8×12 Raised Bed Planting Guide
Everything you can grow in 96 square feet — with plant counts, spacing, and companion planting combinations.
96
Square Feet
116
Plants That Fit
6
Great Pairings
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🥦 Vegetables for a 8×12 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
216+ plants
8" apart
Swiss Chard
216+ plants
8" apart
Radicchio
138+ plants
10" apart
Endive
96 plants
12" apart
Potato
96 plants
12" apart
Sweet Corn
96 plants
12" apart
Sweet Potato
96 plants
12" apart
Sorrel
96 plants
12" apart
Popcorn
96 plants
12" apart
Bell Pepper
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Broccoli
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Cabbage
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Cauliflower
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Cayenne Pepper
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Collard Green
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Habanero Pepper
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Jalapeño Pepper
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Kale
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Poblano Pepper
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Serrano Pepper
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Shishito Pepper
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Banana Pepper
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Napa Cabbage
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Cherry Tomato
24 plants
2 ft apart
Eggplant
24 plants
2 ft apart
Grape Tomato
24 plants
2 ft apart
Roma Tomato
24 plants
2 ft apart
Tomato
24 plants
2 ft apart
Tomatillo
24 plants
2 ft apart
Heirloom Tomato
15 plants
2.5 ft apart
Beefsteak Tomato
10 plants
3 ft apart
Cucumber
10 plants
3 ft apart
Zucchini
10 plants
3 ft apart
Acorn Squash
6 plants
4 ft apart
Cantaloupe
6 plants
4 ft apart
Spaghetti Squash
6 plants
4 ft apart
Squash
6 plants
4 ft apart
Butternut Squash
3 plants
5 ft apart
Honeydew Melon
3 plants
5 ft apart
Pumpkin
3 plants
5 ft apart
Watermelon
2 plants
6 ft apart
🌿 Herbs for a 8×12 Bed
Chives
4 per sq ft
6" apart
Cilantro
4 per sq ft
6" apart
Chervil
170+ plants
9" apart
Basil
96 plants
12" apart
Dill
96 plants
12" apart
Marjoram
96 plants
12" apart
Oregano
96 plants
12" apart
Parsley
96 plants
12" apart
Thyme
96 plants
12" apart
Anise
96 plants
12" apart
Summer Savory
96 plants
12" apart
Lemon Balm
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Mint
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Borage
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Ginger
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Stevia
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Catnip
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Bee Balm
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Lavender
24 plants
2 ft apart
Rosemary
24 plants
2 ft apart
Sage
24 plants
2 ft apart
Lemongrass
24 plants
2 ft apart
Valerian
24 plants
2 ft apart
Lemon Verbena
24 plants
2 ft apart
Lovage
24 plants
2 ft apart
🌸 Flowers for a 8×12 Bed
Sweet Pea
4 per sq ft
6" apart
Sweet Alyssum
4 per sq ft
6" apart
Pansy
216+ plants
8" apart
Impatiens
216+ plants
8" apart
Larkspur
170+ plants
9" apart
Bachelor Button
170+ plants
9" apart
Celosia
170+ plants
9" apart
Marigold
96 plants
12" apart
Zinnia
96 plants
12" apart
Nasturtium
96 plants
12" apart
Petunia
96 plants
12" apart
Snapdragon
96 plants
12" apart
Morning Glory
96 plants
12" apart
Columbine
96 plants
12" apart
Salvia (Annual)
96 plants
12" apart
Verbena
96 plants
12" apart
Sunflower
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Cosmos
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Echinacea (Coneflower)
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Black-eyed Susan
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Dahlia
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Hollyhock
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
Lupine
42 plants
1.5 ft apart
🤝 Great Companion Combinations
These plant pairs grow better together — plant them side by side in your 8×12 bed.
Find Your Local Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see when to plant each of these in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many plants can I fit in a 8×12 raised bed? +
A 8×12 raised bed gives you 96 square feet of growing space. Using square-foot gardening, you can fit up to 3456 small plants like lettuce or carrots, or grow 1 to 3456 plants total depending on what you choose.
What vegetables grow best in a 8×12 raised bed? +
Great choices for a 96 sq ft raised bed include lettuce, carrots, beets, kale, herbs, and peppers. With 96 sq ft you also have room for tomatoes and squash.
How deep should a 8×12 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
About the 8×12 Raised Bed
A 8×12 raised bed offers 96 square feet of productive growing space. Using the square-foot gardening method, you can grow 116+ 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.