Growing vegetables in a small space is becoming more popular, and eating fresh food from the garden tastes so good. There are a variety of options on how to grow vegetables even in a small space, such as an apartment. Do you a large garden but only require small quantities of vegetables? It makes sense to grow them in a smaller space, a raised bed system is ideal.
We can grow crops easily by putting them into containers. From growing micro greens on a windowsill, planting into pots or building a raised bed. All of these are methods work well for growing vegetables in small spaces. Even if you are an armchair gardener, you can grow crops indoors and that’s what I love about vegetables being grown anywhere.
Growing in pots and containers can range from small to exceptionally large and this is all relevant to the space you have available. Unless you plan to grow deep rooted vegetables then most vegetables are happy growing in to a depth of 45cm (18”) that would be a _ pot size (show image). Crops in pots and containers can provide you with a wide selection of edibles. For ease and convenience manufacturers now offer pre-sown seed mats. It is by far the easiest way to start growing edibles for the first time. With instructions provided you simple place them onto the top of your containers, light cover and wait for them to geminate, grow, and harvest. All you need to do is water them, apply a liquid feed, if necessary, then harvest when mature.
Growing indoors is possible but you need to understand that your plants will rely totally on your abilities to feed and water them. It all starts with choosing the available time you have and what free space there is and then deciding what you can grow. You may be limited to just windowsills or have a Juliet balcony that can accommodate a trough for growing in.
Growing in raised beds would be the idea way for anyone with mobility challenges and the elderly. Having said that, raised beds are popular for the following reasons
I personally love producing my edible crops in raised beds and I have found them to be more productive throughout the season. The soils warm up faster which means early crops can be sown, especially if you use protective covers.
Growing up Walls or vertical gardening as it is known can supply a large surface area which would otherwise remain empty. The best options include the wall of the house, create frames and structures for trailing plants to scramble up, pumpkins and squashes come to mind. The use of hanging baskets, old guttering and even pallets can supply great spaces for vegetables to grow in. Even with limited resources you could still create a vertical garden using old plastic bottles, large food tins and even old shoes drilled onto a batten and fixed onto a wall.
In the home garden, you can use interplanting, not so much to maximise yields, but to save space and plant more vegetables
Charlie Nardozzi - Edible Landscaping - Companion and Interplanting
If you do have flower borders and have no extra growing space, why not consider interplanting your vegetables with your flowers. Edible Landscaping – Companion and Interplanting by Charlie Nardozzi writes ‘In the home garden, you can use interplanting, not so much to maximize yields, but to save space and plant more vegetables.’ In my own garden I have used interplanting as a means to grow more vegetables. The added benefit is a wider diversity of pollinating insects helps to control the pests that may otherwise cause more damage to the plants.
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The following articles will be coming your way soon!
Vegetables for small spaces: indoors and outdoors – do you have no space at home but would like to grow some of your own food?
Vegetables for small spaces checklist – Do’s and Don’ts to help you grow successful crops in your own garden
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