Edible Gardening in Small Spaces

Posted in Grow Your Own - Written by Carolynn on April 12, 2012

Organic food has become increasingly popular but most shops treat it as a luxury item which more often than not means a luxury price tag. Being able to grow your own food free from pesticides and eat it straight from the garden is not only rewarding but tastes great too.

Think your outdoor space is too small to grow your own vegetables or herbs? We’ve found some clever ideas to not only get you inspired but to show you how to make the most of the space you have.

GUTTER GARDENING

Here these old gutters have been repurposed and suspended above one another making the perfect hanging vegetable patch. They also create an interesting talking point.

Image credit: herblog.com

PALLET GARDENS

Vertical gardens are all the rage these days, so why not try making an edible one. Fern Richardson from lifeonthebalcony.com shows you how to transform an old shipping pallet into a vertical garden. Click here to view Fern’s step-by-step instructions.

Image credit: lifeonthebalcony.com

WINE CRATES

Keeping with the repurposing theme, here some old wooden wine crates have been turned into planter boxes. Not only do they look unique, these planters can be easily moved to suit your balcony or patio space, or repostitioned to maximise growing conditions.

Image credit: lhdesignsblog.com

CLEVER USE OF SPACE

This is a great example of maximizing the space you have to its full potential. The retaining wall is filled with herbs and vegetables, creating an edible garden.  An ingenious way of maximizing space in an area not normally used for this purpose.

Image credit: jamiedurie.com

WHAT TO PLANT NOW

Here in Australia, Autumn has arrived so it’s now time to plant your winter leafy greens and root vegetables. Here’s a list to get you started.

• Beetroot
• Broad Beans
• Brussel Sprouts
• Onions
• Spring Onions
• Garlic
• Carrots
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Kohl Rabi
• Lettuce
• Silverbeet
• Spinach
• Rocket
• Peas
• Turnip
• Kale
• Parsnip
• Radish
• Coriander
• Perennial Herbs such as Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Sage, Fennel and Tarragon

We’d love you to share your inspiration, advice or ideas for growing small edible gardens in urban environments. Send us some photos or upload your comments, perhaps you have your own small veggie patch you would like to show us.

Watch this space! The Small Garden’s online store is coming soon.

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