Ideal crops for small vegetable gardens
What to grow when there are small spaces for gardening
Growing a small vegetable garden is like living in a small house: it's not as easy as it looks. One of the keys to success is making good plant choices. Choose compact, productive plants that are still plentiful even though they take up little space.
I learned this when I moved from a 10-acre farm to a small townland. I had to reconsider my vegetable garden. I can no longer cultivate anything that arouses my interest. I had to become very selective.
Each year, seed lists have an expanded selection of vegetables, many of which are selected for their compactness. While many gardeners value productivity and taste, small space gardeners are looking for plants with ornamental qualities and longevity.
It took me a few years to bring my crops to fruition each year in my small garden and reduce my list. I’ll start with a base of tried and true favorites: lettuce, basil, and tomatoes. But every year I allow myself to try some new varieties. To supplement my harvest, I buy vegetables from the CSA or farmer’s market. Below are some of my recommendations, along with recommendations from seed companies that conduct extensive testing to provide the best varieties.
Basil
Every gardener is planting sweet basil, for good reason. The small aromatic leaves evoke sensations, adding a bright flavor to pesto, salad dressings, and more. There are more than 80 varieties of basil, including some "miniature" varieties suitable for small gardens. Pistou is a very rare form of sweet basil that is ideal for gardeners or window boxes. Tight green mounds can be applied to the edges of a large plant.
Basil is easy to grow from seed and is available on most seed lists. Learn how to grow basil.
Chard
"Cut and Come Ain" is a welcome quality in any garden plant. Harvesting the leaves actually promotes higher growth. With upright growing habits and brightly colored stems, the Rainbow Chart works well in tight spaces.
Since it is in the chart beet family, it is easy to grow from seed, but keep in mind that seedlings need to be thinned to ensure proper spacing. For smaller containers, it is easier to start with transplanting instead of seeds
Eggplant
Oriental eggplants are known for their compact habit, making them a good choice for pots and gardeners. It is difficult to choose a favorite out of dozens of categories. According to Grenell Engelskirsen, Experimental Manager of High Mowing Organic Seeds, Ping Dung Long Eggplant tops its list. “Thin purple eggplants hang from small plants of this beautiful heirloom genus,” he says. "The plant is small but capable of producing a lot of eggplants." The 10 "long fruit is narrow, suitable for cutting and cubing; the skin is soft and the taste is smooth.
Sow the seeds indoors and transplant them in pots and gardens when the hot weather comes. Tip: When starting eggplant and pepper seeds, use the heat below for best germination. Place the seedling trays at 85 degrees F. or in a germination mat set on top of the refrigerator, where the heat of the device will provide heat. Learn how to grow eggplant.
Hot peppers
Hot peppers are an edible final decoration for window boxes and small gardens. The plants are ornamental and the fruits last a long time. “It’s hard to pick a favorite,” says Nina Progas of the Sustainable Seed Company, who admits she’s crazy about all the hot peppers. "Black Hungarian pepper is so colorful that it is not only in the garden but also on the patio in pots." The purple flowers highlight the emerald-green leaves. During the season, the fruit turns green, then black, and finally red. Plants can grow up to about 30-36 ", which is slightly larger than a window sill, but is great for larger containers. For smaller plants, try their patio chili seeds. The short fruits grow upwards, resembling flames. The color changes from yellow to orange and mature red...
Tomato
Fast-growing and thriving, the cherry tomatoes sink to the crust in a short row. However, farmers do not have enough compact varieties for small spaces Have focused. Start with seeds or find plants at a local nursery. Learn how to grow cherry tomatoes.
Mesclun Mixes
The word mesclun means a variety of greens, once the cause of wild weeds that farmers in Europe sought to supplement their limited diet. Many of the compounds found today are made from fast-growing arugula and mustard, which are not suitable for containers. However, you can create your own container-friendly mescaline. Take a look at the Italian endives and escarole that can be harvested leaf by leaf. Or, try Purslane, which has unusual, succulent leaves that are high in omega 3 fatty acids. Seed companies offer seasonal mixes, so you can start with a spring mix. After harvest, replant with a mixture that can withstand the summer heat, followed by a third of autumn greens, such as cold-tolerant cabbage and collards.
The seed for Mesklan is widely available, which includes compounds such as Ringed Gringild Crumbled Cress and Purple Raba Pop Mix. By the way, Purple Raba is a cold seasonal salad mix that has been selected for its solid purple leaves, cold hardiness, and resistance. Better color emerges between autumn and spring sunrises.
Lettuce
Lettuce comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and the key to a great-looking container garden is to mix it up. Grow a variety of greens, Little Gem, mini romaine that creates a sweet, dense heart. Add the loose-leaf type with some merlot, red butterhead, and Lolla rosa, frilly leaves.
Lettuce usually grows from seed to salad in 45 days. Plan to harvest leaf to leaf to extend the season or a continuous crop is ready to fill the gap.
Edible flowers
The natural choice for containers and small space gardens, edible flowers add inevitable beauty. My favorites include nasturtium, violas, and calendula, which can be planted early in the season and will continue to bloom throughout the summer if picked. The marigold, the lemon gem, is the highlight of my garden because of the fragrant ferny foliage that emits the scent of lemon.
If you do not find transplants, most edible flowers are easy to grow from seed. Push the seeds into the soil where they should grow
Pole Beans
Another way to use space: grow vertically. Choose a flag like Polar Beans that will happily climb the crossbar. My favorite is the Italian deity Trionfo Violetto. This ornamental and edible plant is evergreen with a purple base. In mid-summer, numerous lavender flowers appear, followed by thin, purple-pressed beans.
Polar beans are easy to start from seed and are planted where they need to grow
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