4×12 Raised Bed Planting Guide

Everything you can grow in 48 square feet — with plant counts, spacing, and companion planting combinations.

Square Feet

108

Plants That Fit

Great Pairings

🪴

Plan your 4×12 bed interactively

Drag plants onto a canvas, check companion pairings, and see spacing footprints in real time →

Build your 4×12 raised bed

Everything you need to get started.

🪵 Raised Bed Kit 🌍 Garden Soil Mix 🕸️ Bed Liner 🛠️ Garden Tools

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

🥦 Vegetables for a 4×12 Bed

Radish

36 per sq ft

2" apart

Carrot

16 per sq ft

3" apart

Pea

16 per sq ft

3" apart

Pole Pea

16 per sq ft

3" apart

Snap Pea

16 per sq ft

3" apart

Snow Pea

16 per sq ft

3" apart

Beet

9 per sq ft

4" apart

Common Bean

9 per sq ft

4" apart

Green Bean

9 per sq ft

4" apart

Onion

9 per sq ft

4" apart

Mâche

9 per sq ft

4" apart

Watermelon Radish

9 per sq ft

4" apart

Arugula

4 per sq ft

6" apart

Bok Choy

4 per sq ft

6" apart

Garlic

4 per sq ft

6" apart

Kohlrabi

4 per sq ft

6" apart

Lima Bean

4 per sq ft

6" apart

Spinach

4 per sq ft

6" apart

Edamame

4 per sq ft

6" apart

Fava Bean

4 per sq ft

6" apart

Mizuna

4 per sq ft

6" apart

Broccoli Raab

4 per sq ft

6" apart

Rutabaga

108+ plants

8" apart

Swiss Chard

108+ plants

8" apart

Radicchio

69 plants

10" apart

Endive

48 plants

12" apart

Potato

48 plants

12" apart

Sweet Corn

48 plants

12" apart

Sweet Potato

48 plants

12" apart

Sorrel

48 plants

12" apart

Popcorn

48 plants

12" apart

Bell Pepper

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Broccoli

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Cabbage

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Cauliflower

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Cayenne Pepper

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Collard Green

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Habanero Pepper

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Jalapeño Pepper

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Kale

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Poblano Pepper

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Serrano Pepper

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Shishito Pepper

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Banana Pepper

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Napa Cabbage

21 plants

1.5 ft apart

Cherry Tomato

12 plants

2 ft apart

Eggplant

12 plants

2 ft apart

Grape Tomato

12 plants

2 ft apart

Roma Tomato

12 plants

2 ft apart

Tomato

12 plants

2 ft apart

Tomatillo

12 plants

2 ft apart

Heirloom Tomato

7 plants

2.5 ft apart

Beefsteak Tomato

5 plants

3 ft apart

Cucumber

5 plants

3 ft apart

Zucchini

5 plants

3 ft apart

Acorn Squash

3 plants

4 ft apart

Cantaloupe

3 plants

4 ft apart

Spaghetti Squash

3 plants

4 ft apart

Squash

3 plants

4 ft apart

🤝 Great Companion Combinations

These plant pairs grow better together — plant them side by side in your 4×12 bed.

Radish

36 per sq ft

Pea

16 per sq ft

Radish

36 per sq ft

Cucumber

5 plants

Carrot

16 per sq ft

Onion

9 per sq ft

Carrot

16 per sq ft

Tomato

12 plants

Carrot

16 per sq ft

Rosemary

12 plants

Beet

9 per sq ft

Onion

9 per sq ft

Find Your Local Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see when to plant each of these in your area.

Try:

Frequently Asked Questions

How many plants can I fit in a 4×12 raised bed? +

A 4×12 raised bed gives you 48 square feet of growing space. Using square-foot gardening, you can fit up to 1728 small plants like lettuce or carrots, or grow 3 to 1728 plants total depending on what you choose.

What vegetables grow best in a 4×12 raised bed? +

Great choices for a 48 sq ft raised bed include lettuce, carrots, beets, kale, herbs, and peppers. With 48 sq ft you also have room for tomatoes and squash.

How deep should a 4×12 raised bed be? +

Most vegetables thrive with 12 inches of soil depth. For root vegetables like carrots and parsnips, aim for 18–24 inches. A depth of 6 inches works for lettuce, herbs, and shallow-rooted crops.

What soil should I use in a raised bed? +

Fill your raised bed with a mix of 60% topsoil, 30% compost, and 10% perlite or coarse sand for drainage. Avoid using regular garden soil — it compacts in raised beds and restricts root growth.

Should I use companion planting in my raised bed? +

Yes — companion planting in a raised bed maximizes space and naturally deters pests. Classic combinations include tomatoes with basil and marigolds, beans with carrots, and lettuce with radishes.

Other Raised Bed Sizes

2×4 Bed (8 sq ft) 4×4 Bed (16 sq ft) 4×8 Bed (32 sq ft) 8×8 Bed (64 sq ft) 8×12 Bed (96 sq ft) All bed sizes →

About the 4×12 Raised Bed

A 4×12 raised bed offers 48 square feet of productive growing space — and because it's only 4 feet wide, you can reach the center from either side without stepping in. Using the square-foot gardening method, you can grow 108+ different plants, from quick crops like lettuce and radishes to full-season staples like peppers and tomatoes.

Fill it with a blend of topsoil, compost, and perlite for the best drainage and fertility. Most vegetables do best with at least 12 inches of soil depth — go deeper if you plan to grow carrots, parsnips, or other root vegetables.

Use the search above to find exact planting dates for your location, or browse individual plant guides to learn more about spacing, watering, and seed saving.

4×12 Raised Bed Planting Guide

🥦 Vegetables for a 4×12 Bed

🌿 Herbs for a 4×12 Bed

🌸 Flowers for a 4×12 Bed

🤝 Great Companion Combinations

Find Your Local Planting Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Raised Bed Sizes

About the 4×12 Raised Bed