Gardening in small spaces can be just as rewarding and fun as having a large garden area. Urban gardeners are increasingly growing their own food in areas sometimes less than 100 square feet. Balconies, patios, and even indoor windowsills provide excellent spaces for growing vegetables and herbs. Almost anything can be grown in a container, making it convenient for small-scale gardening. If you’re wondering what to plant to maximize your yield in a limited area, here are 9 of the best vegetables and herbs for small gardens:
Shallots:
Space shallots approximately 4-6 inches apart with rows 18 inches apart. Plant the bulb root side down, with the top of the bulb 1 inch below the surface to prevent elongated bulbs that don’t store well.
Carrots:
Sow seeds evenly in a shallow trench about 1/4 inch deep. Keep seeds moist for germination. Space rows about 12 inches apart and thin seedlings to 1 inch apart once the first leaves emerge, and then to 3 inches apart when true leaves appear.
Cherry Tomatoes:
Start tomatoes indoors by sowing seeds in expanding seed starting soil pods about 8 weeks before the last frost date for your area. Ensure seedlings receive at least 12-14 hours of light per day. Transplant into deeper pots as they grow, and then into the garden when they are 8-10 inches tall after hardening them off.
Runner Beans:
Set up three 6-foot poles in the ground in a tepee fashion, spaced 3 to 4 feet apart. Plant 6-8 seeds at the base of each pole and thin to 3 plants per pole once the second pair of true leaves appears. Regular harvesting ensures continuous bean production.
Garlic:
Plant garlic cloves 2 inches deep and 4 inches apart in well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter, ensuring the pointed end faces up. Shoots will emerge in spring.
Kale:
Plant kale in rows 18 inches to 2 feet apart and thin seedlings to 10 inches apart when they are 3 or more inches high. Thinning can be used for salads or as cooked vegetables.
Basil:
Space basil plants about 12 inches apart. Harvest young leaves regularly for culinary use.
Lettuce:
Sow lettuce seeds thinly in rows 1 foot apart. For leaf types, thin to 2-3 inches apart and then further when half grown. For head, Bibb, and cos types, space rows 18 inches apart and plants 8-10 inches apart.
Beets:
Sow beet seeds 1/2 inch deep in rows 12-18 inches apart. Thin seedlings to stand 1 1/2 inches apart when they are 4-6 inches high. As beets grow, pull every other one to allow remaining beets to grow larger.