How to Start a Vegetable Garden in a Garden Box

Some gardeners choose garden boxes to keep plants separate during growth.

Vegetable gardens are prized areas of many home properties and receive special planning, attention and care from their gardeners. To increase a yard's capacity or compensate for muddy land that drains slowly, many gardeners add raised beds and garden boxes to the yard. These free-standing planters may sit right on the ground or stand several feet tall, but they always offer separation from the natural soil to ensure good drainage and isolated growing. An enclosed situation like a garden box requires careful planning and execution during planting.

Things You'll Need

• Quick-draining soil
• Organic compost
• Fertilizer
• Stakes/vegetable cages

Instructions

1. Start your garden at the right time in regard to season. Summer vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, beans, corn, broccoli, eggplants, onions, beets and potatoes require an early spring planting to give the seedlings time to establish for summer growing. Plant your seedlings one to two weeks after the last frost date in your area.

2. Plan your vegetable garden according to space in the box and the plants you want to grow. Large plants like tomatoes and peppers require up to 24 inches in the row, and may need 2 to 4 feet of total space for each plant. Plan one row of tall plants and surround it with smaller plants like carrots, beets and radishes, which require less space. Plant low bush plants like beans, broccoli and peas on the opposite side of the box from tall plants, to keep them out of the shade.

3. Fill the garden box 3/4 full with a mixture of half quick-draining soil and half organic compost, to give the vegetables efficient drainage and good nutrition. Mix a starter fertilizer into the top 2 inches of soil to further boost the nutrition.

4. Plant your seedlings according to your plan and according to individual depth requirements. Water the entire garden with 2 inches of water immediately after planting, and put veggie cages around vining plants like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, which will need support as they get taller.

References

• Oregon State University Extension Service: Growing Your Own Vegetables: Planting Dates and Guidelines
• University of Illinois Extension: Illinois Vegetable Garden Guide: Step 2: Plan Your Garden Layout
• University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Vegetable Gardening Basics
• Clean Air Gardening: Square Cedar Container Garden Planting Box

Resources

• Victory Seeds: Average First and Last Frost Dates by State