Small Space Gardening in the Kitchen Garden

Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

SMALL SPACE GARDENING-COURTYARD STYLE

Modern day gardens are much smaller than they used to be.

Many gardeners and would be gardeners, hanker for a produce filled garden with as many different edibles as befits their lifestyle. If you you only have a small space such as a paved courtyard or even just a balcony, but don’t know what to do next, this next segment will spur you onto creating your own oasis, without digging up the stones or pavers. Be inspired

• Corinne has managed to squeeze in over 200 plants into a small paved courtyard-that doesn't even include duplicates of plants.
• A good start is with recycling crates from your local council, to give you an idea of what works for you. Alternatively, plant into lots of containers that can be moved around to follow the sun.Then venture into raised garden beds.

Making the right choice

• Before any planting, determine the movement of the sun in your small space and and note down the hours of sunlight and shade in each part of your small space/courtyard.
• Choose those edibles that like all day full sun for those spots that get 6 hours plus of sunlight such as tomatoes.
• Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, rocket, Swiss chard and kale, don't mind a bit of shade throughout the day if your have only 3-4 hours of sunlight.
• If you only have morning sun then choose vegetables such as carrots, celery, and dwarf beans.
• For those spots with morning shade and afternoon sun, the choice is climbing cucumbers, climbing peas and beans.

Soil prep is key for Corinne.

• Grow cucumbers on a lattice made of string. The raised garden beds are made up with homemade compost, worm castings and bought in compost and other organic material.

Think of vertical spaces

• Think about growing vines like cucumbers and zucchinis and even nasturtiums, vertically.
  

Let’s find out more by listening to the podcast.
I'm talking with Corinne Mossati drinks writer and founder of the gourmantic garden website. www.thegourmanticgarden.com
Don’t be put off by lack of space you may have because no space is too small to have plants, even if it’s just herbs on the kitchen windowsill.
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