Working with small vegetable gardens
vegetable garden – or is there?
Most vegetable gardeners would like a nice big garden, in order to produce the variety of crops that will satisfy their desire to grow more.
Small vegetable gardens however are more prevalent, due to the fact that most city dwellers do not have the space for a large garden, let alone dedicate it all to growing vegetables.
Many scholarly articles
have been written regarding ‘food gardens’ even in university campus’s as the concept of becoming more independent in food growing gathers pace, especially with those stuck at university or at home under ‘lockdown’ by the government to control the covid-19 pandemic.
Some people however have came across a good compromise, have developed ways to make even their Patio produce fruit and veg ! Through utilizing every space available, such as pots and tubs, they have been able to satisfy their desire for growing vegetables whilst at the same time having an ornamental place to relax in the evening with a glass of wine perhaps.
Traditionally of course, the occupants of the decorative pots on the patio, would have been flowers of some sort. However some would argue that in the same way that ‘beauty is in the eyes of the beholder’, so can a plant pot with a great crop of strawberries or perhaps tomatoes, be good to look at, and also a bonus for the food larder!
What Vegetables Can You Grow In A Small Space
Growing vegetables in a small space is not of course a new idea, I remember growing potatoes in a barrel very successfully, when the space at my then house was very limited. However this article is a timely reminder perhaps, of ideas for small vegetable gardens that have maybe been forgotten about – till now.
There is virtually no limit to the kinds of vegetables that can be grown in small spaces. The number of actual plants may well be reduced, but the quality – and in some cases – the volume – need not be compromised just because you have a small back yard to grow in.
Cabbages, carrots, beetroot, cauliflower – in fact the complete Brassicaceae family can be grown in Raised Beds including the Square Foot Garden bed. legumes like peas and beans can also be grown with the addition of a framework which is easily attached to a Raised Bed.
Raised Bed Gardening On Amazon
How Do I Maximize A Small Vegetable Garden
The basic idea behind many of the no-dig gardening techniques revolves around the principle of getting ‘the biggest bang for your buck’. The principle of no-dig is not just about creating a garden space that needs the least amount of work to maintain it.
The Square Foot Garden for instance involves a small 4 foot by 4 foot wooden frame which is filled with a special compost mix, and then the planting system uses a mixture of rotational planting or succession planting methods, and companion plants to maximize the food production.
Adding a tall framework to the back of the timber frame creates an excellent growing frame for many kinds of climbing plants that need support such as peas, beans, climbing strawberries, cucumber etc.
In raised beds or SFG’s then it is ok to plant the seeds a bit closer as the growing medium (a mix of soil and compost) is richer and the environment more conducive to health strong plants.
Although they do take up a bit more space (usually 9 foot long by 3 foot wide), a Raised Bed Garden can be super-productive in the quantity and variety of the vegetables that can be grown
Growing vegetables In Containers such as old buckets and broken wheelbarrows is another excellent way to maximize a small space. Ornamental pots on the patio can be used to grow vegetable rather than just flowers.
Easy vegetables to grow in pots include flowering plants you can even mix the veggies with. Nasturtiums, chives, pansies, or marigolds (both of which are edible) to create a lovely ‘flower’ garden that can also be eaten!
Pots and containers are an excellent choice and there are many fast growing vegetables you can get the kids to grow in pots and add to their education at the same time! Chives, lettuce, spring greens, radishes, spinach all grow in around 30 days or under.
The most important thing is to choose a container that is big enough for the root system of the plant. A tomato plant for instance will take a 3-5 gallon container otherwise it will soon become root-bound and wither away.
What Is Easy To Grow In A Vegetable Garden
Growing vegetables for the first time can be a little daunting, but it really needn’t be! All that has to be done once you have made your choice of no-dig gardening technique and created your own garden area, is to plant some simple easy-to-grow vegetables.
A top choice for the beginner is vegetables that are not to ‘precious’ (they can manage quite well without you!) and to that list would be my favorites, onions, carrots, potatoes, peas, beans, cucumbers, lettuce, hot peppers, and sungold cherry tomatoes – though they do like regular feeding with a good nutrient rich plant food.
These are vegetables that are almost ‘set-and-forget’ veggies (ok the tomato is actually a fruit) that make excellent eating and are less demanding than some to grow. Hot chilies for instance grow amazingly well even in a pot on the window ledge.
The most important thing? Grow what you like to eat yourself – or you can trade with a neighbor! Another option is to grow what you cannot buy in the store.
