ALDI's sell-out $35 raised bed planter is the best thing for small gardens and tiny apartments – you'll only wish you bought it sooner

A visit to Aldi can be surprisingly rewarding. If you've never ventured down the famous 'middle aisle,' you are in for a pleasant surprise.

Whether you want a stylish container garden on a patio or fancy treating yourself to brand-new outdoor furniture, you can usually find everything you'll need in the famous 'ALDI Finds' aisle in stores across the US or online. While perusing gardening tools and accessories, I spotted a raised bed planter that would be perfect for my small garden.

The new Belavi Raised Garden Bed Planter is under $35, and it’ll fit in any corner of your small backyard, balcony garden, or terrace. The simple black finish is a classic option for a fuss-free, minimalist space. This exact raised garden planter allegedly sold out fast last year, so we expect this one will likely sell quickly, too.

Shop the look

So, why invest in a small raised bed for compact gardens? Versatile, and practical, raised garden beds widen the range of plants you can grow in a limited space.

'This planter ticks all the boxes when it comes to low-maintenance versatility,' says Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens at Homes & Gardens. 'It allows anyone to grow vegetables or flowers, even on a tiny city balcony – and would work just as well as an indoor planter.

'The space-saving height means you could add another container underneath it, and saves you from bending down to water or weed. The addition of a lid provides a ready-made miniature greenhouse, extending the growing season for so many vegetables and salad crops. It may be small, but it is a genius piece of kit in my opinion, and perfect for beginners who might never have gardened before.'

If you only have a small patch for edible crops, a raised bed system will allow for more intensive cropping, allowing you to create a small vegetable garden even in a compact space, such as a balcony or patio.

Drew Swainston, an expert gardener and editor at Homes & Gardens swears by this elevated planter for use throughout the year.

'It offers enough space to grow a range of crops – it is perfect for leafy greens and salad crops – and the integrated drainage holes prevent plants from sitting in excess moisture and suffering from root rot.'

'The lid will help to extend the growing season at both ends by providing added protection from cooler temperatures. This added protection means you can sow seeds and plant vegetables earlier in spring, and extend harvesting later into the fall.'

It is a wonderful option for a novice or urban gardener and is virtually faultless in its design.