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National Agricultural Library
U.S. Department of Agriculture
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  3. Raised Beds & Container Gardening

Raised Beds & Container Gardening

Raised beds and container gardens refer to improved areas of soil elevated above ground level where plants can grow.  Container gardens should include access to sunlight and growing media such as water, potting soil and/or fertilizer.  On this page, find information on both from USDA and extension services.

Learn the Basics from Extension

Getting Started

To get started planting in a container garden [ncsu.edu], begin with a careful touch.  Identify a space with access to sunlight, select planting containers, and choose a growing media.  Then, plant, maintain and enjoy your garden.

Creating a Container Garden

There are a plethora of choices for planting unique container gardens. Gardeners can be creative with combinations of large and small plants including vertical gardens, planters, or containers for any space.

Learn everything you’ll need to create Successful Container Gardens [illinois.edu] and harvest your bounty before you know it!

Building Raised Beds for Vegetable Gardening

Raised beds are improved areas of soil elevated above ground level and often contained with boards or other rigid materials. They are often used in areas where poor soil exists. Learn how to build various types of raised bed vegetable gardens [umd.edu]  including information about the safety of materials used [umd.edu].



Raised Bed Gardening [cdc.gov; PDF, 1 p.] lists step-by-step building instructions and describes some benefits of this gardening technique.

Raised Beds and Sparce Planting

  • Title: Reproduction of print showing Raised Beds and Sparce Planting
  • Notes:
    • Photograph of a woodcut in John Hill, The Gardeners Labyrinth, 1577.
    • Possibly photographed by Frances Benjamin Johnston.
  • Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540
  • Date Created/Published: [between 1915 and 1925]
  • Medium: 1 photograph : glass lantern slide, b&w ; 3.25 x 4 in.

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