Raised Bed Gardening in a Small Yard

Raised beds solve the two biggest small-yard problems: bad soil and bad drainage. Here is how to build one that earns its space.

How deep

25-30cm (10-12in) is enough for salad, herbs, onions and most roots. Go to 40cm if you want carrots and maincrop potatoes.

What to fill it with

Do not fill the whole bed with bought compost. Logs, branches and turf at the bottom, then compost and topsoil on top - it settles, but it is far cheaper.

What yields most per square foot

Cut-and-come-again salad, herbs, radishes, and climbing beans along a back trellis. Sweetcorn and courgettes take more room than they return in a small bed.

If you want the complete guide: The 5 Foot Farm guide.

Disclosure: the link above is an affiliate link. We may earn a commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you.