How I Started My First Raised Garden Bed (And You Can Too)

Starting a garden has been on my heart for a while now. I’ve always loved the idea of growing my own food—fresh herbs for cooking, homegrown veggies, maybe even a few strawberries for smoothies. And while I do have a big backyard, I decided to start small and intentional with a raised garden bed right on my deck.

Why? Because I wanted something simple, manageable, and close to the kitchen. I’m sharing exactly how I got started, what I planted, and a few tips I picked up along the way as a first-time gardener.

Why I Chose a Raised Garden Bed

Long story short, I wasn’t ready to commit to something that was high-maintenance. A raised garden bed on the deck felt like the perfect entry point: easy access, full sun, and much less overwhelming than digging up grass or building rows in the yard.

Plus, I liked the idea of seeing my garden every day—checking on it while I sip tea or water the plants before starting my workday.

Step 1: Planning & Research

As a complete beginner, I started with some research. I wanted to know what grows best in containers, which plants thrive in full sun, and how to set up a raised bed without overcomplicating things.

Beginner garden tips that helped me the most:

• Pick what you’ll actually eat. No shade to kale, but I focused on herbs and veggies I use all the time.
• Start small and build confidence. It’s better to grow a few things well than try to manage too much at once.
• Learn your light. My deck gets full sun for most of the day, which was perfect for the plants I had in mind.

Step 2: Lowe’s Garden Center Run

The fun part? Shopping for my garden setup! I ordered a raised garden bed online then went to Lowe’s to pick up a few bags of high-quality organic soil and a mix of starter plants. I spent so much time browsing, reading plant tags, and searching things like “how to grow zucchini in a raised bed” on my phone to make the best choices possible.

Here’s what I planted in my raised garden bed:

• 🌿 Parsley, rosemary, thyme, basil, and romaine lettuce
• 🌶️ Scotch bonnet peppers
• 🫑 Bell peppers
• 🥒 Zucchini and cucumber
• 🍅 Tomatoes
• 🧅 Onions
• 🍓 Strawberries

As a bonus, I even grabbed a lemon tree to get started with as well. I loved being able to choose a mix of herbs, fruits, and veggies that felt exciting but still doable.

Step 3: Setting Up the Garden Bed

Once I brought everything home, I set up the raised garden bed on my back deck, filled it with soil, and mapped out where everything would go. I was surprisingly proud of how it came together—and honestly, getting my hands in the dirt felt like a reset.

I made sure to:

• Group herbs together for easier harvesting
• Give the big growers (like zucchini and tomato) space to stretch out
• Water every morning before the sun got too hot
• Label everything so I could keep track of what was where

What I’ve Learned So Far

This little garden has already taught me so much—and we’re just getting started! Some lessons I’ve picked up as a first-time gardener:

• You don’t need to go big to grow your own food. A single raised bed can hold a lot.
• It’s okay to Google everything. I’m constantly researching—how deep to plant onions, when to prune basil, whether cucumbers need a trellis.
• Things take time. Watching seeds sprout or fruit form is such a reminder to slow down and trust the process.

Final Thoughts: Small Garden, Big Joy

I’m glad I started small with my garden. This raised bed is manageable, beautiful, and already producing herbs I can cook with daily. If you’re thinking about starting a garden—whether you’re working with a small deck or a whole backyard—don’t be afraid to start where you are.

The best part? You get to grow something with your own hands and bring a little more freshness into your home and kitchen.

Thinking of starting your own garden? Let me know in the comments or shoot me a message on Instagram—I’d love to hear what you’re growing!