Raised beds in a Zone 5b Denver garden

Raised Bed Command Center

Everything you need to plan, build, and run a productive raised bed system in Denver's climate.

Quick Reference

Bed Sizing Guide

The Standard

4 × 8 ft

Best for: Most home gardeners

Maximum reach from both sides, fits standard lumber, enough space to rotate crops.

The Deep Bed

4 × 12 ft

Best for: Serious producers

More growing space, same reach principle. Stays 4 ft wide.

The Compact

4 × 4 ft

Best for: Small spaces, beginners

Easiest to manage, great for one crop focus or a balcony setup.

The Flex

3 × 6 ft

Best for: Odd spaces

Works around existing structures without wasting material.

Soil

What Goes In the Bed

Base Layer

Compost

30% of total volume

The engine of the system. Quality here determines everything downstream.

Structure Layer

Screened Topsoil

60%

Holds moisture and provides mineral structure. Buy bulk from a landscape supplier.

Amendment Layer

Perlite or Vermiculite

10%

Drainage and aeration. Critical for Colorado's heavy rain events.

Specific ratios matter less than input quality. Cheap bagged soil produces cheap results.

Zone 5b · Season Schedule

Seasonal Timeline for Denver Raised Beds

Late March / Early AprilUncover beds, top-dress with compost, check and flush drip lines.
AprilCold-hardy crops go in. Harden off transplants. Watch nighttime temps.
After May 7Full planting. Tomatoes, peppers, squash go in after last frost average.
June – AugustPeak season. Succession plantings, monitor irrigation, watch hail forecasts.
SeptemberFall crops in. Row cover on standby. Harvest begins in earnest.
OctoberFirst frost (~Oct 7). Cover cold-hardy crops, harvest warm-season, plant garlic.
Full Zone 5b planting calendar →

Video Library

Watch: Raised Bed Systems & Soil

Why Your Coconut Coir Is Stealing Your Plant's Nutrients

Why Your Coconut Coir Is Stealing Your Plant's Nutrients

3 months agoWatch →
Stop Using Coconut Coir Until You Do This

Stop Using Coconut Coir Until You Do This

3 months agoWatch →
Tomato Seeds in May? You've Already Lost the Race

Tomato Seeds in May? You've Already Lost the Race

3 months agoWatch →
The Humidity Dome Trick That Creates a “Little Ecosystem" #urbangardening

The Humidity Dome Trick That Creates a “Little Ecosystem" #urbangardening

3 months agoWatch →

Proof-first gardening from Wheat Ridge.

Every raised bed technique on this page has been tested in Zone 5b Denver conditions. Watch the builds and results on YouTube.

Watch on YouTube