Plastic, wood or metal boxes on stands about 28 to 32 inches (70 to 80 cm) high, some of them on wheels: a raised garden bed brings the soil up to you. Perfect for cherry tomato, radishes, lettuce and herbs — get the height right and you can garden standing, or even seated in a chair.
Inspired by professional horticulture tables, different sorts of “raised garden bed” concepts have appeared in horticulture stores in the past few years.
Whether made from plastic, wood or metal, these are garden boxes of various sizes that are set up on stands to reach a height of about 28 to 32 inches (70 to 80 cm). Some of them are adjustable.
With built-in drainage systems, water recovery tanks and wheels to make it easier to follow the sun, these are great for growing on balconies and decks, but they’re also very useful in the garden or on a terrace to avoid having to bend over. It thus is now possible to garden comfortably, either standing or even seated in a chair.
These are perfect for fast-growing plants that don’t sprawl over everywhere, such as cherry tomato, radishes, strawberries, lettuce, herbs and spices… And also the very fun mini-veggies that are appealing to children: beets, carrots, artichoke, beans…
The article describes several ways of gardening without stooping, from ready-made planters on legs to beds raised with planks. The table below sets them side by side so you can pick on height, setting and what you want to grow.
| Solution | Working height | Materials and setting | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raised garden bed on stands | About 28 to 32 inches (70 to 80 cm), some adjustable | Plastic, wood or metal boxes on stands, with built-in drainage, water recovery tanks and wheels | Fast-growing, compact crops: cherry tomato, radishes, strawberries, lettuce, herbs and spices, mini-veggies |
| Windowsill and balcony rail boxes | Existing sill or rail height | Garden boxes fixed to windowsills and balcony rails | Herbs and spices, always at hand |
| Pot arrangements on tables and tall, deep boxes | Table height | Pots and tall, deep garden boxes placed on tables | Plants with more important needs: small trees, olive trees, citrus, mini fruit trees |
| Elevated growing bed / square foot garden | Raised 24 to 32 inches (60 to 80 cm) | Wooden planks assembled into a gardening square and filled in with soil | Smaller gardens and poor soils; exactly the quantity of fruit and vegetables you need, with crop rotation |
Whichever you choose, the aim is the same: to garden comfortably, either standing or even seated in a chair.
Gardening without bending over
There are other solutions to garden while standing upright, or at the very least, to minimize bending down. Take advantage of your windowsills and balcony rails to set up garden boxes that will take in your herbs and spices, you’ll always have them at hand.
Place your pot arrangements on tables. Select tall, deep garden boxes to grow plants that have more important needs, such as small trees. Olive trees, citrus, mini fruit trees – a wide range of choices to harvest fruits without leaving your balcony!
In the garden, elevate your growing beds by 24 to 32 inches (60 to 80 cm) with wooden planks assembled into a gardening square, filled in with soil. Practice crop rotation to maximize space.
This square foot garden helps grow exactly the quantity of fruits and vegetables you need. It is ideal for smaller gardens and those for which the soil is too poor, since you can easily amend it an enrich it with compost.
