In this blog post, we’ll explore how to grow fruit and veg in a small space. That could be a little green area, courtyard or even a windowsill! If you’ve always wanted to have a go at growing your own fruit and vegetables but thought space was an issue, read on and find out how you can bring fresh food to your table with limited space.
Why grow your own fruit and vegetables?
There are many reasons why people grow their own food. It can be an affordable source of organic produce. Some people get a huge sense of personal wellbeing from it. Others may have grown up growing fruit and veggies with their families and want to pass their knowledge on to their own children.
Growing delicious fruits and vegetables with your child can be a wonderful experience. It can encourage them to have an appreciation of where our food comes from. It may also teach them about patience and responsibility, as well as more practical gardening skills.
We know that gardening and spending time in nature together is great for bonding with your child, and that it can reduce anxiety in children and improve their wellbeing. The same can also be said for adults. If you can grow fruit and veg in a small space together, you could reap the emotional benefits, as well some tasty treats!
Let’s take a look at some of the great ways to grow food with limited space.
A windowsill
Never underestimate the power of a sunny windowsill. Herbs, radishes and salads, such as lettuce, can grow very well in indoor pots. Many items that can be fund around the home can be used as a container, provided there are some holes for drainage. A top tip of ours would be to keep some of your recycling to grow veg and herbs from seed in. Yoghurt pots, plastic punnets or tomato and fruit trays are ideal for planting seeds.
A cardboard inner from a toilet roll is also great for filling with compost and adding some seeds to. Once seedlings have appeared – and after the last of the frosts – they can then be planted straight into the ground outside. Convenient, easy, inexpensive and your efforts will add some beautiful greenery to your home, too!
Plant pots and containers
Plant pots and containers can be a useful (and pretty!) way to grow fruit and veg in a small space. There are a very wide variety of delicious fruits, vegetables and herbs that can be grown in pots. Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, lettuce, radishes and cucumbers do well, as do chives, mint, parsley, basil, strawberries and blueberries.
Hanging baskets and window boxes
You don’t have to limit yourself to planting on the ground. Hanging baskets and window boxes can be a great way to grow herbs and cascading fruit and vegetables such as strawberries and some varieties of blackberries. Mini peppers and chillies also grow well in baskets, as do smaller varieties of tomatoes, such as cherry. Window boxes can be used in the same way – just ensure they are correctly fixed to the wall.
Utilise borders and fences
If you have a small garden with borders, don’t feel you can only have shrubs or flowers growing there. Borders can be a great place to plant climbing veggies, such as runner beans, up a fence. Attach some mesh, bamboo canes or string to your fence so that the climber’s tendrils have something to grow up. Woody herbs, such as rosemary, can also grow wonderfully in borders.
Raised beds
Raised beds are a fantastic way to define planting areas. In a small garden, this can be even more beneficial to help keep your outside space organised and utilised effectively. In a bed, there’s no limit to the fruit and vegetables you can plant. It is also possible to plant crops with partner plants to maximise growth and efficiency. Marigolds help to repel pests, while nasturtiums attract pollinators.
A mini polytunnel
A polytunnel is a steel semi-circular framed tunnel with a plastic cover, made typically from polyethylene. It is used for growing vegetables, fruits and flowers. Polytunnels work a bit like greenhouses: by trapping warm air inside and creating a mini microclimate. They can also protect plants from hail, wind and rain. They come in all different shapes and sizes, so you can choose the one most suitable for the space you have available.
