Do I really need a 2-foot-deep bed, or is 1 foot enough?

For herbs, lettuces, and most flowers, 12 inches is widely reported as sufficient. For root vegetables (carrots, beets, turnips), tomatoes, and anything with deeper roots, multiple reddit threads and verified-purchase reviews recommend at least 18 to 24 inches. Deeper beds also dry out more slowly and need less frequent watering.