![]() Going from an in-ground garden to a raised bed is like the difference between night and day. If you can only tend from one side because your bed is up against a wall or fence, I’d recommend staying under two and a half feet, which is probably about as far as your arm can reach. Anything beyond four and a half to five feet typically makes plants in the middle of the bed too difficult to reach (unless you have very long arms). The maximum width you would want for a raised bed is about four feet wide, and that would only be for beds that you're able to access from all four sides. If you can find a space for a bed that's at least two feet wide, that would be preferable. Anything less across just doesn't afford you the full benefits of growing in a raised bed-there wouldn't even be room to plant more than one or two plants across your bed, especially not if they need to spread out. The minimum width I'd recommend for a raised bed is 18 inches. Unlike height, the possible width and length of your raised bed might be limited by the space you have available. Plants love the deep and consistent water that drip irrigation can supply (more on the best way to water plants in raised beds in a bit!). Place your garden, when possible, near a spigot, a rain barrel, or a location where it can be connected to an irrigation system. The second aspect to consider is water proximity. (Read more about how much sun you'll need in your garden.) water ![]() If your only available spot receives four or so hours of sun a day, you can still have a kitchen garden-you'll just need to prioritize growing herbs and salad greens, plants that will still thrive with less-than-ideal sun. This is especially important during the winter months, when the sun is lower on the horizon for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere. Ideally, you'll position your garden on the south side of any tall structures, such as homes, garages, tall sheds, and fences. Really though, you're aiming for as much sun as possible. ![]() Your garden will need to receive six or more direct sunlight hours per day. The first, and most important, aspect to consider is sunlight exposure. The Right Location for Raised Garden BedsĪfter working with hundreds of clients to design and install kitchen gardens, I've narrowed the long list of things to consider when choosing a site for your kitchen garden to four key aspects. I go into further detail on the reasons raised beds are all around better for gardening here.
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