Options for Populating a Elevated Flower Bed: 15 Vegetation Choices
Raisin' a Ruckus with Raised Beds
Want to garden like a boss, even with limited space? Raised beds are the way to go! They offer numerous benefits, from promoting plant health to making harvesting a breeze. Here's a lowdown on the best plants to grow in these bad boys, featuring veggies, herbs, and flowers that'll make your neighbors green with envy.
Vegetables That'll Make Your Stomach Growl
Many delicious crops can be grown in raised beds, but some are better than others. When selecting plants, consider their mature size and the soil conditions they prefer. Here are some space-saving, soil-loving crops that'll put a smile on your dial.
Carrots
Botanical Name: Daucus carota subsp. sativusSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Medium, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.0)
Carrots are a cinch to grow if you got the right soil. They adore loose loamy or sandy soil, but who's got that in their backyard? No worries, raised beds to the rescue! With a custom soil blend, you'll be able to produce those long, tasty taproots, no matter your local soil conditions.
Radishes
Botanical Name: Raphanus sativus var. radiculaSun Exposure: Full Sun to Part ShadeSoil Type: Loose, Well-drainingSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.0)
Radishes are a cool-season crop that can be planted in spring and fall. They mature quickly, producing tasty roots in just three to four weeks. Gardeners often plant them in succession, sowing seeds every seven to ten days, allowing them to harvest multiple crops from a tiny space.
Lettuce
Botanical Name: Lactuca sativaSun Exposure: Full Sun to Part ShadeSoil Type: Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.0-6.5)
Lettuce is another cool-season crop that's perfect for raised beds. Both heading and non-heading (leaf) varieties are available, with leaf lettuces being the easiest to grow and fitting snugly in raised bed plantings. Lettuces can be sensitive to heat, so tuck them between taller crops for a bit of shade and ensure you plant heat-resistant varieties.
Herbs That'll Make Your Heart Skip a Beat
Many of our favorite garden herbs are native to the Mediterranean region, thriving in rocky, dry, well-draining soil. Lucky for us, raised beds are the perfect spot for these colorful, heat-loving plants. Here are some standout herbs that'll add pizazz to your raised beds.
Sage
Botanical Name: Salvia officinalisSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Dry to Medium, Well-draining, Average FertilitySoil pH: Acidic to Slightly Alkaline (5.6-7.8)
Sage is known for its lovely foliage and growth benefits like improving brain function and digestion. Regular pruning keeps it compact and prevents woody growth. What's not to love?
Thyme
Botanical Name: Thymus vulgarisSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Dry to Medium, Well-draining, Low to Average FertilitySoil pH: Acidic (5.8-6.8)
Thyme makes an excellent groundcover with tiny gray-green leaves and spring blooms that attract pollinators. It's the perfect addition to your herb garden and thrives in well-draining soil.
Rosemary
Botanical Name: Salvia rosmarinusSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Dry to Medium, Well-draining, Low to Average FertilitySoil pH: Acidic (5.8-6.8)
With slender, needle-like foliage, rosemary adds texture and structure to herb plantings. Its woody stems produce lovely blue flowers (white in some varieties) that attract pollinators. A perfect choice for your raised bed herb garden.
Flowers That'll Bring a Smile to Your Face
Looking to add some color and charm to your raised garden beds? Check out these vibrant annuals that thrive in raised beds and provide benefits like attracting pollinators and natural pest control.
Zinnia
Botanical Name: Zinnia elegansSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Consistently Moist, Well-draining, RichSoil pH: Acidic to Neutral (5.5-7.5)
Zinnias are garden favorites with long-lasting blooms that attract an abundance of pollinators. Plant them among edibles to boost pollination and promote natural pest control. Who doesn't love a win-win situation?
Nasturtium
Botanical Name: Tropaeolum majusSun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Moist, well-drainedSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.1-7.8)
Nasturtiums are known as companion plants due to their ability to manage pests like aphids and whiteflies. They make a great addition to the vegetable garden and their small flowers attract beneficial insects, including pollinators. What's more, all parts of the plant are edible. Talk about a multi-talented plant!
Get Yer Garden On, Gangsters
Raised garden beds offer the perfect combination of soil control, sunlight, aesthetic appeal, and space efficiency for growing a diverse variety of plants. Pick your favorite herbs, veggies, and flowers and start cultivating that garden of yours. Just remember, your success in the garden depends on you and the care you put into it. Happy growing, hipsters!
- For gardening ideas, Southern Living magzine suggests growing vegetables like carrots, radishes, and lettuce in raised beds to take advantage of their numerous benefits, such as better plant health and easier harvesting.
- Herb gardens can include space-saving, soil-loving plants like sage, thyme, and rosemary, which are native to Mediterranean regions and thrive in the well-draining soil typically found in raised beds.
- In addition to veggies and herbs, raised beds can also accommodate flowering plants that attract pollinators, such as zinnias and nasturtiums, making them a vibrant and practical addition to any garden.
- A raised herb garden featuring sage, thyme, and rosemary offers numerous benefits, from adding pizazz to your garden to potential health improvements and natural pest control.
- With buttons (raised bed planters) and your favorite gardening ideas, anyone can cultivate a diverse and beautiful garden, both for aesthetic appeal and the numerous benefits it can provide.
