Caption
M. Spalding’s real raised-bed garden—four cedar boxes bursting with organic produce.
A simple, productive raised-bed layout perfect for first-time gardeners.
The Raised Bed Vegetable Garden Plot Plan (4×8 Layout) is perfect for beginners who want a productive, manageable garden with multiple crop types. With just four 4×8 raised beds, you can grow greens, roots, herbs, flowers, and warm-season vegetables efficiently—without needing a large yard or years of experience.
This plan is part of our Garden Plan Collection, a free library of tested garden layouts designed to help beginner gardeners grow confidently.
For this plan, you’ll find:
- A complete raised-bed layout for four 4×8 beds
- A beginner-friendly plant list with spacing, sowing, and harvest guidance
- Step-by-step setup instructions for soil, watering, and maintenance
- A real gardener’s experience using this exact layout
This design emphasizes healthy soil, companion planting, and smart timing, making it simple to grow a bountiful harvest and enjoy fresh, homegrown produce all season.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Garden Type: | Raised Bed Vegetable (4 beds) |
| Difficuty Level | Beginner |
| Hardiness Zones: | 4–8 |
| Sun Exposure: | Full Sun |
| Seasonality: | Spring through Fall |
| Soil Type: | Rich, well-draining raised bed mix |
| Watering Needs: | Regular, consistent moisture |
| Special Features: | 100% organic, companion-planted, pollinator-friendly |
| Garden Size: | Four 4x8-ft cedar beds |
| Fun Fact | This garden fed a family all summer with almost no pest issues! |
The Garden Plot Plan
Raised beds make gardening easier: fewer weeds, better drainage, warmer soil, and tidy organization—all ideal for beginners.
This sample layout (created in the Almanac Garden Planner,) includes:
- Four raised beds mixing greens, roots, herbs, and flowers
- One warm-season tomato bed
- Built-in companion plant pairings
- A variety of crops for steady harvests from spring through fall
The Plant List
See growing guides for every plant here: Almanac Vegetable Growing Guides.
| Plant Name | Spacings | Quantity | Sow Indoors | Sow/Plant Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asparagus | Single: 1’ 6”, In-Row: 1’ 6”, 1’ 6” row gap | 2 | February → end of March | April → mid May |
| Basil | Single: 8”, In-Row: 6”, 10” row gap | 4 | Mid April → end of May | Mid May → end of June |
| Beans (Bush Snap) | Single: 10”, In-Row: 6”, 1’ 2” row gap | 4 | May → mid May | Mid May → mid June |
| Calendula | SFG: 4 plants/sqft | 4 | March → mid May | May → end of June |
| Carrot | Single: 4”, In-Row: 4”, 6” row gap | 24 | — | Mid April → end of June |
| Chives | Single: 8”, In-Row: 6”, 10” row gap | 1 | Mid February → end of April | Mid April → end of June |
| Cucumber | Single: 2’ 0”, In-Row: 2’ 0”, 2’ 0” row gap | 1 | May → mid May | Mid May → mid June |
| Dill | Single: 8”, In-Row: 6”, 10” row gap | 4 | May → mid May | Mid May → end of June |
| Marigold | Single: 8”, In-Row: 8”, 8” row gap | 6 | Mid March → mid May | Mid May → end of June |
| Nasturtium | Single: 1’ 0”, In-Row: 1’ 0”, 1’ 0” row gap; SFG: 4/sqft | 5 | Mid April → mid May | Mid May → end of May |
| Onions (Green) | Single: 4”, In-Row: 4”, 4” row gap | 12 | February → mid April | April → end of June |
| Parsley | Single: 6”, In-Row: 4”, 10” row gap | 8 | April → mid May | Mid May → end of June |
| Parsnip | Single: 8”, In-Row: 8”, 1’ 0” row gap | 3 | — | Mid April → mid June |
| Pepper | Single: 1’ 2”, In-Row: 1’ 0”, 1’ 4” row gap | 2 | Mid March → mid May | Mid May → end of June |
| Potatoes (Early) | SFG: 1 plant/sqft | 2 | — | Mid April → end of May |
| Radish | Single: 4”, In-Row: 4”, 8” row gap | 12 | — | Mid April → mid October |
| Spinach | Single: 8”, In-Row: 6”, 1’ 0” row gap | 8 | — | April → end of September |
| Squash (Winter) | Single: 2’ 11”, In-Row: 2’ 11”, 2’ 11” row gap | 1 | May → mid May | Mid May → end of June |
| Tomato (Large) | Single: 1’ 8”, In-Row: 1’ 6”, 2’ 0” row gap | 2 | Mid March → mid May | Mid May → end of June |
| Tomato (Small) | Single: 1’ 8”, In-Row: 1’ 6”, 2’ 0” row gap | 3 | Mid March → mid May | Mid May → end of June |
| Zucchini | Single: 2’ 0”, In-Row: 2’ 0”, 2’ 0” row gap | 1 | May → mid May | Mid May |
How to Create Your Garden
Use the Almanac Garden Planner to recreate or customize this design.
- Soil Prep: Fill beds with a mixture of compost, peat/coco coir, and vermiculite or topsoil.. Try the Soil Calculator if you’re starting out fresh.
- Timing: Cool-season crops go in early; warm crops like tomatoes and zucchini should wait until after frost danger.
- Companion Planting: Mix herbs, flowers, and vegetables to attract pollinators and reduce pests naturally.
- Crop Rotation: Move beans, squash, and potatoes annually for healthier soil.
- Succession Planting: After early harvests, replant with fast growers like lettuce or radishes.
- Optional Greenhouse: Helps extend the season and start plants early, as well as turn up the heat for tomatoes, peppers, and other heat-loving veggies.
Learn more about raised bed gardening.
Gardener Spotlight: M. Spalding’s Experience
“This garden is for my family and me. My partner built the cedar-raised beds, and the bed where tomatoes grew was inside a greenhouse all summer. The lettuce was prolific, as were the mini cukes. We had lots of healthy bush beans all summer, next to the zucchini. The few carrots I transplanted were a little funny-looking, but they still tasted great! I planted nasturtium and dill with the asparagus, and that produced really well. We had used the companion planting feature for the first time and had almost no pests! Coincidence?”
— M. Spalding
Spalding’s experience shows what makes raised-bed gardening so beginner-friendly: even a simple layout can produce a steady stream of vegetables—all while keeping pests at bay.
“Every garden teaches you something new—sometimes it’s patience, sometimes it’s when to give up on broccoli.”
FAQs for Raised Bed Plan
Q: How big should each raised bed be?
A: 4x8 feet is ideal—no more than 4 feet wide to reach the center without stepping on the soil.
Q: Can I grow this garden without a greenhouse?
A: Absolutely. Start seedlings indoors near a sunny window or under grow lights.
Q: What’s the best soil mix for raised beds?
A: A blend of compost + peat/coco coir + vermiculite/topsoil gives you a loose, nutrient-rich foundation.
Q: How do I water efficiently?
A: Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses; mulch to retain moisture.
Q: Can I adjust the plants?
A: Yes! Swap based on your zone, taste preferences, or pest challenges—just keep spacing and companion relationships in mind.
More References
Wit & Wisdom
“Gardening is cheaper than therapy—and you get tomatoes.”
Companion planting isn’t new—Native American gardeners perfected it centuries ago with the “Three Sisters”: corn, beans, and squash.
Raised beds warm up faster in spring and stay tidier all season—and your knees will thank you.
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