We’ve posted a lot about fall gardening on Instagram recently, and we’ve gotten some thoughtful questions about how our garden advice applies to fall plants in smaller containers or directly planted in the ground. Although raised beds are certainly our jam, the difference in growing plants in raised beds, container, or in the ground really matters in the fall, and it can be helpful to dive deeper. All three approaches can produce a beautiful crop of lettuce, kale, carrots, herbs and other cool-season vegetables. But the soil around those plants behaves differently depending on how much of it there is—and how exposed it is to the air around it.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

Your raised beds may need more than extra water to survive the summer heat. Mulch can help soil stay cooler, hold moisture, and resist weeds—but in an intensively planted kitchen garden, your plants may already be doing the job. Here’s how to tell.