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As you may have read in one of my previous posts, I love growing my own foods. For me, gardening is a therapeutic and rewarding activity that doesn’t necessarily require a huge backyard – mine certainly is not. In fact, the possibilities for creating a lush and vibrant garden are still abundant for those with limited space. In cities, people have found ways to grow many types of herbs and vegetables in rooftop gardens. The concept of vertical gardening can also be a game-changer in small spaces. Using wall-mounted planters, hanging baskets, and trellises can also maximize your vertical space and allow you to cultivate a variety of plants. Herbs, flowers, and many vegetables can thrive in these compact setups, bringing beauty and freshness to even the tiniest balconies or patios.
In recent years, there have been many types of hydroponic systems introduced. Some are small enough to put on your kitchen counter and others are very large. No matter what type you choose, remember, plants need light. So, look at one that can incorporate a good lighting system if you plan to use it indoors. Mine will hold up to 36 plants but it does not have a lighting system. I can get one, but it is very expensive. We actually keep ours outside year-round. We found a 10ft x20ft greenhouse on Amazon and we keep our hydroponic system in there. We can heat the greenhouse in the winter and it gets abundant sunlight. I also have a much smaller greenhouse (about 5ft x 8ft) that I use for starting seeds and storing supplies. This allows me to grow vegetables year-round. I wish I could say it was enough to supply all of our needs, but it’s not.
We put galvanized raised beds (that I love) in our larger greenhouse. We found them, you guessed it, on Amazon. We have two 2ft x 4ft and two 4ft x 4ft raised beds. The sides are about 1ft high. If using raised beds, you don’t want anything so large you can’t reach the center. To conserve the amount of soil needed to fill them, I used a layering method. Kitchen scraps, cardboard to stop grass growth, sticks, and then covered it all with compost and soil. This provides a very rich soil as the organic material breaks down. I am not an organic gardener so I do use a fertilizer specifically designed for vegetables that I mix into the soil. That’s just my preference, but if you save your kitchen scraps, including eggshells, you can add those to the soil. I actually use a combination of both.
Another type of gardening for small spaces is called “square foot” gardening. There are many books and planting templates on Amazon to help with proper spacing of various plants. Square foot gardening is a method that divides growing areas into small, manageable square foot sections – think about utilizing your flower beds. This concept was developed by Mel Bartholomew in the 1980s, and shows how to make gardening accessible to people with limited space. The garden bed is divided into one-foot squares, each designated for specific crops, based on their size and proper spacing. This method not only optimizes space but also emphasizes soil quality, as gardeners can focus on enriching each square foot with nutrient-dense soil. Square foot gardening is organized so it’s a good option for beginners. It’s also great for experienced gardeners with limited space.
Container gardening offers a versatile solution for those with limited ground space. Choose a variety of pots, window boxes, and containers to create a dynamic arrangement of plants. This approach allows you to experiment with different soil types and tailor the growing conditions for each plant. Whether you’re interested in cultivating a mini herb garden, a colorful array of flowers, or even small fruit-bearing plants, container gardening enables you to design a personalized and manageable green oasis within the constraints of a small space. With a bit of creativity and strategic planning, gardening becomes an accessible and enjoyable pursuit for anyone facing spatial limitations.
I hope you enjoyed reading about the various ideas for gardening. Remember, not all gardens have to be large. You can grow a lot of good, healthy foods in a small space if you’re willing to try. No matter what you decide, as I always say, live life and have fun!