Why Raised Beds Beat Traditional Gardens
Raised beds produce 2x the yield per square foot of in-ground gardens. You control the soil quality, drainage is better, weeds are reduced by 80%, and you never step on (and compact) the growing area. A 4x8 foot raised bed can feed a family of 2 year-round with succession planting. Here's how to build one this weekend.
Materials List (Under $50)
For a 4x8 foot bed, 12 inches deep (the ideal size): 3x untreated 2x12 boards, 8 feet long (~$12 each). 1x 2x4 board for corner supports (~$5). 3-inch deck screws (~$7). Total: $48. Use untreated pine, cedar, or Douglas fir. Never use pressure-treated wood for vegetable gardens — the chemicals leach into soil. Cedar lasts 10-15 years naturally. Pine lasts 5-7 years and costs half as much.
Build Steps (1 Hour)
Step 1: Cut one 8-foot 2x12 in half for the 4-foot end pieces. Step 2: Cut four 12-inch pieces from the 2x4 for corner posts. Step 3: Screw the boards to the corner posts — two screws per board per corner. Step 4: Place the bed on level ground. No bottom needed — you want roots to reach native soil and worms to enter. Step 5: If you have grass, lay cardboard inside the bed before adding soil (kills grass without digging). Step 6: Fill with the soil mix below.
The Perfect Soil Recipe
Commercial "raised bed mix" is overpriced. Mix your own: 1/3 topsoil (the heavy base), 1/3 compost (nutrients and biology), 1/3 coarse vermiculite or perlite (drainage and aeration). For a 4x8x1 bed, you need about 32 cubic feet. Buy in bulk from a landscape supply company — 10x cheaper than bagged soil from hardware stores. Total fill cost: $40-60 in bulk vs $200+ bagged.
First-Year Planting Plan
A 4x8 bed fits: 8 tomato plants along the back (with cages), 16 pepper plants in the middle rows, and 32 lettuce plants along the front edge. Or go with the "salad garden": lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots, and herbs — all harvestable within 30-60 days. Use succession planting — plant new seeds every 2 weeks for continuous harvests instead of one giant crop. More plans, soil calculators, and planting calendars at aibot.garden.