Companion planting 4x8 raised bed vegetable garden layout

Here it is, my 2018 raised bed garden plan. I have included some really helpful diagrams showing space requirements of each plant! I plan my garden layout as efficiently as I know how by companion planting and interplanting different types of crops together.

I start all my plants from seed indoors to supply my garden. I use heirloom varieties so the seeds are viable to produce a future generation of plants. This allows me to be completely self-sufficient without needing to shop at a greenhouse or nursery for plants. If you are interested in saving your own heirloom vegetable seeds, check out my E-book “Saving Vegetable Seeds – a quick start guide“.

I also practice succession planting to maximize efficiency in the garden. When one plant is harvested, I plant another in the same space. Don’t forget, your produce is only as good as your soil. Take as much care in preparing your beds as you in growing.

If you want to create your own computerized garden layout just like this one, check out my Garden Design and Planning Tool! Plants are pre-formatted with their mature sizes, so you will get the spacing right without having to research each crop individually.

If you are new to gardening, you may like my Veggie Garden Supply List to help you get started. It includes everything you need from starting seeds indoors, to canning the garden harvest. For more unique gardening accessories, check out these Most Wished for Gardening Accessories!

The overall size of my garden area is 40ft by 20ft. Each of my diagrams have a square foot grid in the background to show how the plants are spaced. I’m going to break each raised bed down but before I do, let me define some of my wordage.

Definitions:

• Early – a variety that will produce its harvest early in the year, leaving available garden space for replanting.
• Late – a variety that takes a long time to mature and produces a harvest late in the season.
• Perennial – a plant that will live many seasons.
• Reseed – an annual variety I planted last year that will regrow itself from dropping seeds.
• Overwintered – a plant that was sown the previous season, went dormant over winter and will be harvested this season (typically spring).
• Seed – plants I plan on letting go to seed so I can harvest and save it for the next planting season.
• Trellis – plants climbing a trellis
• Ground – vine plants that will spread out and grow on the ground.

Bed 1 

1. Asparagus (early, perennial)
2. Beefsteak tomatoes (reseed, late)
3. Parsley (overwintered)

Bucket 1

1. Beefsteak tomatoes (reseed, late)
2. Lemon balm (perennial)

Bed 2

1. Strawberries ever-bearing (perennial)
2. Onions
3. Garlic (overwintered)

Bed 3

1. Bell peppers
2. Acorn squash
3. Rosemary (perennial)

Bed 4

1. Zucchini
2. Mini pumpkins

Bucket 2

1. Tomatoes
2. Peppermint (perennial)

Bed 5

1. Lettuce (reseed)
2. Carrots (overwintered, seed)
3. Beets
4. Onions (overwintered, early)

Bed 6

1. Roma tomatoes (reseed, late)
2. Basil (in cement blocks, seed)
3. Nasturtium (in cement blocks)

Bed 7

1. Mixed gourds (trellis)
2. Pumpkins (ground)
3. Radish (early, seed)
4. Kale (early)
5. Dill (seed)

Bed 8

1. Snap peas, pole (trellis, early)
2. Cucumbers (trellis, mid-late)
3. Broccoli (seed)
4. Brussels sprouts (seed)
5. Dill (in cement blocks)
6. Nasturtium (in cement blocks)

Bed 9

1. Green beans (pole)
2. Watermelon (late, ground)
3. Spinach (early, seed)
4. Carrots

Bed 10

1. Asparagus (early)
2. Cherry tomatoes (late, reseed)
3. Lettuce (in cement blocks)
4. Nasturtium (in cement blocks)

Bed 11

1. Dry Beans – black and kidney (seed)
2. Cilantro (seed)
3. Butternut squash
4. Spinach (early)

Bed 12

1. Paste tomatoes (mid-late)
2. Lettuce (early)
3. Cilantro
4. Basil

Garden Bench

1. Lavender

Bed 13

1. Hot peppers (chili and pablano)
2. Small sweet peppers
3. Swiss chard
4. Cucumbers (trellis)
5. Carrots (leave to overwinter)
6. Red Onion

Bed 14

1. Potatoes
2. Sage (perennial)
3. Green beans

When I was first starting out gardening I wished someone would have shared detailed garden layouts like this.  I hope this will help you in planning out your garden!

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Published by AudreySchultz

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