Nothing compares to the satisfaction felt by a vegetable gardener when they sit down to a summertime feast to relish the rewards (both produce and veggies) of their hard work.
We withstand the difficult tasks required for success.
vegetable garden
In preparation for succulent tomatoes, crisp sweet corn, and spicy habanero and jalapeño peppers.
But what if you don’t have space at home for a large in-ground garden or have a physical limitation which prevents you from tending a large vegetable garden? Even if you lack the space or stamina to grow a large vegetable garden, there are strategies you can use to grow vegetables in small spaces.
Consider containers
If your gardening area is restricted, specific types of cucumbers, peppers, squash, tomatoes, along with some root vegetables like carrots and radishes, can thrive in big pots. These container-grown plants often produce just as much yield as those planted directly in the soil.
One major benefit of cultivating plants in containers is their portability; you can position them around your property—such as on lawns, decks, or patios—as long as they get a minimum of eight hours of direct sunlight daily.
Despite lacking outdoor space with ample direct sunlight for most of the day at your residence, you can “follow the sun” by relocating potted plants periodically throughout the day to ensure they get maximum solar exposure.
To achieve success in cultivating container-grown vegetables, start by choosing types of vegetables that thrive in pots. Typically, these cultivars yield compact plants with diminished stature but comparable harvests to standard garden veggies. Always check the information provided on seed envelopes or plant labels to identify such dwarf varieties.
Growing vegetables in containers presents several hurdles, notably the increased frequency of watering required since container soil warms up and loses moisture faster compared to earth-bound plants due to its elevated position above the ground.
Select plastic containers since they won’t dry out as quickly compared to clay and unglazed pots. Ensure that there are drainage holes in whichever container you use to avoid root rot.
Raised beds
Although numerous gardeners opt to
cultivate veggies in elevated planters
To tackle issues stemming from inadequate soil quality, cultivating vegetables in elevated planters can serve as an effective approach for optimizing limited garden space within a compact backyard area.
Large dimensions aren’t necessary for raised garden beds to yield an impressive harvest of veggies. These beds can be made from various materials such as wood, rock, or metal, or bought pre-assembled. Think about setting up multiple smaller raised beds in varied spots to make efficient use of limited space within your yard.
Using higher raised beds can assist gardeners who have difficulty bending, stooping, or kneeling for extended periods due to mobility issues. These elevated gardens enable individuals to stand or remain seated in a wheelchair while tending their plants, and such beds can either be built or bought.
Grow a square-foot garden
A method to increase output in a raised bed involves implementing a square-foot gardening approach. This technique uses an organized way of planning, cultivating, and managing a fruitful garden within limited areas by dividing it into smaller sections shaped as grids where each segment measures one foot by one foot. Seeds or individual plants are then strategically positioned inside these designated segments following precise spacing guidelines.
Vining plants such as cucumbers, pole beans, squash, and tomatoes can be cultivated vertically around the edges of a square-foot garden. This approach maximizes the use of available gardening area, helping conserve resources like water, soil additives, and effort—ultimately leading to an optimal yield within that confined space. Typically, weeds do not appear in a thoughtfully designed square-foot garden.
Grow up
Expanding vertically is a great approach for cultivating vegetables in limited areas. Plants such as cucumbers, peas, squash varieties, melons, and pole beans can be sown directly into the soil and trained onto trellises positioned against fences or walls provided those spots get sufficient light.
Walls and fences oriented towards the south are excellent locations for incorporating vertical planters to make the most of your available space for cultivation.
Window boxes serve as excellent containers for growing herbs, radishes, beets, petite carrots, and various lettuces and leafy greens. Should you possess unutilized indoor areas, consider setting up vertical gardens with the aid of grow lights or towers, along with employing hydroponic, aeroponic, or aquaponic cultivation methods.
Edible landscaping
If you have limited planting space, think about incorporating vegetables into existing shrub borders or mulched sections within your yard. Even though we typically do not view vegetables as decorative elements, they can still enhance the visual appeal when mixed with ornamental plants in your garden setting.
Vegetables like okra, eggplant, beets, carrots, along with multicolored lettuces and greens, can serve both ornamental and culinary purposes. As before, make certain to select planting spots that get at least eight hours of sunshine daily.
Mike Hogan serves as an Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources and holds the position of associate professor at Ohio State University Extension.
hogan.1@osu.edu
The article initially appeared in The Columbus Dispatch.
Growing Vegetables in Limited Garden Areas
