Raised-bed and Container Gardening

Container gardening in the North Valleys (or anywhere it gets well below freezing) isn't a good idea for plants you want to come back next year. The temps get too low, the roots freeze, the plant dies. The best container for bushes, vines, etc is put in the ground (like in the previous post).

Raised beds can have similar issues, depending on how big you make it. Bigger is better.

For one-season crops, there are a number of things you can do.

Plastic kiddie pools are great. Punch a few holes in the bottom for drainage, fill, and plant. Easy. Better yet: ask your neighbors if they have any that they're throwing away because they've developed leaks. Just make sure you either keep them filled or put rocks in them to hold them down during the windy season! The cons to using these: they definitely don't add curb-appeal to your home LOL

Half-barrels are also good. If you only fill them halfway, it will also lend your seedlings some protection from the wind during the early spring. They're easy to cover to protect from frost, too. The downside is that they don't hold very many plants.

There's a plethora of websites out there with plans for raised beds. I urge you to look for materials that other people are throwing away. The less that goes in the landfill, the better.