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How to Grow in Elevated Garden Beds

By: Angela Judd | May 6, 2025

Elevated garden beds have quickly become one of my favorite ways to grow in small spaces. They give you the benefits of a raised bed—plants growing together in shared, healthy soil—without needing in-ground space.

They’re also convenient. With no bending required, these beds are perfect for patios, balconies, and narrow side yards—especially if you need to chase the sun or escape the heat.

A smiling woman holds a tray of potted herbs in a lush garden, standing behind an elevated garden bed with gardening tools on the soil. Trellises and greenery surround her in the sunlit outdoor setting—perfect inspiration for small spaces.

In this post, I’ll how to set up and use elevated garden beds to make the most of a small growing space.

Looking for the bed I use? Click here to see it on Vego Garden and use one of my discount codes.

Here’s what we will cover:

Why Use an Elevated Garden Bed?
Challenges of Elevated Beds (and How to Manage Them)
Best Soil Mix for Elevated Beds
Watering Elevated Beds with Ollas
What to Plant in Elevated Beds (and Why It Matters)
Placement and Microclimate Tips
Final Thoughts on Elevated Garden Beds

Why Use an Elevated Garden Bed?

There are a lot of good reasons to garden in an elevated bed, especially if you’re short on space or looking for a more convenient way to grow:

They’re easier on your back, with no bending required.
The compact size fits patios, balconies, and narrow side yards.
Beds with locking casters can be moved to catch winter sun or escape summer heat.
Soil warms up faster in cooler months, helping cool-season crops grow more quickly.
They’re tidy, low-maintenance, and perfect for beginning gardeners.

Two photos: On the left, an older woman with short hair plants seedlings in an elevated garden bed. On the right, she smiles, holding a tray of labeled herb seedlings next to her raised garden bed—perfect for gardening tips in small spaces.

Unlike a collection of separate containers, elevated beds let your crops share space and soil, much like a traditional raised bed.

That shared environment encourages healthier plant growth, easier watering, and better use of space. And because they’re portable, you get the flexibility of containers without losing the benefits of a cohesive garden bed.

Challenges of Elevated Beds (and How to Manage Them)

Elevated beds do have a few challenges, especially in hot, dry climates. Because they’re exposed on all sides, the soil heats up and cools down faster than in-ground beds. This leads to more frequent drying and greater temperature swings, which can stress plants.

A raised metal elevated garden bed on a patio contains young vegetable plants with labeled markers, ideal for small spaces, set against a grassy yard and a brick pillar.

Here’s how to manage those challenges:

Fill the bed all the way to the top. Shallow soil dries out faster and offers less insulation for roots.
Use mulch to moderate soil temperature. In both hot and cold weather, a 2–3 inch layer of mulch helps insulate the soil surface.
Use ollas or other deep watering methods to help maintain steady moisture levels, especially in summer.
Skip adding in-bed vermicomposting bins. These beds can get too hot in summer for worms to thrive. Instead, mix in worm castings for long-lasting nutrition.
Be mindful of placement. In winter, place beds in a sunny spot to warm the soil. In summer, move them into filtered light or add shade with a pergola or cloth.
Protect from temperature extremes. During heat waves or cold snaps, move the bed to a sheltered location if possible, or use shade cloth or frost protection.
Watch the surface underneath. Elevated beds drain well, but that runoff can stain concrete or tile. Place a mat, tray, or other barrier if needed.

Split image: Left side shows water dripping from a corrugated metal roof, with a blurred green garden in the background. Right side features an elevated garden bed—a smart gardening tip for making the most of small spaces above the ground.

For more detailed strategies, see my post on growing in elevated beds in hot climates.

Best Soil Mix for Elevated Beds

Soil quality matters even more in small beds. I always fill beds to the rim, which allows for deeper roots and better moisture retention.

Here’s what I use:

High-quality raised bed mix (I recommend the raised bed mix from Arizona Worm Farm)
Worm castings – Learn about the benefits of worm castings in this guide.

More tips here: Best Soil for Raised Beds

Close-up of hands holding rich, dark soil on the left; on the right, loose soil is poured from a plastic bag into an elevated garden bed—perfect for gardening tips and maximizing small spaces.

Watering Elevated Beds with Ollas

Using ollas is my favorite way to water elevated beds. These buried clay pots slowly release water right at the root zone, helping keep moisture levels consistent, especially important in hot, dry climates where soil can dry out quickly.

In a 4-foot bed, I use two medium-sized ollas
In a 6-foot bed, I use three medium-sized ollas

You can find the ones I use here: GrowOya

Side-by-side images: left, a small terracotta pot partially buried in soil; right, water from a hose nozzle flows into the buried pot, offering smart gardening tips for watering in small spaces or an elevated garden bed.

Once buried, only the neck of the olla is visible. I keep an eye on the water level, when it drops, the surrounding soil may be dry and need more water. If the olla stays full, the surrounding soil is probably still moist.

This method not only conserves water but also encourages deeper root growth and healthier plants.

What to Plant in Elevated Beds (and Why It Matters)

Maximize the space in elevated beds by choosing dwarf or compact varieties of your favorite crops. These varieties are easier to manage in smaller spaces and still provide abundant harvests. Follow the Square Foot Spacing Guidelines to make the most of every inch.

Plant a mix of vegetables, herbs, and flowers to support pollination and build a small ecosystem that welcomes beneficial insects. This diversity helps with pest control, increases biodiversity, and creates a more productive, resilient garden.

Three side-by-side photos show young herb and vegetable seedlings—Roma tomato, dwarf zinnia, and basil—each labeled with small signs, being planted in rich soil in an elevated garden bed. Perfect for gardening tips or maximizing small spaces.

Try pairing:

Compact vegetables (like bush beans or patio tomatoes)
Upright or columnar herbs (such as ‘Emerald Towers’ basil or parsley)
Flowers (like dwarf zinnias or calendula)

For more ideas, check out my lists of favorite warm-season companion plants and cool-season companion plants.

Placement and Microclimate Tips

Elevated beds perform best when they’re matched to the season and microclimate of your space. In cooler months, place the bed in full sun to take advantage of every bit of warmth and light. This helps soil stay warmer and supports faster growth of cool-season crops.

In the summer, it’s a different story. Elevated beds heat up quickly, so it’s best to position them where they’ll receive morning sun and afternoon shade—enough light for healthy growth without the stress of peak heat.

A person tends to a small jalapeño plant growing in rich soil in a metal container, perfect for small spaces. A handwritten sign labeled Jalapeño is placed next to the plant, with green foliage visible in the background.

If you’re gardening in a hot climate, avoid placing beds next to block walls or concrete surfaces that reflect and radiate heat. Beds with casters are ideal—move them throughout the year to chase the sun in winter and escape the heat in summer.