One of the biggest attractions of raised garden beds is the variety of plants you can grow in them.

A well-designed raised bed can become a productive vegetable garden, herb garden, cutting garden or a mixture of all three. Because you control the growing medium, drainage and layout, you can create conditions that suit a wide range of crops.

The key is choosing plants that match the amount of space, sunlight, soil depth and time you have available.

This guide explains what grows particularly well in raised beds, how to arrange your crops, how much space different plants need and how to keep your growing area productive throughout the year.

Start With the Conditions You Have

Before choosing your plants, look at the bed itself.

How much sunlight does it receive?

How deep is the growing medium?

Does the soil drain quickly?

How often can you water?

How much time do you have for maintenance?

These questions are more important than simply choosing plants from a list of supposedly “best” raised-bed crops.

Most vegetables perform well when they have good soil, adequate moisture and sufficient sunlight.

The Best Vegetables for Raised Beds

Raised beds are particularly useful for many common kitchen-garden crops.

Lettuce and Salad Leaves

Lettuce is an excellent choice for beginners.

It doesn’t require enormous amounts of space and can be harvested relatively quickly.

Instead of planting an entire row at once, sow small quantities at intervals.

This gives you a succession of leaves rather than a huge harvest all at once.

Radishes

Radishes are another useful crop for filling gaps.

They mature relatively quickly and can be sown between slower-growing vegetables.

Their compact size makes them particularly useful when you want to maximise the productivity of a small bed.

Carrots

Carrots can grow very well in raised beds provided the soil is deep, loose and relatively free of stones.

Shorter varieties are useful where the growing depth is limited.

If you want long roots, make sure the bed provides sufficient depth.

Beetroot

Beetroot is productive and relatively straightforward to grow.

The young leaves can also be used in cooking, providing another harvest from the same plant.

Onions

Onions are useful crops for raised beds because they don’t generally require huge amounts of space.

They can be planted in rows and combined with other suitable crops.

Peas

Peas are an excellent choice if you have room to provide support.

Growing them vertically allows you to make much better use of the bed’s footprint.

French Beans

Climbing French beans can produce impressive yields from a relatively small area when trained upwards.

Provide a sturdy support structure and make sure the plants don’t shade everything around them.

Runner Beans

Runner beans are another productive vertical crop.

They need support, so plan where the structure will go before planting.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes can be highly productive in raised beds.

They need good sunlight and adequate support.

Cordon varieties require staking or another support system, while bush varieties can be more compact.

Courgettes

Courgettes can grow very vigorously.

They are therefore not always the best choice for a tiny raised bed.

If you have room, however, a single plant can produce a substantial harvest.

Allow plenty of space around it.

Chard

Chard is particularly useful because it can provide harvests over a long period.

It also adds colour and structure to a mixed vegetable bed.

Kale and Other Brassicas

Kale, broccoli and other brassicas can grow well in raised beds.

However, remember that brassicas can be vulnerable to pests, particularly caterpillars.

Protect plants with suitable mesh when necessary.

Growing Herbs in Raised Beds

Raised beds are excellent for herbs.

Some herbs can be planted around the edges of vegetable beds where they are easy to reach.

Good choices include:

• Parsley
• Chives
• Coriander
• Dill
• Mint
• Thyme
• Sage
• Rosemary

Be aware that some herbs have very different growing requirements.

Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, thyme and sage generally prefer free-draining conditions.

Mint can spread aggressively, so growing it in a separate container can be easier to manage.

Growing Flowers in Raised Beds

Raised beds don’t have to be exclusively for vegetables.

Flowers can provide colour, attract pollinating insects and make the garden more attractive.

You can also combine ornamental flowers with edible crops.

This can create a productive bed that is also visually appealing.

Companion Planting

Companion planting involves growing different plants together in the hope that the combination provides benefits.

Some gardeners use it to make better use of space, attract beneficial insects or potentially reduce pest problems.

However, companion planting shouldn’t be treated as a guaranteed pest-control system.

The RHS notes that while companion planting can provide benefits, results aren’t necessarily consistent for every crop or situation.

The most reliable approach is to combine sensible planting with good soil management, biodiversity and regular plant inspection.

Make Use of Vertical Space

One of the easiest ways to increase the productivity of a raised bed is to grow upwards.

Climbing beans, peas and some tomatoes can be trained onto supports.

This allows you to use the air above the bed rather than relying entirely on ground-level space.

Vertical growing is particularly useful in smaller gardens.

Just remember that tall plants can cast shade, so position them carefully.

Succession Planting

You don’t have to leave the same crop in the bed all season.

When one crop finishes, replace it with another.

For example, an early crop of radishes might be followed by another crop later in the year.

Likewise, salad leaves can be sown at intervals rather than all at once.

Succession planting keeps the bed productive and spreads your harvest over a longer period.

Intercropping

Intercropping means growing compatible crops together rather than giving every plant its own isolated section.

For example, fast-growing salad crops can sometimes be harvested before a slower-growing main crop needs the entire available space.

The RHS identifies efficient use of space as one of the potential benefits of companion and mixed planting.

The trick is avoiding overcrowding.

Every plant still needs enough space, light, water and nutrients.

Crop Rotation in Raised Beds

If you have several raised beds, crop rotation becomes easier.

Instead of planting the same family of crops in the same bed every year, move them around.

This can help reduce the build-up of crop-specific pests and diseases.

The RHS recommends planning crop rotation before the growing season and explains that rotating crops can help reduce pest and disease problems.

A simple rotation is better than no rotation at all.

Keep a note of what you planted in each bed so you don’t have to rely on memory.

A Simple Four-Bed Layout

If you have four raised beds, you can create a straightforward rotation system.

Bed One

Peas and beans.

Bed Two

Brassicas such as cabbage, kale and broccoli.

Bed Three

Root crops such as carrots and beetroot.

Bed Four

Other crops such as onions, salads and potatoes.

The following year, move each group to another bed.

There is no need to make the system unnecessarily complicated.

Choosing Crops for Small Raised Beds

If space is limited, prioritise crops that provide a good harvest for the amount of space they occupy.

Salad leaves, radishes, herbs, spring onions, beetroot and compact varieties can work particularly well.

Vertical crops can also dramatically increase productivity.

Avoid dedicating most of a tiny bed to a plant that spreads extensively unless it is one of your favourite crops.

Growing in Deeper Beds

If your raised bed is particularly deep, you have more options.

Deeper growing areas can accommodate crops with longer root systems.

However, don’t assume that every plant needs a huge amount of soil.

Match depth to the crop.

The RHS notes that around 30cm can be sufficient for shallow-rooted crops such as salad leaves and strawberries, while deeper-rooted plants may need 45cm or more.

What to Grow in a Raised Bed Through the Year

A productive raised bed can change considerably throughout the seasons.

Spring

Good choices include:

• Radishes
• Lettuce
• Peas
• Carrots
• Beetroot
• Spring onions
• Early potatoes

Summer

As temperatures increase, consider:

• Tomatoes
• Courgettes
• Beans
• Chard
• Lettuce
• Herbs
• Beetroot

Autumn

As summer crops finish, you can continue with:

• Kale
• Chard
• Winter salads
• Spring onions
• Some root crops

Winter

Depending on your location and the weather, hardy crops can continue providing harvests.

Protect vulnerable crops where necessary.

Don’t Forget Pollinators

A raised bed doesn’t have to be purely productive in terms of edible crops.

Adding flowering plants can make your growing area more attractive to pollinating insects and other beneficial wildlife.

This can be particularly useful if your garden has limited biodiversity.

A mixture of edible and ornamental plants can make the bed more interesting while still providing food.

Common Planting Mistakes

Planting too close together

It can be tempting to fill every gap.

Unfortunately, overcrowding can create competition for light, water and nutrients.

Choosing plants that are too large

A courgette plant can quickly dominate a small bed.

Choose compact varieties when space is limited.

Ignoring shade

A tall crop can shade everything behind it.

Think about the mature height of every plant before positioning it.

Forgetting support

Peas, beans and climbing plants need somewhere to grow.

Install supports before the plants become difficult to manage.

Planting everything at once

A single huge sowing can result in too much produce at the same time.

Succession sowing usually provides a more manageable harvest.

How to Get More From Your Raised Bed

The most productive raised beds aren’t necessarily the ones with the most plants.

They are the ones where every plant has enough space, the soil is healthy and the gardener makes sensible use of the available growing area.

Combine several techniques:

Use vertical growing.

Try succession planting.

Rotate crops.

Grow quick crops between slower ones.

Choose compact varieties.

Keep the soil covered and healthy.

Harvest regularly.

Final Thoughts

Raised garden beds give you enormous flexibility.

You can grow vegetables, herbs and flowers together or create dedicated beds for particular crops.

Start with plants that you actually enjoy eating or using.

There is little point growing enormous quantities of something you don’t like.

Once you’ve learned what grows well in your particular garden, you can experiment with different varieties, succession planting, companion planting and vertical growing.

The real advantage of raised bed gardening is that you can adapt the system to your garden rather than trying to make your garden fit a rigid plan.

Start with good soil, choose the right crops for the available space and keep improving the bed each season.

With a little planning, even a relatively small raised bed can become one of the most productive parts of your garden.