The story below is from our September/October 2022 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
You don’t need an acre of land to have a fruitful spring garden.
Whether you live in a pint-sized apartment in the city or in a suburb with a tiny backyard, there are countless ways you can use what room you have to create a lush, plant-filled outdoor oasis. Gardening pros share what you need to know to make the prospect of setting up a small space garden less daunting.
Benefits of Small Space Gardening
Mark Woods, owner of Woods Farms, says that one of the great things about small space gardening is that it’s a tried and true strategy that’s been around for hundreds of years. Its origins date back to the Native Americans’ Three Sisters growing method.
“They would plant corn, get the corn up, then plant running beans … that would run up the corn,” explains Woods. “Then they would put squash or pumpkins around the base of the corn stalk [which] would keep the animals from eating [the] beans.”
Neil Cox, co-owner of Country Corner, says that despite what many people believe, small spaces have great potential to abundantly produce. He also says that if you’re looking to cut down on maintenance, containing your plants to a finite space is the way to do it.
Ellen Urbanski from Townside Gardens adds that this approach is also perfect for people with mobility issues and time limitations. “Minimizing the garden to a small area can make gardening more manageable … and provides opportunities for outdoor and physical activity.”
Sarah Riddell
Ellen Urbanski from Townside Gardens says small space gardening is perfect for people with mobility issues and time limitations.
Effective Methods
For individuals living in abodes with little to no lawn, container gardening is the way to go. “[It’s] a good choice for those with patios or balconies,” says Urbanski. A total bonus is that containers also add some visual appeal to a space. “Single containers or an arrangement of pots of different sizes and shapes can be used to create an interesting focal point.”
Woods encourages gardeners to think outside the box when choosing containers. Collect items you have laying around your house that you could repurpose. “A friend of mine took guttering off an old house and he put [it] on the handrail of his balcony,” before sowing lettuce in it, shares Woods. For plants like tomatoes that have longer roots, he says five-gallon buckets work like a charm.
If you have a little land to devote to the project, raised beds are an excellent choice. Urbanski notes that a huge plus to this method is that you can customize your planters to fit your space, whereas Cox comments on their practicality. “Raised beds give you a little bit more control over water … and sometimes you can manage your soil a little bit better.”
If you’re looking to save some money, you can make raised beds out of wooden pallets. “It seems like [they’re] getting pretty popular,” says Woods. Pallets hold a generous amount of soil, which makes them a great home for plants with short to medium-length root growth. If you’re wanting to try something a little less traditional that requires infrequent watering, Woods says straw bale gardening is an alternative worth considering.
Plants that Thrive
The vegetation options for your small space garden are nearly endless. “Vegetables, annuals, perennials, bulbs, shrubs and trees can all be planted in either raised beds or containers,” says Urbanski.
Woods and Cox both recommend purchasing vegetable plants that are listed as bush varieties as they take up less room than regular plants. “I love the bush tomatoes [and] bush cucumbers,” says Woods. Cox notes that an exception to this rule are most standard squash and pepper species, as they are all fairly compact and will easily prosper in smaller areas.
If you’re itching to grow produce like melons that vine, Cox says all you have to do is plant strategically. “Put them along the edges [of your garden] so [they] don’t crowd the rest of the plot.” This also keeps them from shading your more petite crops.
Follow similar rules when picking out ornamental flora. “You just need to look for smaller varieties,” says Cox. “The landscape type tend to be more aggressive than the pot type,” so you’ll want to avoid those, especially if you’re planting in containers.
Important Factors to Consider
The conditions of the location you plan on using for your garden will often determine the types of vegetation that will thrive there. Urbanski says one factor that can make or break your gardening experience is sun exposure. Evaluate your space throughout the day. If the area stays sunny, then something labeled “full sun” is in order, but if it remains shadowed, you’ll want to look for a shade-loving plant.
An abundance of sunlight is imperative if you plan on growing lots of crops in your garden. “Contrary to popular belief, the sun’s never too bright,” says Cox. “You need [a space] with at least six hours of light … [but] the more, the merrier.”
He also notes that water is your plants’ best friend, but sprinklers aren’t. “Sprinklers can be a disease hotbed. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses are a really good way to irrigate … especially in a small space where you have limited airflow.”
While smaller spaces require less maintenance, Woods reiterates that no garden is completely care-free. “It’s just like your car,” says Woods. “If you don’t do maintenance on it, it’s not going to keep running.” He recommends setting a watering and fertilization schedule and sticking to it. This will keep your plants flourishing for months to come.
Words of Advice
Woods says not to get too overzealous when starting a garden for the first time. “Just start off small. Don’t go out spending hundreds of thousands of dollars … on big fancy pots and stuff like that. Start out with five-gallon buckets … and see if you can manage it.”
Gardening is all about trial and error, so Cox says not to be discouraged if something goes awry. He also urges new gardeners to seek advice from seasoned growers. “People who have done it before are better to give you recommendations than anybody.”
“Most of your local farmers [and] greenhouses know their product,” adds Woods, “and they can help you with … what you need.” So what’re you waiting for? Let’s get growing!
The story above is from our September/October 2022 issue. For more stories, subscribe today or view our FREE digital edition. Thank you for supporting local journalism!