Veg in One Bed New Edition: How to Grow an Abundance of Food in One Raised Bed, Month by Month

by Huw Richards

Grow your own vegetable garden with this practical, straightforward gardening guide.

There is nothing more fulfilling than growing your own home produce. You don't have to be a seasoned gardener to produce a healthy, flourishing garden - all you need is a few seeds, water, sunlight, good advice and patience!

In just one raised bed, author Huw Richards, shows you exactly how to grow vegetables organically, abundantly and inexpensively so you have something to harvest every month of the year. 

Here's what you'll find

- Month-by-month guide to what to do and how to do it, including what pests to look out for, and what can be harvested.
- Covers first year in detail, with the final chapter on ‘Next Steps’ providing suggestions of what to do in years two and three.
- Illustrations show you what the bed should look like month to month.
- Windowsill planting ensures early success cultivating plants before they are transferred into the bed.
- Maintenance sections ensure readers know how to keep their plants (and raised bed) healthy each month.
- Includes instructions on assessing your site and building a 4x10ft (1.2x3m) raised bed.
- Alternative vegetables are recommended, allowing readers to tailor their bed to their taste.
- Plans chart growing season for different cool climate, low rainfall, low effort, salad bed, winter bed, herbs and edible flowers.

Month by month, discover what you need to do and how to do it. Try becoming more self-sufficient in your allotment, a small garden, or even on a roof terrace. Veg In One Bed shows you that you can have a small thriving garden and still be able to maintain it, yielding fresh vegetables all year round. Learn what to do each month on your windowsill, where you'll raise seedlings, and in your raised bed, where your plants will grow to maturity. Everything is explained in clear, illustrated building your bed, growing from seed, planting, feeding, and harvesting.

This gardening book not only guides you through the whole process of building your raised bed through to harvesting your vegetables but also provides sustainable gardening practices, which will resonate with all gardeners committed to protecting our planet. This makes for the perfect book for new gardeners who want to grow their own produce, as well as the new generation of gardeners who are seeking a gardening guru of their own age.

Veg in One Bed goes beyond the inspiring demonstrations on his YouTube channel "Huw Richards - Grow Food Organically". In this book he organizes all his ideas and suggestions into a blueprint for growing your own vegetables month by month. Little growing experience? Only a small space? No matter - with Veg in One Bed , you can still eat food you have grown all through the year.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference, Food, Nature, Agriculture, Plants

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Huw Richards is the rugby correspondent of the Financial Times.

Reviews

[Paula Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

March 2021: I am really enjoying this book. It is very easy to read, the instructions are easy to follow, and the style is relaxed and friendly so I don’t feel intimidated even though I have very little experience of growing vegetables. This is the first time we have seriously tried to grow a substantial amount of our own food for the year, and we are following the methods outlined in the book to try and maximise our yields and minimise unnecessary work. We will be dipping in and out of the book every week over the course of the year, checking up on what needs planting/transferring/harvesting as we go along.

December 2021: We have loved using this book throughout the year and are looking forward to experimenting more next year based on our experiences this year. The book was a great guide, but the weather wasn’t kind to us this year, and we learnt a lot about our own preferences, so there is plenty of room for improvement in our planting, growing and harvesting skills.

[Erik Fazekas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Škoda, že som túto knižku nemal v rukách pred dvoma rokmi, keď sme začali záradníčiť. Dnes to bola len pripomienka a utvrdenie v tom, že tak ako to robíme je tá správna cesta. Už nech je jar a môžeme sadiť!!!

[Sander Cuypers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Handig. Je kan hier een heel jaarplan vinden voor een moestuin van 3m op 1,2m.
Alsof ik nog niet genoeg te doen heb, heb ik dus in de tuin van mijn ouders zo'n ding ineengestoken en ga ik nu groenten kweken.
Noem Huwie een influencer of mij zwak.
Zal er ergens tussenin liggen.
Maar ik kweek wel mijn eigen patatten vanaf nu.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather than the laborious and overwhelming process of going online to research all the requirements for and possibilities of a raised bed, why not get an attractive, friendly book where the information is gathered all in one place, with a delightful guide who makes you feel like you can do it and do it well?

Huw Richards doesn't talk down to you and doesn't get lost in technical details (though the book contains a TON of information). He obviously genuinely loves the subject of gardening and peppers his book with not only helpful tips but also moments of enjoying the beauty or taste of the vegetables. He'll pause in the middle of his instructions to say, "it's a joy to be met with the wonderful smell of fresh carrots as you pull out the brightly colored roots in autumn" (126). And the man can scarcely mention peas without recommending that you snack on them as you harvest. Despite the general pleasant tone, he doesn't coddle. From knowing absolutely nothing about gardening and considering it rather an esoteric art, I now feel moderately competent. After reading this book, I was able to chart out a fairly ambitious growing schedule for my first year and select the appropriate varieties of seeds--and my ambitious plan is not NEARLY as ambitious as what this book recommends.

I love how possible growing my own food feels now that I've read Richards. If his plan works, I'm going to harvest vegetables from May through January, food a-plenty, all from my humble raised bed!

A few mild provisos: since he's in the UK, some of the varieties of plants he recommends aren't available here, and I had to do some research of my own to see if the plan for his climate would work well in mine. His ambitious plan also relies a lot on starting crops off on the windowsill, but I don't have a windowsill I can dedicate to the task, so I'll be sowing directly into the bed all through the growing season. I wish he'd spoken a little more about that possibility and how that might change when to plant/when the harvest will be ready. However, his book is about how to raise 19 different vegetables in one bed in one growing season, not how to meet my particular needs--and he definitely delivers his promise.

This book was worth the extra effort of going through interlibrary loan to procure, and it's very likely I'll be buying it in the future to have on hand as a resource (and encouragement!).

[romney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good guide to growing a variety of reliable veg in a raised bed. A simple plan is laid out and you're walked through everything you need to do in every month of the first year. It's like having an expert over your shoulder. There are lots of alternatives given if you don't like a certain vegetable and you can do as much or as little of the plan as you want - it's modular. At the end there are more plans for cold or dry climates, just salad or the lazy gardener. Follow the plan and you would have eaten well all year with minimal effort and be comfortable expanding your plot next year.

[Natasha Alterici · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Simple, thorough, easy to understand.

[knizny.semafor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Som ukážkový cap-záhradník, ktorý netuší, kedy a ako sa čo sadí. No milujem výzvy - čím ťažšie, tým lepšie. Preto som hľadala jednoduchú príručku, ako si s touto svojou nedokonalosťou poradiť a táto kniha ma dostala už na prvý pohľad svojou grafikou a štruktúrou.

Najmä tá štruktúra je ukážková - kniha je rozdelená podľa mesiacov, pričom každý obsahuje detailné inštrukcie, čo a ako v danom období robiť, na čo si dávať pozor a z akej úrody sa tešiť.

Milujem prehľadnosť, jasnú štruktúru, na pohľad pochopiteľné návody. Skvelé je, že kniha obsahuje viacero typov ročných plánov - pre pestovanie v chladnej klíme, v suchých oblastiach, či pre milovníkov šalátov, alebo lenivcov ako som ja 🙆🏻‍♀️.

Bonusom je kapitola o možnostiach pestovať niektoré druhy v kvetináčoch, čo isto poteší majiteľov balkónov. Nájdete tu aj jednoduchý návod, ako si postaviť vlastné vyvýšené záhony, kompostovisko, či ako a kedy si vypestovať vlastné priesady (no nie, na toto som ešte nedorástla 😅).

Výborné je, že hoci autor knihu písal predovšetkým pre britských čitateľov, t.j. sústredí sa na vhodné a typické druhy zeleniny pre dané podnebie, všetky plodiny je možné bez problémov pestovať a rady aplikovať aj u nás.

Ja v nej rada listujem len tak, pretože sa mi páči jej formát, prehľadná štruktúra, krásne fotografie (ok, priznávam…lebo ten anglický originál je vytlačený na strašne voňavom papieri 🥴).

Knihu odporúčam, ak hľadáte niečo pekné a zároveň praktické pre úplných začiatočníkov alebo sa radi kocháte peknými príručkami 🪴. Ak však už máte skúsenosti s pestovaním, kniha vám obsahovo veľa nového nedá.

SK/CZ preklad som zatiaľ neobjavila, čo je podľa mňa škoda, pretože obsahovo je kniha aplikovateľná aj pre naše podnebie.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

More suited to a novice gardener than to an experienced one like me, which is really the only reason I (probably unfairly) knocked a star off. In general it's a very nice illustration of how you can grow vegetables year-round in a relatively small space, which happens to be pretty much the space I have. The expectation, however, is that you'll also be using containers and some windowsill space, both of which are covered in this book. Nice illustrated and photographed with growing plans.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the layout of this book. Easy to read handbook of when to start, transplant, and harvest several plants for one raised bed. Detailed guide for what to do each month: what to harvest, plant, etc. I am planning on building and planting with a raised bed this year, so I appreciate the simplicity but thoroughness of this book.

[Justina Cicilionyte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das buch wurde in Deutscher Ausgabe gelesen 😅

[Heshan Fernando · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful book and really helped me in my first season of growing veg.

[Madi McNew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made slides while reading this so I can better utilize its info. If that's not worthy of 5 stars, I'm not sure what is.

[Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this and am grateful for the ending options but wish there were more alternatives offered throughout (e.g. a list of crops that could work on each month)

[Steph Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has captured my curiousity and my heart. As a child I was raised with a large vegetable garden. My father built a winter glass box. We learned so much anout how to plant, care for, and reap a garden. Even an apple tree taught me how to climb and all of the good things apples make.

I would like to hear the author speak someday and learn even more. I bought a copy and gifted it to my sister-in-law who lives in New York City and who has a rooftop garden.

[Mrs Susan Farrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

Really good book about growing your best in a raised bed. Tells you what to do when and how to do it. Have had a raised bed for a few years but until now was just growing potatoes. Great for beginners but lots of useful tips for the more experienced. Can't wait to get started.

[Anneka Van Scoyoc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! As someone who is new to a raised bed, I really appreciated the visuals, the pace, and the encouraging writing. My only complaint is that I'd love to have learned how to plant more options of veggies. I'm not much of a tuber or leafy girl.

[Zoe East · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for a beginner, but it's very specific to following what is planted in the guide. Without following the example bed planner I've still found the book really useful to dip into for info on specific veg when needed.

[Frank Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

The proof of this books rating will be in the garden!! 😂

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeg har været så heldig at modtage et eksemplar af denne fantastiske havebog fra forlaget.
Den viste sig at være lige præcis hvad jeg manglede til min nye have! Den er propfuld af gode råd og guides, der sikrer en rigtig god start på livet med højbed. Den er opdelt i måneder, og har komplette guides til hvordan bedet skal forberedes, hvilke frø der skal sås hvornår, hvad der skal sås direkte i jorden osv. Den har forslag til opdeling af bedet, så man udnytter pladsen bedst muligt, samt kalendere så man nemt og hurtigt kan få overblik over hvad der skal gøres hvornår.
Der er et hav af forskellige grøntsager og urter i bogen, og en meget letforståelig beskrivelse af hvad man skal gøre. Det er virkelig gjort så simpelt som muligt, og samtidig indeholder bogen så utrolig mange guldkorn.
Den er ganske enkelt sammensat på en måde som gør det utrolig nemt at skabe overblik og forståelse for hvad der skal (eller kan) gøres, og fuld af gode tips så man får de bedst mulige resultater. Personligt kan jeg slet ikke vente med at komme ordentligt i gang til foråret! Bogen kan bestemt anbefales til alle haveejere, men især er den god til dem af os som skal til og i gang for første gang, eller bare trænger til at lære lidt mere.

[Jantina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huw Richards' "Veg in One Bed" is more than just a gardening book; at least for me it was a gateway to discovering the joy of gardening. As someone who grew up far removed from anything to do with gardening, a city person pur sang, the task of exploring gardening was initially just that—a task, assigned by my employer without much personal enthusiasm on my part. However, Richards' book, one of the first I encountered on the subject, sparked a genuine excitement for gardening that I hadn’t anticipated.

Richards guides readers through the seasonal cycles of a single raised bed with such enthusiasm and clarity that it’s hard not to be inspired. His approachable, easy-to-follow instructions make the prospect of starting a garden feel not just feasible, but also fun. This book illuminates gardening as an art form, a theme that becomes more clear and present in his later works and which he vividly brings to life in his YouTube videos showcasing his beautiful gardens.

Though I have yet to start my own garden, "Veg in One Bed" was an important stepping stone on this path, and I look forward to continue this journey.

[OneDayI'll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good concept of using one, larger, raised bed to grow a years worth of veggies. The concept is pretty good. You use parts and let some rest and build up again before planting again. Some you get multiple harvests off some crops- like pea and bean sprouts before allowing to continue to grow for fruit harvests. You can also harvest squash shoots similarly- not mentioned in the book. Summer squash are a bushier variety and less vining, which would be good for beds. Winter squash vine more and could be planted in the corners and allowed to run around the edges to fruit. They're a great crop for beginning gardeners, have a good yield, are versatile in recipes, storage and uses. So, read the book , take notes, and consider adding winter squash in the corners and a couple types of summer between them.

[K8 U · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with his other books, the layout is very aesthetically enjoyable. The paper is of nice quality with a natural-feeling finish. It has lovely photos and illustrations. So it’s a pleasure just to flick through.
This is aimed at someone with just enough space for a 1.2m x 3m raised bed. But it’s amazing what (in theory) you could grow in such a small space over a year. A great starter book but also had some tips which I found helpful - such as making the raised bed sides from plastic decking. Wooden sides just rot so quickly and harbour wood lice etc.
I liked the detailed charts - for what to sow when, what to plant, when to harvest etc in each section of the bed. Seems quite doable, even for the beginning gardener.

[Abby Stipetich · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book isn’t exactly what I was hoping for it provides a lot of practical information about single bed gardening. We have been gardening for 3 years so wouldn’t say we are beginners but we are still new to the trade. I was looking for a book that would give ideas for companion planting & building a guild inside a raised bed. This book has one big plan laid out month by month and gives step by step instructions. You will have to do research on your own garden zone to make sure it aligns with the recommendations. You’ll also have to see if you actually like to eat what plants are recommended, that’s the number one thing about building a garden. Overall this book is helpful to the new gardener with limited space. It’s a great resource for the first year of growing your own food.

[Edward Petrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliantly simple book that proves you don’t need a huge garden to grow a serious amount of food. Veg in One Bed breaks everything down month-by-month, showing exactly what to plant, what to harvest, and how to keep a single raised bed producing almost nonstop.

It’s clear, friendly, and very easy to follow — perfect for anyone who wants to grow food but gets overwhelmed by big gardening manuals. The photos are bright and encouraging, and Huw’s step-by-step approach makes the whole process feel doable, even for beginners.

A great starter guide, and a confidence booster for anyone wanting to turn one little bed into a mini-harvest.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, wish the kindle version were formatted differently

I liked the planting plans, and the practical example of good succession planting. But the plan as written doesn’t include most of the most desireable garden vegetables (no tomatoes or peppers), which are highly productive and a good return on effort - realistically I think most people growing a garden are likely to want to grow those. Also rather than text the whole book on kindle is images of printed pages, which makes it difficult to read accessibly on different devices.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book intrigued me as a vegie gardener myself I wondered how to get a years worth of produce in one bed. The downfall is that its written for those in the northern hemisphere so I have to use my fading brain cells to transpose the dates into the southern hemispheres time frame. Easy to understand and work when to put various vegies at various times, so there is staggered crops continuously over the year. Great photos and diagrams.

[Barrie Callender · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a fabulous guide for someone who hasn't done any vegetable gardening since the 1970s.

I didn't have the 1.2m x 3m recommended by Huw, but I improvised a bit and managed to learn a lot. I put Potatoes in reasonable size sacks, and when the potatoes are harvested, I will put the earth in small potato sacks and transplant leeks into them.

The author has a You Tube site which is well worth a watch.

[Shirley Van der horst · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a soon to be beginner gardener, this book is a great resource, even though I'm not in the UK. It is simply and well explained enough that I am confident it will be easy to adapt to the hotter climate of Portugal. A great amount of tips and tricks, as well as some plans to get you started towards vegetable paradise.
Can't wait to get my hands in the soil!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good outlines and information on why he recommends growing specific crops in a rotation framework, but very little information on how to adapt this to your local growing environment where maybe radishes take 45 days instead of 35.

Great idea, but would have like more information on a smaller pool of crops.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I'd found this book before my raised bed journey began! I rarely read books like this cover to cover but I found the advice and how the book was set out very helpful. It will help me for the rest of the year and I will be able to use it properly to plan for next years growing.

Now I wish there was a similar one, set out month by month, for my greenhouse!