19 Fresh Vegetable Garden Ideas for Your Next Outdoor Project

With the arrival of summer, home vegetable gardens are bursting with color and flavor. The beautiful thing about growing your own veggies is that you can eat them right out of the garden. There’s no need to go to the store to buy fresh produce when you can pick it right from your own backyard.

If you’re thinking of starting a vegetable garden, we have ideas to help you get started. From garden planning and design to planting and maintenance, we’ve got you covered.

1. Raised Garden Beds

If you’re looking for a way to add a little structure to your garden, consider raised garden beds. These contained plots of soil are raised from the ground and can be used to add dimension to a flat landscape or add some order to a chaotic one.

It’s also a great way to make your garden more accessible. If you have a hard time getting up and down, raised garden beds can be built at a height that’s comfortable for you.

2. Vertical Vegetable Garden

If you’re short on space, a vertical garden is a great way to maximize the area you do have. This garden designed by Amy Enfield of A Healthy Life for Me is a great example of how to create a vertical garden with a variety of vegetables. The garden features a mix of herbs, tomatoes, and peppers.

Enfield suggests planting your vertical garden in the spring, when the soil is warm and the risk of frost has passed. And, if you’re using a container garden, make sure to use a high-quality potting mix.

3. Vegetable Garden in a Crate

If you’re working with a small space, you might be wondering how you’ll ever fit a garden in your yard. The answer is to go vertical. This garden is made with a large wooden crate and a trellis, which allows the plants to grow up rather than out.

You can use a similar set-up with a small crate and a trellis or even a tomato cage. This garden is perfect for growing peas, cucumbers, and beans.

4. Vegetable Garden in a Barrel

If you’re short on space, consider a vertical garden in a barrel. You can plant your favorite herbs and vegetables in the pockets of the barrel, and you can even add a few more plants on top.

You can also paint the barrel to match your outdoor decor.

5. Vegetable Garden in a Pot

Not all gardens need to be planted in the ground. If you’re limited on space, a container garden is a great way to grow your own food.

You can use any pots you have on hand, or you can invest in some beautiful, large containers.

This garden is made up of a variety of vegetables, so it’s important to note that not all plants are compatible with one another. Be sure to research what you can plant together and what you shouldn’t.

6. Vegetable Garden in a Box

If you’re starting a vegetable garden from scratch, it can be a bit overwhelming. A great way to organize your thoughts and materials is to use a raised garden bed kit. This one is from Gardener’s Supply Company and comes in three sizes.

It’s a great way to make sure you have everything you need to get started. Plus, it’s a quick and easy way to build a garden that will last for years to come.

7. Vegetable Garden on a Wall

If you’re short on space, consider going vertical. This wall-mounted garden is a great way to grow a lot of veggies in a small space.

You can use a variety of containers and hanging baskets to plant a mix of vegetables and herbs.

8. Vegetable Garden on a Trellis

Growing a vegetable garden on a trellis is a great way to keep your plants off the ground and make the most of a small space. This idea is perfect for growing cucumbers, peas, beans, and other vining plants.

You can use a trellis to create a living wall in your outdoor space, or you can build a stand-alone trellis and place it wherever you like. Top off your trellis with a decorative finial, and add a climbing plant to create a stunning focal point in your vegetable garden.

9. Vegetable Garden in a Bag

A great way to create a raised garden bed without a lot of work is to use a garden bed in a bag. These are large bags of soil that come with the soil and nutrients you need to start your garden.

The bag is made of a fabric material that is biodegradable and helps to keep the soil contained. The fabric also allows the soil to drain and aerate properly.

You can start your garden right in the bag or dump the soil into a raised garden bed. This is a great option if you want a raised bed but don’t have the time or tools to build one.

10. Vegetable Garden in a Wagon

You don’t need a lot of space to create a beautiful vegetable garden. This wagon planter is a great example of how you can grow a variety of vegetables in a small space.

The wagon is filled with a variety of vegetables, including red cabbage, Swiss chard, and lettuce.

11. Vegetable Garden in a Wheelbarrow

Turn a rusty old wheelbarrow into a beautiful planter by filling it with rich soil and adding your favorite veggies. This is a great option if you’re working with a small space, as you can easily move the wheelbarrow around to make room for other plants.

In this design, the wheelbarrow is filled with a mix of herbs and leafy greens, but you can add any type of vegetable you like. Just be sure to choose a variety that doesn’t need too much space to grow.

12. Vegetable Garden in a Pallet

If you’re looking for a way to add a unique look to your garden, try planting your vegetables in a pallet. This project is easy to put together and can be done in an afternoon.

You can plant your vegetables directly in the pallet, or you can attach small pots to the pallet and plant your vegetables in the pots. This will allow you to easily remove the pots for watering and harvesting.

13. Vegetable Garden in a Greenhouse

If you live in an area with harsh weather conditions, a greenhouse can help protect your plants. This garden by Black & Blooms is filled with a variety of vegetables, including lettuces, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

The greenhouse also allows the plants to grow vertically, which is a great way to save space in your garden.

14. Vegetable Garden in a Cold Frame

Extend your growing season by placing a cold frame over your garden plot. The glass or plastic lid helps to protect plants from cold temperatures and frost, so you can get a jump on the growing season in the spring or keep growing vegetables well into the fall.

You can buy a cold frame kit or build your own. This raised garden bed is the perfect size for a standard cold frame, and the stone wall is a beautiful way to enclose the space.

15. Vegetable Garden in a Window Box

If you live in an apartment or don’t have a lot of outdoor space, you can still grow your own vegetables. Window boxes offer a small, manageable way to grow your favorite vegetables.

Choose a box that’s at least 12 inches wide and deep and that’s made of a material that won’t rot. If you have a sunny window, you can grow a variety of vegetables like lettuce, radishes, and herbs.

Window boxes are also a great way to start seeds and then transplant the seedlings to your outdoor garden.

16. Vegetable Garden in a Tiered Planter

If you have a small backyard, you can still grow a variety of vegetables with a tiered planter. This one is made of wood and has three levels. The bottom level is perfect for growing longer vegetables, such as carrots, while the top levels are great for growing herbs and lettuce.

The planter is also on wheels, so you can easily move it around your yard to give your plants the best sun exposure.

17. Vegetable Garden in a Tower

This is one of the most unique vegetable garden ideas we’ve seen. This tower is filled with a variety of vegetables and herbs. If you don’t have a lot of outdoor space, you can still have a garden. This tower is perfect for anyone who lives in an apartment or has a small backyard.

This planter is 5 feet tall and can hold up to 20 plants. These towers are perfect for growing your own food, and they’re also very stylish. You can place them on your balcony, porch, or in your yard.

18. Vegetable Garden in a Gutter

If you don’t have a lot of space in your yard, you can still have a garden. This idea uses a rain gutter to plant herbs and lettuce, then it’s mounted to the side of a house. This is a great way to keep your garden off the ground and out of the way.

19. Vegetable Garden in a Repurposed Item

You don’t need a big space to grow a lot of fresh vegetables. This raised garden bed is made from a repurposed item and is filled with a variety of vegetables, including lettuce and kale. The best part about this garden is that it’s on wheels, so it can be easily moved to follow the sun.

Conclusion

Squash plants can be large, but you can still use them in a small garden. Just train them up a trellis instead of letting them ramble.

We hope you found our vegetable garden ideas helpful. Ready to start planting? Share your favorite garden ideas in the comments section below.