OK gardeners, it’s time to plan my 2026 garden layout! 🌱
This year I’ll be walking you through how I’m using my five raised beds and which plants will be growing in grow bags. My raised beds are inside a fenced-in area, but because space is limited, most of my grow bags will be placed outside the fence. Honestly, it’s the only way to make everything fit without overcrowding. Raised beds are a great option for home gardeners because they improve drainage and soil control especially in smaller gardens.
So let’s get into it.
Raised Bed 1
Last year, my callaloo lived in Bed 5, but this season I’m moving it to Bed 1. Along with callaloo, this bed will also include:
- Cucumbers
- Scallions
- Lettuce
- Ground cherries
Ground cherries are a fun addition for me — I’m just trying something new and seeing how they do. I’ll also be adding flowers to this bed. The flowers I’ll be growing this year include marigolds, nasturtiums, and zinnias. Zinnias are new for me, but I love their bold colors, so I’m excited to see how they look in the garden.
Raised Bed 2
This bed isn’t changing much from last year. It will include:
- Watermelon
- Cantaloupe
- Carrots
- Kabocha squash
- Kidney beans
- Nautica beans
There is also an oregano plant in this bed that has been growing since last year, and I’ll be adding flowers here as well.
Raised Bed 3
This bed will be home to my tomatoes and peppers. I’m trying out some new tomato varieties this year, which is always exciting. I’ll also be planting:
- Bell peppers (no hot peppers in this bed this year)
- Basil
- Flowers
This bed is all about balance — productive plants with plenty of companion support.
Raised Bed 4
This bed will focus more on cooler-weather and perennial-type plants. It will include:
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
I attempted to grow broccoli in the fall, but it didn’t work out, so I’m giving it another try this season. This bed will also contain:
- Onions
- Rosemary (from last year)
- Chamomile
- Thyme
- Mullein
And of course, flowers will be planted here too.
Raised Bed 5
In my final raised bed, I’ll be growing:
- Collards
- Spinach
- Sorrel
- Strawberry plants
This bed will also get a few flowers mixed in to help attract pollinators and keep things lively.
Grow Bags
Because I don’t have enough space inside the fenced area, grow bags are a must this year. Honestly, some of these plants are better off in grow bags anyway rather than taking up valuable raised bed space.
Here’s what I’ll be growing in grow bags:
- 10 five-gallon grow bags for hot peppers (about 10 varieties)
- 2 five-gallon grow bags for okra
- 3 ten-gallon grow bags for corn
- 5 ten-gallon grow bags for potatoes
- 2 ten-gallon grow bags for garlic, which was already planted in the fall
That’s what’s going down in my garden this year. It might seem like a lot, but with some planning (and flexibility), I’m hopeful I can make it all work. As always, garden layouts can change as the season goes on — and that’s part of the fun.
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