Secrets to Successful Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces | Gardening

By SarahDuke
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When we think of a vegetable garden, we usually imagine a large space, but it's not essential to have a big area to grow a good crop of vegetables. In fact, not many people have that kind of space, and still grow plants that flourish in a small place. If you have plenty of sunshine, you can make a roaring success of vegetable gardening in small spaces.

It is easy to grow a garden in a variety of different places, including in some planter pots on the porch or even on a small piece of ground in your tiny back yard. You see, the size of the garden is not what matters. However, the quality of your gardening will matter if you want plants that are thriving. Even if you have a small garden, it can be better than a large one if you work hard to make it grow.

Make sure that you plan out the garden you're creating to make sure you use all of the space available. Take a bit of time to do some research on the various plants you plan on growing in the garden as well. Figure out which ones are going to need special care, if some of them need more sunlight than others, and if there are some of your plants that won't grow well next to other types of plants.

Once you have a plan, it will help you place the plants in your garden, whether you are using planters or a small area of your backyard. You'll also need to research when you should plant each plant as well. There are some plants that need planted earlier than others.

You'll need to buy the seeds or plants that you are going to plant as well. Be sure that you have planters that are big enough if you are going to go with a pot garden. Some plants will need a bit more space for growing, so be sure that they are not too crowded.

Quality potting soil is also important. Providing your plants with the right nutrients will help them to grow wonderfully to provide you with a great garden. Take a trip to a gardening center in your area to figure out which soil is going to work the best for your needs.

Even if you have a garden that is small, you may end up having a problem with insects on your plants. You have several options that will help you to take care of this problem.

Encouraging lizards, birds, and frogs in your garden can help, since they are predators of insects. Keep water nearby to attract these predators to your gardening area. Also, there are a variety of common household items that can help you keep insects at bay, including garlic, special soaps, and hot pepper.

Some fertilizing soil has ingredients mixed in that will help repel some pests, so check them out as well. If you feel you must use pesticides, use them sparingly. Most of these harmful chemicals can affect the plants as well as animals and children, so use only what's absolutely necessary for your garden.

No matter how large or small your garden may be, you need to make sure you nurture it. Get rid of any weeks and make sure that soil is aerated from time to time and watered regularly. Without the right care from you, your garden will never thrive.

Small gardens can thrive just as much as larger ones, so if you don't have the space for a big garden, just make use of the space you do have and grow healthy and robust plants. With the proper care, any garden can produce excellent plants.

About the Author

Sarah Duke is publisher of The Vegetable Patch, where you'll find lots of great information for starting a vegetable garden.

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