Raised garden beds provide the ideal environment for growing big, beautiful tomatoes. The contained space allows you to enrich the soil, provide proper drainage and easily tend to your plants. With some planning and care your raised bed tomato patch will yield an abundant harvest of juicy flavorful fruits. Follow these tips and techniques for getting the most out of your tomato crop in a raised bed garden.
Benefits of Raised Beds for Tomatoes
Raised beds offer several advantages that lead to healthier plants and higher yields
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Improved drainage – Tomatoes need consistently moist, but not soggy soil. Raised beds allow excess water to drain away.
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Warmer soil – The soil in raised beds warms up earlier in spring, accelerating growth.
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Customized soil – Fill raised beds with rich, loose soil perfect for tomato roots.
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Efficient use of space – Maximize your small yard by going vertical with a raised bed.
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Less bending and kneeling – Working at waist height reduces back strain.
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Keeps soils in place—Upside-down sides keep different soil mixes separate.
Choosing a Raised Bed Site
When siting your raised tomato bed, consider these factors:
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Full sun – Tomatoes need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
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Convenient access – Place near pathways and entertain areas for easy care and harvesting.
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Level ground – Avoid sloped sites that can erode and cause structural issues.
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Support: Keep the plants close to a wall or fence that can help with trellising.
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Water access – Having a hose or irrigation system nearby aids consistent watering.
Constructing Strong Raised Beds
Build your raised tomato bed from rot resistant wood like cedar or pine. A bed that is 4 feet wide and 8 to 12 feet long is best for making moving around easy. Pick a height of at least 12 inches. Put boards across the bottom to keep it from bulging, and use brackets to hold the corner posts in place. Line the inside of beds with landscape fabric to keep soil contained.
Preparing the Soil Mix
Raised beds allow you to create ideal soil conditions. Tomato plants thrive in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0-6.8. Fill your new bed with a mix of:
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1 part compost – Provides nutrients and improves texture
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1 part peat or coir – Helps retain moisture and adds organic matter
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1 part vermiculite or perlite – Improves drainage and aerates soil
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1 part garden soil – Contributes beneficial microbes
Before planting, use a trowel to evenly mix amendments into the native soil.
Planting Your Tomatoes
Raised beds intensify the heat and light tomatoes crave. Follow proper planting guidelines:
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Wait until after the last frost and soil warms to 65°F.
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Transplant seedlings 18-24 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart.
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Plant with the lowest leaves just above soil level.
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Water transplants daily for the first week.
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Add stakes or cages at planting to avoid damaging plants later.
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Use row covers at planting if cold spells or frost is expected.
Choose compact, determinate varieties if space is limited. Staking indeterminate varieties is essential in raised beds.
Ongoing Tomato Care
Once your tomatoes are happily growing, proper care is key:
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Water at the base of plants daily to provide consistent moisture.
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Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to avoid wetting leaves.
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Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around plants to retain moisture and reduce weeds.
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Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced tomato formulation.
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Prune lower leaves and suckers to focus energy on fruit growth.
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Guide plants upward and tie stems to supports as needed.
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Monitor for pests like hornworms, stink bugs and cutworms.
Avoid Common Tomato Problems
The superior drainage and aeration of raised beds helps prevent several tomato afflictions:
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Blossom End Rot – Caused by calcium deficiency. Add lime or crushed eggshells to soil.
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Cracking – Dry soil stresses roots. Water and mulch to maintain even moisture.
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Wilting – Can indicate bacterial wilt. Purchase disease-resistant varieties.
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Leaf Curl – Results from overly wet soil. Allow soil to dry between waterings.
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Blossom Drop – Due to cold or excess nitrogen. Wait until soil warms to fertilize.
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Rodents – Use hardware cloth under beds to keep voles and gophers out.
Best Tomatoes for Raised Beds
Look for compact, vigorous varieties suited for containers:
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Cherry Tomatoes – Sweet bite-sized fruits. Grow well in small spaces.
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Bush Tomatoes – Determinate plants ideal for raised beds.
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Patio Tomatoes – Bred for growing in containers. Disease resistant.
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Grape Tomatoes – Produce abundant, crunchy fruit. Kids love them!
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Salad Tomatoes – Mix colorful cherry and grape varieties.
Companion Planting
Maximize raised bed space and boost yields by interplanting compatible vegetables:
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Plant basil to enhance tomato’s flavor and growth.
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Onions, garlic and chives help deter pests.
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Carrots and lettuces fill space beneath tomatoes.
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Borage improves fruit set and deters hornworms.
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Marigolds repel nematodes and other garden pests.
Caring for Tomatoes in Fall
As cooler weather sets in, raised beds delay the inevitable first frost. To keep plants viable:
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Stop pruning and let plants focus energy on existing fruit.
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Remove competing companion plants that could harbor disease.
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Pull back mulch to allow soil to warm in the sunlight.
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Drape plants with row cover or plastic sheeting at night if frost threatens.
Harvesting Your Bountiful Crop
The advantage of raised beds is easy access for harvesting:
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Pick tomatoes when fully colored but still firm.
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Harvest ripe cherry tomatoes every couple of days.
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Gently twist tomatoes off vines to avoid damaging plants.
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Check undersides of leaves for hidden ripe tomatoes.
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Bring green tomatoes inside to ripen before frost arrives.
Planning Next Year’s Raised Bed Garden
Rotate crops in raised tomato beds to avoid disease buildup. Next season plant:
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Cole crops like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts
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Root crops including potatoes, carrots, onions and beets
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Legumes such as beans, peas and lentils
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Leafy greens like spinach, kale, lettuce and Swiss chard
Proper raised bed preparation, planting, care and maintenance will reward you with a prolific tomato crop. Explore mixing colors, shapes and sizes to find your favorite homegrown tomato varieties.
Tomato Growing Basics | Raised Bed Gardening
FAQ
Do tomatoes grow well in raised beds?
How deep should a raised garden bed be for tomatoes?
Why put baking soda around tomato plants?
How do you grow tomatoes in a raised bed?
Cultivate the ground where the raised bed will go to ensure adequate drainage. The raised bed should be at least 12 inches tall for best results. Fill the raised bed with high-quality garden soil. For tomatoes, the soil should be slightly acidic, light, well-draining, and rich in nutrients, humus, and organic matter.
How big should a tomato plant be in a raised bed?
Tomato spacing is also important. Tomato plants should have about 18 inches between them so the roots will have plenty of room to sprawl out. In a 4’x4’ raised bed, putting one plant in each corner should allow plenty of space for four plants with plenty of growing space. Plant tomatoes deep as they form additional roots along the stem.
How do you plant a tomato cage in a raised bed?
1. Stake them early and carefully Depending on how high your raised beds are, the subsoil underneath may not be very forgiving. I’ve bent many a tomato cage by carelessly trying to shove them in the soil around a new plant. Instead, carefully press each “leg” of the cage into the soil, one at a time, until you work the whole thing in deep enough.
