PERFECT CROPS FOR SMALL SPACES

Crops for SMALL SPACES

These easy vegetables and salads will keep going all summer, no matter how little outdoor space you have for them

omegrown tastes

Hbetter and is so easy to do. It’s also good for your wellbeing: growing your own produce gives you a sense of calm – and a regular supply to eat. From salad with extra crunch to heavenly scented tomatoes and fresh herbs, it’s all very doable.

The trick is to grow small amounts of different crops that offer big rewards. Avoid anything needing elaborate preparation and cultivation and opt for easy produce such as cut-and-come-again salad leaves, perpetual spinach and dwarf kale, herbs, chillies, dwarf varieties of French beans and compact tomatoes. Edible flowers such as nasturtium, borage and calendula are another good choice, and add a pretty touch to the garden. Another idea is to plant mixed containers of herbs, tomatoes and chillies, for example, or large pots of mixed herbs, rather than separating varieties into individual pots. This adds more interest to your planting.

When space is tight

Even if your outdoor area is small, as long as you utilise it efficiently there’s still lots you can grow. The sheltered environment offered by a balcony means it’s the perfect growing space. There’s usually plenty of wall area for slotting in vertical planters or trellis to provide support for young plants. Courtyards and patios generally offer more space for growing things than a balcony or terrace, but shade can be an issue if you’re overlooked. Just remember to choose the sunniest and most sheltered spot possible for your plants. Balconies can be great spots for planters

Getting started

You need to decide whether you are going to grow from seed or from plug plants. Plug plants and larger potted ones are widely available from garden centres and via mail order, but you can also sow your own seeds with great results. It’s very easy to do and not too late to start, but a bit more effort than buying young plants, of course! There are two ways of doing it: either in seed trays for transplanting out later or straight into containers or troughs outside. Remember, for crops like salad leaves, lettuce and beans, you will need to keep sowing at regular intervals to ensure a steady crop throughout summer.

Top tip

Make the most of the space on your balcony by using planters and racks that are designed to be hung safely on the railings.

Did you know…

According to Guy Barter, chief horticulturist of the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK, growing your own food is a hot trend. It’s an obvious way of helping to support the environment by reducing plastic use and countering food miles. He tips chillies as the number-one choice as they’re so easy to grow.

Fresh and fabulous!

How to grow

While shallow pots are suitable for growing salad leaves and herbs, you will need to use deeper containers for crops such as beans and tomatoes, to accommodate their deeper roots. Vegetables always do best in well-drained compost. Make sure there are enough drainage holes in the base of the container and add a layer of broken crocks. Use a light, free-draining compost such as John Innes No 2 and mix in a good handful of horticultural grit, then raise the pots on feet to allow excess water to drain away. Your crop will benefit from feeding, so either add a controlled-release fertiliser to the soil or use a generalpurpose feed. Tomatoes will need a high-potash feed, while leafy crops like spinach and lettuce will benefit from a nitrogen-rich fertiliser.

5 EASY CROPS FOR POTS

Perpetual spinach

The perfect cut-and-comeagain crop, this will be prolific throughout summer and autumn and into the following year, giving you a steady supply. Pick smaller leaves for the salad bowl and just remember to keep on harvesting – and it will keep on giving. Try ‘Popeye’ or ‘Medania’.

Zesty rocket

The one salad leaf you won’t want to be without. Packed with flavour, it looks pretty growing in a handy pot by the back door, too. The tastiest salad leaf around is also the easiest one to grow. Just remember to pick regularly to keep the leaves coming fast. Try ‘Skyrocket’, ‘Apollo’ or ‘Runway’.

Dwarf French beans

Available in purple and yellow varieties, as well as green, these love a container and only grow to around 40-60cm (18-20 inches) in height. They don’t need a bamboo wigwam as they’re self-supporting. Even better, they’re stringless, which means less prep in the kitchen. Try ‘Boston’, ‘Amethyst’ or ‘Green Arrow’.

Tumbling tomatoes

Choose a compact bush variety with clusters of cherry tomatoes that will cascade over the sides of a basket, container or window box, with no need for training or trimming off side shoots. A great option if space is limited. Try ‘Tumbling Tom Red’, ‘Balconi Red’ or ‘Tumbler’ varieties.

Spring onions

Sow seeds in a large pot of compost, keep the soil moist and as soon as they are pencil sized you can start harvesting them for salads – usually in around eight weeks. Leave others to round out and remember to keep sowing for a regular supply. Choose ‘White Lisbon’ or red- stemmed ‘Apache’.