If you’re like most of us, you’re probably looking for ways to become more self-sufficient and limit your trips to the grocery store. Add supply chain issues to the equation and you’ll discover that raised planter boxes are the perfect way to have a garden and keep your hands and mind busy while doing something that’s incredibly healthy for you and your family. Plus, the act of growing your own food is incredibly empowering. But a fair warning here – it’s likely to become a lifelong passion. As an avid gardener, I can attest to the fact that gardening is a seriously addictive sport!
Growing and tending to a garden is a wonderful way to keep your kids engaged with your family while also playing in the dirt. What’s not to love about that? Gardening also teaches them valuable lessons about where their food comes from – knowledge that will last a lifetime. The raised beds featured here are unique as well as long-lasting, plus they work well, particularly if you have limited growing space.
To get your seeds started and pre-grown starts planted properly, a great potting bench and the proper garden tools can be back savers that will support your efforts to grow abundant produce at home.
One of the difficult things about working with raised garden boxes is that many are one big size with no dividers or ways to separate different plantings. That’s why we love this Vegepod. It features four separate channels that allow for keeping your herbs from mixing and give you plenty of space for other plantings. Another serious highlight, however, is the fold-down top made of garden cloth. In our experience, this clever topper keeps bugs and other garden pests at bay – a key if you’ve ever had your cruciferous veggies decimated by whiteflies in the past.
The Vegepod has the coolest self-watering system. It utilizes a wicking system where the soil draws the water upwards keeping it moist. Established plants can last weeks without watering and in cooler times your plants may not require water for months at a time. That means you’ll get greater yields with less work. Bonus.
This big pod is 78.7 by 39.4 inches. If you want to raise it up off the ground, you’ll need the metal risers, although you certainly could make risers of your own if you’re handy. The Vegepod comes in small, medium and large sizes.
Even if you don’t have a ton of space, you can raise a ton of veggies with these clever U-shaped raised garden boxes. Made of premium pine boards that are rot and pest resistant, this particular configuration measures 8 by 8 feet and is 10.5 inches tall. That means less back strain, and the U-shape allows you to tend your garden easily from all sides.
The height of these boxes feature makes it less likely that rabbits and squirrels will get in and munch on your crops before you do. The pine is untreated and organic – aka. safe. The quality construction is also noteworthy as these raised garden beds use dovetail interlocking joints, which makes assembly super simple for any homeowner. Each board slides into the corner posts without tools to form a secure open-bottom garden frame. Every corner post is routed on all four sides for ease of assembly and expansion.
You can get an even larger configuration that’s 8 by 12 feet if you happen to have the yard space. Simply set them up in the sunniest southern exposure in the yard, and if you’re worried about bird predation, snag some garden cloth to make raised toppers for your boxes. The beauty of the Greens system is that you can easily stack and expand as you wish.
If you don’t have a lot of space, but you have a sunny patio, you can grow all kinds of plants in this beautiful Foreman raised planter box. Waterproof and rot resistant, this big box measures in at 48 inches long by 24 inches wide, and it stands 30 inches tall, saving strain on your back. The wood grain plastic and anodized aluminum frame will give you years of service.
This planter is seriously easy to assemble and allows you to plant lots of things at quick to pick height. From lettuces and herbs to tomatoes and squash, it’s a great addition to your patio. Get it in a variety of sizes and different wood grain looks. We love the locking caster wheels that allow you to easily move your planter into whatever area happens to get the most sun at any given time, or out of the way if you happen to have guests on the patio, meaning your garden is both mobile and flexible.
Whether growing flowers or food spark your outdoor imagination (by the way, many flowers are edible too!) this pair of vertical raised planter boxes give you enough space to do both. You won’t need any tools to assemble the four-foot tall metal frames, and each 22-inch planter box is made of food-safe polypropylene. Want a larger solution? Get these six-foot-tall vertical planters instead.
Once assembled, they have a cascading drainage system that allows water to flow down from the top planter to the next, meaning you’ll waste less water during times when it’s scarce. Consider these the perfect solution for veggies and fruits that like to drape such as strawberry plants and zucchini. Plant those larger growing veggies like squash and cukes at the bottom in a place where there is ample room for them to cascade around the base.
This planter maximizes grow space, perfect for hungry families. If you’re looking for the perfect gift to give to help an older person get growing in their backyard, the VegTrug planter has enough room to grow up to 30 salads and vegetables at any time on a patio, or in their garden with this sturdy space-saving growing solution. It features a unique V-shape design that maximizes the growing area without using so much soil. In the 16.5 inch center of this raised planter, you can grow deep-rooted veggies like carrots, tomatoes, and beets, while reserving the outer edges for things like lettuces and herbs.
The V-design makes this an ideal garden space for anyone who is elderly and using a walker or is wheelchair-bound as it allows for legroom under the angled box. The wood is treated with a food-safe preservative to ensure a long life and many years of enjoyable gardening. The six sturdy legs mean this planter is stable, and each features a foot to keep ground rot from creeping up the legs.
Raised planter boxes come in many styles to allow for more or less growing room depending on your giftee’s space availability.
If you’re looking to maximize the number of seeds you can plant when you’re faced with a limited amount of space, the YardCraft vertical planter might be the right solution to your gardening desires. This raised planter features seven levels of available planting space in a shape that’s unique to maximize sun exposure on every surface.
This big planter is also an ideal way to create a natural barrier or focal point in your yard, and would be beautiful whether it’s loaded with flowers or vegetables, and imagine how prolific it might be if planted with strawberries early in the spring? Made of naturally rot and pest-resistant heavy duty natural cedar, this beauty is 48 inches tall by 16 inches deep and 27 inches wide , so you’ll want to plan a proper location for it.
This single planter provides seven tiers (six on each side plus a top tier) to give you lots of space for all your summer favorites. Because this planter is free-standing, getting several at once would create an edible barrier around a patio or deck.
This solid wood raised garden planter is an awesome choice, especially if you opt to buy more than one at a time. They could easily line your porch or back patio with gorgeous greenery that tastes every bit as good as it looks. At four feet long and 23 inches wide, it provides plenty of space for multiple crops at the same time. One thing to consider is companion planting as not all plants prosper when near one another. (I once planted jalapenos next to bell peppers and they all were hot!) Great Garden Companions is a wonderful guide book if you’re new to the gardening game.
Back to the attributes of this planter, we love the ornamental finials on the corner posts, and the fact that this box features a bed liner means your raised planter will last for many seasons to come. It’s easy to assemble and has drainage holes in the bottom of the planter to help ensure you don’t overwater your plants.
One way to dramatically increase space as well as yield is to grow things at different levels, which is why we love this three tiered raised planter box. It allows you to plant taller growing items in the top planter bed and graduate by height the rest of your crops. Go for taller veggies like peppers and tomatoes on the top, followed by beans and peas in the middle and low growth lettuces and herbs in the bottom.
Made from 100% solid fir wood construction, these raised garden boxes measure 4 by 4 feet in total space. If you’re wondering why gardening is such a popular avocation, even when you don’t need to reduce your time in public places, this blog lays out a dozen reasons why gardening is great for your mental as well as physical health.
Are you looking for raised planter boxes that will last, but also don’t limit your creativity or allow you to change things to best meet your needs? This group of four planters can be configured in so many different ways from L-shape long and narrow to a large square and be unlocked for reconfiguration on a whim.
Made from long-lasting lightweight plastic, these rattan lookalikes will stay rust and rot free. They each feature self-watering disks and drainage out the bottom. Each box is 15.35 x 14.96 inches in size and stands approximately 15 inches tall. They come with decorative finials for the corners to give them a high end look.
While we’ve featured a four-box configuration, you can get them in singles up to sets of six.
If you’re trying to grow a small veggie garden on a deck or balcony, you’ll need to follow the sun to get enough exposure for your plants. That’s what makes this one of the best raised planter boxes for your particular needs. The biggest asset is the wheels that allow you to easily move the planter into a sunny space several times a day with ease.
Naturally, the solid fir wood construction is a plus, and at four by 2 feet, you’ll get lots of space that can grow more than you might have imagined. Because of the locking wheels, it stands at 32 inches high, which is a huge bonus for those who have low back issues. Perfect picking height. Additionally, since you’re a small space gardener, this box has a slatted lower shelf that makes for easy storage of your gardening tools, bucket, and more.
One of the challenges of growing produce in raised planter boxes is knowing the proper spacing between plants. This particular planter alleviates that worry because it includes a growing grid that evenly divides the box into 12 separate spaces. This means that you’ll get a better yield from what you plant as everything has ample room to grow.
The four foot square stands 11 inches tall, allowing for plenty of soil space for larger plants like cabbages and zucchini. And if you’re worried about longevity, this planter is specially coated to prevent rotting, peeling, cracking and fading for the next 20 years. Made from sturdy PVC, it won’t warp even with lots of sunlight and water exposure. Better yet, you can connect them if you opt to buy more than one.
These planters are made of chocolate manmade rattan, and they’re easy to assemble. If you’re fearing that a wood garden box really doesn’t match your rattan patio decor, but you also want to find a way to be more self-sufficient, you don’t need to draw a line in the sand, because you can be well-coordinated and grow yummy stuff at the same time with these two tier raised planter boxes.
Each includes a water circulation system to maximize your water usage, and while our featured choice offers two tiers, you can get these planters in almost a limitless variety of sizes and configurations to fit whatever space you might have available.
This FOYUEE raised planter box is an ideal option for those with a small patio or balcony who still want to raise a few favorite veggies and flowers. At 40.5 inches in length, 15.5 inches wide and 31.5 inches high, it gives you plenty of planting space for at least a robust crop of greens plus a tomato and a zucchini plant.
The handle and wheels make this planter simple to maneuver into any sunny spot, and you’ll love the wire mesh storage rack underneath to keep garden tools and your watering can within easy reach. Keep in mind, however, that there are drainage holes in the planter to prevent root rot, so you won’t want to store anything on that shelf that can’t handle the occasional drip of water.
This planter is made of galvanized steel with an anti-rust dark gray finish. That means it can stand up to living out of doors for many years to come. In case this runs out of inventory, the TOOCA raised garden bed is a similar option that even offers a couple of tool hanging hooks on one end. Super convenient.
When you’re considering planter boxes for your porch or patio, you might want an option that can be easily backed up against a wall, like these freestanding planters. They feature large trellises in the back that make a perfect option for all your favorite climbing beans and peas, while being tall enough to even accommodate a couple of hanging pots.
Made of 100% natural, 350ºC-carbonized fir, this free-standing trellis and planter is stable and durable and resists water absorption into the wood directly while retaining it in the planter, which helps resist deformation and cracking. These planters have drainage holes at the bottom, making it easy to grow in either soil or pots and give your plants the needed ventilation to prosper.
This raised planter is an ideal solution for versatility, good looks, and pest control. At 24 by 48 inches, each planter features a zippered greenhouse cover that raises the height to 55 inches in total. This planter is portable and convenient, thanks to lockable caster wheels. You can easily move it nearer to a window and use it as an outdoor kitchen herb garden, or you can get serious with bigger plants like tomatoes.
Made of solid fir wood, the planter is rot-resistant and sturdy enough to last for years. It features a deep enough planting area to accommodate larger plants like tomatoes and more. The liner makes your garden virtually trouble-free and keeps you from overwatering as well. You’ll also appreciate the handy slatted storage shelf underneath the main planter.
The greenhouse cover is especially helpful when starting seeds and younger plants, and it’s also great to keep plants from unexpected frosts at night. You do need to be careful when using the greenhouse cover not to directly spray plants with water as the leaves can burn in the sun. The Greenhouse Gardener’s Manual can help guide you to the best results.
If you’re like many new gardeners, you might not realize that not all raised planters are created equal. While most are suitable for free-standing and trailing vegetables and flowers, few have the advantage of a trellis like this Eden planter box. That trellis means you can successfully raise climbing veggies like peas and beans, which require a structure to attach to for growing success.
This beautiful solid fir wood set up is big compared to many, at four feet by four feet, plus the four foot tall trellis, so you’ll want a fairly permanent area to place it. Make sure you select a spot with plenty of daytime sunshine since most veggies love that. This planter is also designed for ground anchoring to ensure stability. It’s easy to assemble so do feel free to brag once you have it set up.
One of the beauties of raised garden beds is the reduced strain on your low back. This oval metal raised garden from Best Choice Products is ideal for anyone who struggles with bending and stooping. At 32 inches tall, it hits at waist level or above for most folks, meaning planting and harvesting are a breeze.
This bed is 32.5 inches across and 63 inches long, so it offers a large area for planting lots of crops in a compact space. The fact that it’s so deep makes it ideal for root vegetables like beets and carrots which require deep soft soil to really prosper.
Made of powder-coated steel, this raised box is durable in all kinds of weather and a rubber lining around the top means you won’t be getting cut or scratched by the steel. This planter is also an ideal compost box for leaves and food scraps during the winter which can be added to your soil around the yard in spring. We love all things that do double duty!
Western red cedar boards make up this big beefy raised garden bed. At 8 by 4 feet, you’ll get beaucoup growing space for all sorts of plants from veggies and fruits to flowers. It accommodates up to eleven inches of dirt making it ideal even for more deep-rooted plants like tomatoes. You can also mound up soil inside for squashes and potatoes, plus it gives ample space for root veggies like carrots and beets.
Made with one inch thick premium quality deck boards, this planter has a seriously strong joint design that will never bow under the weight of wet soil, so you can count on using this garden box for many years to come. If you don’t need quite this much growing space, you can also get this box in a 4 by 4 foot size.
Have you looked at everything else on the list, but couldn’t find an option that’s right for your very small space? This may be a good solution. While not technically a box or a traditional bed, the Lettuce Grow FarmStand growing system allows you to grow 200+ delicious varieties of veggies, fruits, and herbs in these self-watering, self-fertilizing, hydroponic containers. These are especially ideal if you’re compromised on space as at 22 by 22 inches, they feature a small footprint that’s great for any sunny space, either indoors or out. This particular system grows up to 24 plants at a time, although you can get expansions that allow you to grow up to 36 plants at a time.
This kit includes the tower plus a pump and timer, ensuring your hydroponic system is delivering key nutrients to your starts. While they recommend you purchase starts directly from Lettuce Grow (as they are not currently available on Amazon,) they will ensure you get delivery of plants that are suited to your climate and region so you have optimal growing success.
As an owner of this particular raised garden, I can tell you it’s an absolute delight. While I use mine indoors in the winter with grow lights, I’ll be moving mine outdoors very soon. Unlike most raised growing options, there are few that offer the versatility of year-round growing like this one.
This urban-friendly look would be perfect for someone living in a modern industrial loft. If you never envisioned yourself as an urban gardener, but now you’re thinking more about self-sustainability, this galvanized raised garden box is a perfect fit for your industrial decor. At six by three feet in size, this planter stands a little over a foot tall. It sits on the ground (or your patio) so if you want to keep things clean, you might want to consider getting something to line this box with.
Made of stable, thickened galvanized metal that’s strengthened with a crossbar in the center, this planter box features a rust-resistant coating that will keep it looking good for many years to come. If you like the metal look, but you’d prefer something a bit more finished, you might like this metal option from Best Choice Products in dark gray. Note, it is somewhat smaller in size, however.
If you’re looking for even more space, this four-foot by eight-foot galvanized planter box is a great option.
If you’re not looking for a lot of planting space, but you want something quaint and cute for herbs and perhaps a small squash or tomato plant, this painted metal raised planter box is a real cutie. Solid and reinforced steel construction ensures both stableness and solidness. You can count on it never rotting or warping and it comes with drain holes already placed in the bottom to avoid overwatering.
At 13 by 25 inches, it stands 31.5 inches tall. You could easily add caster wheels which would make it easy to move around into the sunniest spots. This same planter comes in an 18 inch high version that would be a great starter idea for a child who wants to help you in the garden as it’s just the right height and the planting space wouldn’t be overwhelming. If you want to get them a step by step guide for success, consider getting them Easy Peasy: Gardening for Kids.
Discover the best raised planter boxes that can help you grow an abundance of fresh produce this summer, and keep your hands and mind busy while you're safe in your own backyard.
