Juicy: Tomatoes bring a sweet and juicy flavor to dishes, making them a great addition to a wide range of meals.

10. Bell Peppers

• Warm-Weather Friendly: Bell peppers love warmer climates and also grow wonderfully in a raised garden bed.
• Sweet and Crunchy: Bell peppers bring a bit of sweet flavor and crunchy texture that’s ideal for a variety of dishes.
• Seasonal Variety: Bell peppers can be harvested when green or red, allowing you to enjoy them at different stages of ripeness throughout the gardening season.

11. Eggplant

• Warm-Weather Friendly: Eggplants do well in hot weather and grow brilliantly in raised beds.
• Rich, Slightly Bitter: Eggplants add a complex, slightly bitter flavor that can jazz up a wide range of dishes.
• Easy Harvesting: Eggplants are easy to harvest, making them a great choice for beginner gardeners.

12. Squash

• Warm-Weather Friendly: Squash love warm soil and will perform beautifully in a raised garden bed.
• Sweet and Creamy: Squash bring a softly sweet and creamy flavor that helps to round out a variety of comforting dishes.
• Seasonal Variety: Squash can be harvested when small or large, allowing you to enjoy them at different stages of ripeness throughout the gardening season.

13. Beets

• Love Cool Weather: Beets are cool-weather friendly and do exceptionally well in raised beds.
• Fast Turnaround: With a harvest time of only 2 months, beets are a great choice for gardeners who want quick results.
• Sweet and Earthy: Beets bring a sweet and earthy flavor that will liven up a variety of comforting dishes.

14. Turnips

• Cooler Weather: Turnips can tolerate the cold and like many root vegetables grow well in raised beds.
• Quick Turnaround: With a harvest time of only 2 months, turnips are perfect for gardeners who want fast results.
• Spicy and Crunchy: Turnips add a spicy and crunchy flavor that can turn a dish up from a 9 to an 11!

15. Kale

• Cooler Weather: Kale is tolerant of colder temperatures and works great in raised beds.
• Slightly Bitter: Kale adds a leafy, slightly bitter flavor that is the perfect compliment to a variety of dishes.
• Continuous Harvest: The kale growing season allows for multiple harvests. So it’s a great choice for gardeners who want to maximize their seasonal yield.

Vegetables love raised beds, so should you

These vegetables are not only easy to grow but also absolutely delicious and super versatile, making them perfect for both beginner and advanced gardeners alike.

Growing vegetables in a raised bed garden is a wonderful way to bring fresh, healthy, and tasty produce to your table. And hopefully after reading this list of 15 easiest vegetables, you’ll be able to have a successful garden in no time. So, don’t wait! Get started now and soon you’ll enjoy the sweet and savory tastes of fresh vegetables delivered straight from your own backyard!

FAQ

What Plants Can You Grow in Raised Bed Gardening?

You can grow a variety of plants in raised beds besides vegetables. These include other crops like herbs and even some small fruit trees. The key is to choose plants that are suitable for the climate and soil conditions in your area.

What Vegetables Go Together in a Raised Bed?

When vegetable gardening, it’s important to consider companion planting. Companion planting is the practice of planting certain vegetables together that have a symbiotic relationship. For example, tomato plants and basil are often planted together as they complement each other in flavor and improve each other’s growth.

What Should You Not Grow in Raised Beds?

Avoid planting plants that are invasive, as they can quickly spread and become difficult to control. Some examples of invasive plants are mint, bamboo, and kudzu.

How Many Plants Should Be in a Raised Bed Garden?

The number of plants in a raised bed will depend on the size of the entire raised bed and the size of the plants. As a general rule, you should aim to have at least 6 inches of space around each plant to allow for proper growth and air circulation. However, larger plants will require more consideration.

Should Raised Garden Beds be in Full Sun?

The amount of direct sunlight a raised bed should receive depends on the plants you plan to grow. Most vegetables and herbs need at least 6 hours of direct sun per day, while some plants, like lettuce, can tolerate partial shade.

How to Arrange Plants in a Raised Bed Garden?

Consider the mature size of the plants and how much space they will need to grow. For example, taller plants should be placed in the back of the raised bed space, while shorter plants can be placed in front. Additionally, it’s important to consider companion planting and group plants together that have similar light and water requirements.

What is the Best Material for the Bottom of a Raised Bed?

The bottom of a raised bed can be lined with a variety of materials, including landscape fabric, hardware cloth, and even stones. However, the best material for the bottom of a raised garden bed is one that provides good drainage and prevents soil from escaping through the bottom.

One popular option to easily cover beds is landscape fabric. This material is specifically designed for use in landscaping and gardening, and it allows water to drain through while preventing your growing medium from escaping.