Crops for
SMALL SPACES
These easy vegetables and salads will keep going all summer, no matter how little outdoor space you have for them
H
omegrown tastes better 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. Steer clear of anything needing elaborate preparation and cultivation and opt for easy produce such as cut-andcome-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 also a 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.
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 sowing your own seeds is easy to do and is much cheaper. There are two ways of doing it: either in seed trays for transplanting out later or straight into containers outside. Remember, for crops like salad leaves and beans, you will need to keep sowing at
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regular intervals to ensure a steady crop throughout summer.
When space is tight
Even if your outdoor area is small, as long as you use it efficiently there’s still lots you can grow. The sheltered environment of 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
Make the most of balcony space with planters designed to be hung safely
Fresh and fabulous!
