I prefer (and personally practice) biointensive planting in raised beds. Compared to traditional gardening methods, plants are spaced closer together (so that their leaves touch) and you can stagger your rows to fit more plants in a smaller area.
Not only does this increase your yields, it also protects the soil by using the plants themselves as mulch for neighboring plants.
When there’s less space available, weeds have less opportunity to take hold. Low-growing leaves also shade the soil and help with moisture retention.
One thing to keep in mind is if you direct sow seeds in a raised bed, you should sow them a little more densely to account for varying germination rates.
Once the seedlings are a few inches tall (and it’s easier to see which ones are stronger and healthier), you can thin them to the appropriate spacing.