Growing Tomatoes in Raised Beds

Since 2010, Tomato Dirt has garnered 4.6+ million views, making it the web’s leading online source for growing tomatoes in the home garden. Award-winning writer and Tomato Dirt owner Kathy Widenhouse has helped thousands of home gardeners grow healthier tomatoes. Be one of them when you get Tomato Dirt’s Growing Guide here.

Updated 3.21.24

Growing tomatoes in raised beds is one of the easiest and practical approaches to gardening.

You don’t need to be a master builder or even handy with tools in order to set up raised beds, either.

Reliable vendors can help provide affordable components, simple set up instructions, and know-how, including Burpee, and Gardener's Supply.

Advantages of growing tomatoes in raised beds

Drainage. Beds are set higher. Water drains out more easily.

Yield. In a raised bed, you can grow your plants closer together, producing more tomatoes for your space.

Convenience. Higher beds mean you don’t have to bend over as much to work the soil. You can even build elevated beds that make it easy to work on beds if you find it especially difficult to lean over.

Soil quality. Adding compost, top soil, and fertilizers to the garden bed (not the paths) mean a nutrient-rich home for your tomatoes. This saves resources and concentrates them where they will be best used. You’ll also walk on paths between beds and prevent garden soil from becoming compacted.

Plant health. If a fungus or other disease overtakes your tomatoes, you can replace the soil in the following year – a step that would be impractical and cost-prohibitive in a regular garden.

Pest prevention. Slugs find it harder to infest tomato plants grown in raised beds.

Neatness. Raised beds are contained areas which are easy to maintain.

(These Frequently Asked Questions about raised beds may help, too.)

How to get started with tomatoes in raised beds

5 gardening tips for growing tomatoes in raised beds with Tomato Dirt. #GardeningTips #TomatoGrowingTips #GrowingTomatoes

1. Select the best spot

The best raised bed sites for tomatoes are level, well-draining, and close to a water source. Choose a spot that receives at least eight hours of direct sun daily.

2. Prepare the soil

Create an outline of your raised bed with string, garden hose, or even flour. Measure the area. Then work the soil. Tomatoes are deep drinkers. Roots of plants in a raised bed will need to penetrate the soil below. Most vegetables grow beautifully in 12-inch deep beds, but deeper is better with tomatoes. Prepare the site by removing sod. Use a tiller, spade, or pitchfork to turn and loosen the soil at least 12 inches deep.

3. Choose an edging material

Select an edging material that is long-lasting so you can grow tomatoes year after year. Chose from all kinds of edging materials. (See this quick tutorial on the four main kinds of materials used to make raised beds: plastic, recycled composite, galvanized steel, and wood.)

Make sure you can reach the center of the bed from either side – usually no more than 4 feet wide. This way you will be able to reach in and cultivate the plants easily. One common mistake is to build raised beds too closely together. When paths are too narrow, then when plants grow in, there is no place to walk! If you’re building more than one bed, set them far enough part enough to get your wheelbarrow through (usually 30 inches, but measure your wheelbarrow to make sure!)

4. Fill the beds

After you install the edging material, line the bottom of the raised bed with chicken wire or hardware cloth to keep out gophers, moles, and other tunneling pests.

To determine the volume of soil needed to check your raised bed, measure its length, width, and height in feet and multiply those numbers together. The result will be the number of required cubic feet. Combine top soil and organic matter (shredded leaves, compost, well-rotted manure, kelp) in the raised bed. Use a spade to mix components well. Rake the surface smoothly.