Raised bed template

Zone 7 4x8 Vegetable Garden Plan

Use this as a starter layout for one full-sun 4x8 bed. It is intentionally compact, with tomatoes and cucumbers treated as supported crops.

Open this plan in Garden Planner Customize from the Screener
Bed size
8 x 4
Plants
11
Space range
18.3-75 sq ft

Plan setup

What this template assumes

The planner link stores the template locally in your browser so you can change quantities, drag plants, export a bed PDF, or clear it.

Bed footprint 32 sq ft

1 bed at 8 x 4 ft.

Site Zone 7B

Full sun, loam soil, medium water.

Estimated output 17-39 lb

Based on sourced yield rows where available; herbs and flowers may not have pound output.

Data coverage 5/5 spacing rows

5/5 plants have output ranges; 2 need extra risk review.

Plant list

Plants in this layout

Quantities are starting points. Use the Garden Planner to adjust spacing, layout, and risk checks.

Main summer crop

Black Krim tomato

Annual vegetable / zones 4a-11a

Qty
1
Spacing
2-3 ft in-row x 2-4 ft rows
Yield
8-20 lb/plant/season
Risk
Occasionally damaged / Juglone-sensitive
Long-season producer

Banana pepper

Annual vegetable / zones 4a-11a

Qty
2
Spacing
1.5-2 ft in-row x 3 ft rows
Yield
2-4 lb/plant/season
Risk
Occasionally damaged / Juglone-sensitive
Trellis crop

Marketmore 76 cucumber

Annual vegetable / zones 4a-10b

Qty
1
Spacing
0.5-4 ft in-row x 2-6 ft rows
Yield
3-5 lb/plant/season
Risk
Not rated / Better near black walnut
Herb layer

Genovese basil

Annual herb / zones 4a-11a

Qty
3
Spacing
0.8-1.5 ft in-row x 1-2 ft rows
Yield
-
Risk
Seldom damaged / Not rated
Cool-season shoulder crop

Bloomsdale spinach

Annual vegetable / zones 3a-9b

Qty
4
Spacing
0.5-1.5 ft in-row x 1-3 ft rows
Yield
0.5-1.5 lb/plant/season
Risk
Occasionally damaged / Mixed or uncertain

Source trail

References behind this template

These are the common source families behind the plants in this layout. Individual plant pages keep their own source links and caveats.

13 template records NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox Reference basis for ornamental plant size, function, and right-plant-right-place screening. 8 template records Penn State Extension - Landscaping and Gardening Around Walnuts and Other Juglone Producing Plants Black walnut and juglone sensitivity/tolerance cue for garden placement screening. 8 template records Rutgers NJAES - Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance Deer browsing categories used as planning cues; no plant is deer proof under heavy pressure. 5 template records Illinois Extension - Growing Vegetables in Containers Container vegetable guidance for matching container size, rooting depth, and plant density. 5 template records UGA Extension - Growing Vegetables Organically Vegetable hardiness, days to maturity, and row-by-plant spacing tables.

Useful supplies

Setup items for this plan

Product links may earn a commission and do not affect plant rankings.

Site prep / Before planting

Soil test kit or lab mailer

Check pH and baseline nutrients before adding amendments, especially for fruiting crops, native beds, and acid-loving plants.

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Soil / Bed prep

Finished compost

Improve bed structure and organic matter before planting annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.

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Watering / Install at planting

Drip irrigation kit

Deliver steady root-zone moisture with less leaf wetness and less water loss.

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Support / Install at planting

Cage, stake, or spiral support

Support upright fruiting vegetables and tall flowering annuals before stems get heavy.

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Protection / At planting

Insect netting

Exclude common chewing and flying pests from vulnerable vegetables, herbs, and young fruit plantings.

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Next step

Make it fit your yard

Templates are useful shortcuts, but ZIP, frost window, deer pressure, black walnut, and sun exposure still matter.

4x8 raised bed cropsCompare compact crops that make sense in a 32 sq ft bed. Zone 7 vegetablesBrowse Zone 7 kitchen crops with timing and spacing data. Deer-resistant plantsStart with plants that have better deer browsing cues.