If your site has poor or degraded soil, raised beds and containers can be a great way to grow home vegetables and small fruits. Raised beds can be built from kits or with do-it-yourself instructions. Wood, metal, composite materials, concrete blocks, and even rocks can all be used.

A common bed width is 4 feet if accessed from both sides, and 2 to 3 feet if accessed from one side. Beds are generally constructed 6 to 12 inches deep but can be deeper. Shallow-rooted crops, such as lettuce, spinach, kale, and other leafy crops, may be produced in beds that are only 4 to 6 inches deep. Taller and deeper-rooted crops, such as tomatoes and peppers require deeper beds. A  smaller volume will retain lower amounts of water and nutrients. Since raised beds drain more rapidly than nearby level soil, deeper beds can decrease watering frequency.

You can purchase raised bed mixes if your soil is not ideal. These mixes should have a range of  particle sizes to support drainage and be free from weed seeds and pathogens. Remember they will need to be watered and fertilized more frequently than in-ground gardens!

Great crops for raised beds and small spaces:

• Spring crops: Lettuce, radishes, beets, Swiss chard
• Summer crops: Bush beans, peppers, determinate tomatoes, summer squash, trellised cucumbers
• Fall crops: Cabbage, kale, spinach, carrots, lettuce
• Fruit crops: Strawberries, compact blueberry, and raspberry