Planting a Raised Garden Bed
What vegetables should I plant in my raised garden bed? It might be tempting to buy all the things when planting a raised garden bed, but only pick plants that you and your family will actually eat. Think of what you buy weekly from the produce department in your local grocery store. Or maybe consider trying some vegetable you might not buy often, but you really want to learn to like them because of the health benefits. I find that when you are the one actually doing the work with tending to your plants, you want to enjoy all the fruits of your labors and will grow to enjoy eating your own produce! I grew up THE pickiest eater. If I can eat my veggies, you can too!
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Why Plant Your Own Vegetables?
When you plant your own vegetables, you know what you are eating. You have control over your produce. You will not be using any chemical fertilizers. Also you will be saving money! Often I buy produce at grocery stores and it goes bad so quickly. Your vegetables will be fresh and you won’t have as much waste. If you have an abundance of produce, just can things, freeze them, or spread the love! Give a basket of produce to a neighbor. Take some to church to share! So, plant your favorite vegetables and share the love!!
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What are the Benefits of Planting in a Raised Garden Bed?
Raised garden beds are really good for growing vegetables. You have more control over the soil in raised beds. Vegetables need well draining, loose soil. Filling your raised beds with good, nutrient rich compost and soil, that isn’t compacted down, will increase the productivity of your plants. Raised beds are also easier on the back and I love the look of them!
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Seeds or Plants?
We opted for both! I had planned on starting seeds earlier this year indoors, but time got away from me. We purchased the plants that we could find from the list of the things we wanted and then seeds for everything else. We have broccoli, tomato, pepper, cabbage, egg plant, basil, zucchini, cucumber, sweet potato, and some lettuce plants. For seeds we have more lettuce, spinach, bush beans, yellow squash, cilantro, carrots, and radishes. When you buy seeds, just look on the backs of the see packets to see if you are still in the right window for sowing the seeds outdoors.
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What Plants Can be Planted Together?
I did a lot of research to find out what plants I wanted in each of my raised beds. This is the combination that worked out for our beds: We have tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and egg plant together. Then we have squash, bush beans, basil, and cabbage together. The last box we currently have (This is too much fun, I need more…) is lettuce, spinach, bush beans, sweet potato, broccoli, carrots, radishes, and cilantro. We also put marigolds in each of the boxes. Marigolds are great for attracting pollinators and these beneficial insects will protect your garden from harmful bugs.
Are you ready to get your garden planted? Use this plant companion guide to know which plants work well together.
DIY Raised Garden Beds
Check out our DIY Raised Garden Beds and learn how to prepare your raised garden beds for your plants!
