8×8 Raised Bed Planting Guide

Everything you can grow in 64 square feet — with plant counts, spacing, and companion planting combinations.

Square Feet

116

Plants That Fit

Great Pairings

🪴

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Everything you need to get started.

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🥦 Vegetables for a 8×8 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

144+ plants

8" apart

Swiss Chard

144+ plants

8" apart

Radicchio

92 plants

10" apart

Endive

64 plants

12" apart

Potato

64 plants

12" apart

Sweet Corn

64 plants

12" apart

Sweet Potato

64 plants

12" apart

Sorrel

64 plants

12" apart

Popcorn

64 plants

12" apart

Bell Pepper

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Broccoli

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Cabbage

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Cauliflower

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Cayenne Pepper

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Collard Green

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Habanero Pepper

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Jalapeño Pepper

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Kale

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Poblano Pepper

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Serrano Pepper

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Shishito Pepper

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Banana Pepper

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Napa Cabbage

28 plants

1.5 ft apart

Cherry Tomato

16 plants

2 ft apart

Eggplant

16 plants

2 ft apart

Grape Tomato

16 plants

2 ft apart

Roma Tomato

16 plants

2 ft apart

Tomato

16 plants

2 ft apart

Tomatillo

16 plants

2 ft apart

Heirloom Tomato

10 plants

2.5 ft apart

Beefsteak Tomato

7 plants

3 ft apart

Cucumber

7 plants

3 ft apart

Zucchini

7 plants

3 ft apart

Acorn Squash

4 plants

4 ft apart

Cantaloupe

4 plants

4 ft apart

Spaghetti Squash

4 plants

4 ft apart

Squash

4 plants

4 ft apart

Butternut Squash

2 plants

5 ft apart

Honeydew Melon

2 plants

5 ft apart

Pumpkin

2 plants

5 ft apart

Watermelon

1 plant

6 ft apart

🤝 Great Companion Combinations

These plant pairs grow better together — plant them side by side in your 8×8 bed.

Radish

36 per sq ft

Pea

16 per sq ft

Radish

36 per sq ft

Cucumber

7 plants

Carrot

16 per sq ft

Onion

9 per sq ft

Carrot

16 per sq ft

Tomato

16 plants

Carrot

16 per sq ft

Rosemary

16 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many plants can I fit in a 8×8 raised bed? +

A 8×8 raised bed gives you 64 square feet of growing space. Using square-foot gardening, you can fit up to 2304 small plants like lettuce or carrots, or grow 1 to 2304 plants total depending on what you choose.

What vegetables grow best in a 8×8 raised bed? +

Great choices for a 64 sq ft raised bed include lettuce, carrots, beets, kale, herbs, and peppers. With 64 sq ft you also have room for tomatoes and squash.

How deep should a 8×8 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) 4×12 Bed (48 sq ft) 8×12 Bed (96 sq ft) All bed sizes →

About the 8×8 Raised Bed

A 8×8 raised bed offers 64 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.

8×8 Raised Bed Planting Guide

🥦 Vegetables for a 8×8 Bed

🌿 Herbs for a 8×8 Bed

🌸 Flowers for a 8×8 Bed

🤝 Great Companion Combinations

Find Your Local Planting Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Raised Bed Sizes

About the 8×8 Raised Bed