How to Choose a Location for your Kitchen Garden
I’ve spent much of the last month driving all over town helping folks dream up their 2025 kitchen gardens. I am so happy to report that many people already have gardens they started last spring. I’m so glad so many people are gardening in raised beds in Boise, but I only wish I had gotten to them sooner. That’s because I’ve seen so many raised garden beds in Boise simply in the wrong location, so here are my go-to steps to choose the right location for your kitchen garden.
Location! Location! Location!
Sunlight:
The number one factor for where to place your raised beds in Boise has to be where you get the most sunlight. If you’re dreaming of growing tomatoes and basil for caprese salads, then your garden needs at least 8 hours of sunlight during the day. For most folks in Boise, that means placing your kitchen garden on the south or southeast side of your home or a fence so that the east-to-west arc of the sun spans over your garden most of the day.
Our day length is so long that sometimes folks get 12 hours of sun in a space. If that’s the case for you, choose the space that gets the most morning sun, as that’s the gentlest on your growing plants versus the harsh late afternoon sun.
If you’re technologically inclined, I often use an app (Sunseeker) to track the arc of the sun at different times of year when I am designing a garden space.
A screenshot of how Sunseeker App works
Spacing:
The other issue I most often see in Boise kitchen gardens is that there is very little space to move around your garden beds. In the gardens we design, we recommend at least 2-3 feet of space around the beds unless they’re on a fenceline. If you’re setting up your raised beds against your fence, be sure they’re no more than 3 feet wide so you can easily reach every inch of your garden.
Another spacing issue I often see is that folks will build one large 4’x8’ bed that’s only 1’ tall. If you want to use the same amount of lumber, I highly recommend building a 2’x4’ bed that’s 2’ tall. This way, it’s more comfortable for you to work in and you can plant the same amount of plants much closer together. Here’s an example of how we plant out our 2-foot-tall garden beds.
One of our designs with a big emphasis on walkways
Sight lines:
Hear me when I say this that the key to your garden success is interacting with it on a daily basis. Your kitchen garden shouldn’t be tucked behind the garage or shed, so far out of sight and your walkway that you only ever go back there when you absolutely need to.
You should be able to see your garden from your kitchen window or your car every time you walk to the house from your garage. Think of the places in your home you spend the most time in - that’s where you should see your garden from.
Adding a trellis can help increase the sightline to your kitchen garden, as can moving it closer to the house. We can help with both of those things, and this year, we’re offering complete garden renovations. If you have a garden you want to rehab for 2025, click here to book time with us.
A garden view from the kitchen door at White Rabbit