Only Have a Few Feet For a Garden? No Problem!

Only Have a Few Feet For a Garden? No Problem!

Our initial vision for a garden can often be bigger than our reality. We think of that neatly organized garden with a paved pathway between garden beds, a bird bath, and saturated colors sprawled out over a quarter of our backyard that friends and family come to admire. Unfortunately, that kind of garden is not realistic for many of us who live urban lifestyles and have daily time-commitments. We may have a patch of grass or simply a porch to work with at best, which can squash enthusiasm for starting a garden.
Fortunately, there are ways to grow extraordinary gardens in small spaces that satiate your horticultural desires, look beautiful, and the contents grown can be used to create tasty drinks and recipes! If you have as much as 8 square feet or as little as 4 square feet, then you have enough room for a raised bed garden. The following are a few options to consider based on garden size and what you can plant:

2X4 Bed: Salsa Garden
Salsa is a delicious, yet simple classic that is perfect for any occasion. The fresher, the more delicious, and nothing is fresher than ingredients from your small home garden. If you have 2 feet of width and 4 feet of length to spare in your yard or on your porch, consider growing a salsa garden.

Tomato

(1 Plant)

Tomato

(1 Plant)

Sweet Pepper

(1 Plant)

Basil

(2 Plants)

Cilantro

(9 Plants)

Scallions

(16 Plants)

Parsley

(4 Plants)

Hot Pepper

(1 Plant)

This is one example of multiple plant layouts for growing your own salsa ingredients (each square represents ~1 square foot), but there are many variations. As you become a more proficient salsa gardener, you can substitute other ingredients like oregano or white onions depending on your taste.

1X4 Bed: Stir Fry Garden
Stir Fry on Stir Fry-Day? Treat your friends to stir fry by featuring your very own home-grown ingredients. Even if you have just a narrow area large enough for a 1x4 Garden Bed, then you have enough space! Within 4 square feet, you can fit 4 stir fry ingredients perfect for a fun night.

Baby Bok Choy

(9 Plants)

Broccoli

(1 Plant)

Carrots

(9-16 Plants)

Scallions

(16 Plants)

When you are gardening in tight spaces, it’s important to garden efficiently. With 4 square feet, you can grow a delicious meal. Now the only challenge is learning how to use a wok!

2X2 Bed: Salad Garden
If you only have a little square in the corner of your porch, don’t let that hinder your gardening dreams. Raised beds come as small as a 2X2 square, perfect for gardening in a minimal space. It provides 4 square feet for gardening like the 1X4, but more consolidated if you don’t have 4 ft in length. That means the stir fry ingredients fit in this layout as well, but there are other planting layouts options to consider – like the salad garden. Light and refreshing, salad gardens are great for light meals when you want refreshing.

Head Lettuce

(2 Plants)

Tomato

(1 Plant)

Radish

(16 Plants)

Carrots

(9-16 Plants)

Square foot gardening is ideal for those who are working with specific space limitations. After measuring the area, gardeners can find a raised square foot bed that matches their needs. Additionally, raised beds are great if concrete is the only option for growing on. Quality beds provide at least 8 inches of depth which is the recommended minimum for healthy vegetables. Some, like large carrot varietals, need more depth which can be attained by stacking raised beds. Floor space may be limited, but your garden can still be deep!

A lack of space doesn’t have to curb your gardening. It just means you have to garden smarter - now get out there and grow!