Dear Gardeners,

Welcome to the Special Edition “Raised Bed Gardening Made Easy” issue of Food Gardening Magazine!

I still remember the first time I truly understood the magic of raised bed gardening. It was one of those fickle spring seasons when the soil outside was either soggy, compacted, or far too cold to plant anything meaningful. Meanwhile, in my raised beds, the soil was warm, loose, workable, and full of life. My lettuce sprouted early, my carrots grew straighter than ever, and my tomatoes didn’t just survive—they flourished. That was the year I stopped thinking of raised beds as a “nice option” and started seeing them as the smartest, most forgiving, and most rewarding way to garden.

Raised beds give you control in a way that traditional gardening simply can’t. You get to decide the soil quality. You get better drainage. You reduce weeds. You can plant earlier. You can grow more in less space. And for many gardeners, raised beds make gardening physically easier, more accessible, and far more enjoyable. No heavy digging. No wrestling with stubborn ground soil. No guessing what nutrients your plants might be getting. Just rich, productive growing spaces that make plants—and gardeners—remarkably happy.

Over the years, my raised beds have quietly become the stars of my garden. Each season, I experiment just a little more—another bed here, a vertical trellis there, a fresh batch of compost, a smarter layout. And every year, I’m amazed at how much food those beautiful wooden frames can produce. Tomatoes are fuller, greens are more tender, root crops develop beautifully, and herbs practically beg to be harvested. Raised beds don’t just grow plants. They grow confidence. They grow abundance. They grow joy.

Here’s what you’ll find in our brand-new “Raised Bed Gardening Made Easy” special issue of Food Gardening Magazine:

Planning

Begin with the foundational knowledge that sets every raised bed gardener up for success:

• The Biggest Differences Between Planting in Raised Beds vs. In-Ground: So you’re making the switch and going from an in-ground garden to planting in raise beds. There are a few things you’ll want to know.
• Planning Raised Beds for Your Garden: Before you start planning raised beds, let’s talk about hills, wood, soil, spacing, and a few other deciding factors.
• What is the Best Size for Raised Garden Beds?: Trying to figure out the right size for raised garden beds? Here are a few things you’ll want to consider.
• Planning Out Bountiful Raised Beds: If you want your raised beds to create a major harvest use these tips for planning, picking the right veggies, watering and finding the right spot!

Building & Setup

Get hands-on and confident as you create the perfect growing space:

• What’s the Best Type of Wood for Raised Beds?: Planning your garden and wondering about the best type of wood for raised beds? Or is there a better material to use? Here’s the dirt.
• How to Build a DIY Hoop House for Raised Beds: In less than an hour, you can build a DIY hoop house for your raised beds that will allow you to start crops early in the spring and sow later in the fall.
• How to Create a Custom DIY Drip Irrigation System for Raised Beds for Under $100: For under $100, you can create a simple DIY drip irrigation system that will water your raised beds on a timer at regular intervals and while away.
• Planting Raised Garden Beds: Spacing & Growing Vegetables and Herbs: Planting raised garden beds is a beautiful way to grow more in your garden.

Best Crops for Raised Beds

Discover which plants truly shine in raised environments:

• 10 Most Popular Companion Plants for Your Raised Bed Garden: Discover how to boost your garden’s health and yield with popular companion plants that thrive together.
• Growing Tomatoes in Open Land, in Containers, or in Raised Beds: Having raised beds allows you more control over your growing environment.
• Growing Basil Indoors, in Open Land, in Raised Beds, or in Containers: You’ll discover that watering, irrigation, weeding, and even harvesting are much easier.
• Planting Radishes in the Ground or in Raised Beds: Radishes are actually the heroes of the garden and are companions to many.

Get Growing in Raised Beds!

Did you know that Gold Members can explore our Gardening Kits tab for additional resources?

• • Garden Calendars
  • Garden Plans
  • Recipe Cards
  • Greeting Cards
  • ArtPrints

Check them out now, and download your favorites!

Whether you’re dreaming of building your first raised bed, refining the garden you already love, or looking for ways to grow more food with less stress, raised bed gardening offers a beautiful blend of structure, simplicity, and remarkable productivity. It’s one of the most enjoyable ways to garden—and one of the most rewarding.

I hope this special edition inspires you to dig in, build boldly, and discover just how easy and abundant raised bed gardening can be.

Happy growing!

Warm regards,

Christy Page
Editor & Publisher

P.S. What’s your biggest raised gardening challenge–lack of flat space, clay or concrete foundation, or maybe choosing which crops to start with? Share your raised bed growing questions or successes in the comments below!