By Timothy Gamble (March 27, 2017)
Note: Tips quoted from other sources are marked
with a link to the original source. Unmarked tips are from me.
The point
of this article is that you can grow at least some of your own food,
even if you only ave a very small yard. Even if you have no yard at all, you
can grow some veggies and herbs in containers on a patio or balcony, or
in windows.
1- With any type of gardening, it is important to plant crops that you
and your family actually like and will eat. Planting foods that you
dislike, no matter how productive, will simply be wasted space (unless
you plan on selling or trading them, an unlikely goal for those with
very limited space).
2- Tomatoes are probably the most productive crop you can grow. Since
they are tall, however, you should take care not to plant them where
they will shade the shorter plants in your garden. Tomatoes are a good
choice because they are packed with useful nutrients, store well
(canned, frozen, or dried) and are a basic ingredient used in many
dishes.
3- Green leafy vegetables, such as loose-leaf lettuce, turnip greens, spinach, mustard and
kale all make excellent choices for small plot gardening. You can grow a lot in a small space. And they are
all highly nutritious.
4- "There are all sorts of herbs that can be planted in containers and
moved around as you please. And a lack of space doesn’t mean that you
can’t grow some fruit or berries. Try raising strawberries in a
strawberry jar, plant a fig tree in a container, or grow a compact
blueberry bush in place of ornamental shrubs." -- veggiegardeningtips.com
5- "Many vegetables, including peas, pole beans, cucumbers, squash,
melons, and tomatoes, will naturally climb a support or can be trained
to grow upwards, leaving more ground space for other crops. Support
structures include cages, stakes, trellises, strings, teepees, chicken
wire, or existing fences let your imagination take over!" -- Small Plot and Intensive Gardening
6- "Vegetable breeders have been emphasizing smaller plants for
container and small plot gardening. Although some of the dwarf or mini
plants produce smaller fruits, often a greater number of fruits are
produced, yielding a good total harvest. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant,
and peas are just a few examples from the mini ranks. Some new cultivars
of vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers have compact, trailing
growth habits ideal for growing in hanging baskets." -- Small Plot and Intensive Gardening
7- Water less often but more deeply. Frequent light watering will
result in shallow root development. When needed, water only once or
twice a week but thoroughly enough to soak the soil down to at least six
inches. This will encourage deep root growth.
8- Most small plot and intensive gardening techniques naturally
discourage weed growth, but weeds are still likely to appear in your
garden. Pull weeds as soon as you notice them. Weeds are easier to
pull when young and pulling them earlier will help prevent them from
spreading.
9- "For minimum maintenance and weed control, apply an organic mulch
around the plants after the soil has warmed. A mulch also helps retain
moisture in the soil. Grass clippings (3 to 4 inches), straw (4 to 6
inches), and sawdust (1 to 2 inches) are excellent mulches." -- Small Plot Vegetable Gardening
10- "Do not sow seeds too deeply or they may not germinate. Place
carrots, radishes, and lettuce no deeper than 1/4 inch. Large seeds such
as peas, beans, and cucumbers can be sown 1 to1-1/2 inches deep. Vine
crops can be planted six seeds in a cluster or hill and then later
thinned to four plants per hill." -- Small Plot and Intensive Gardening
11- "Thin seed rows to their proper spacing after the plants are 1-2
inches tall. Thin the plants with scissors rather than pulling them so
you won’t disturb the other plants. Use the thinnings for salads." -- Small Plot and Intensive Gardening
12- Grow only a few varieties. Trying to grow a little bit of
everything creates more work and yields less food. Since your space if
relatively limited, try growing only a few favorites, or look to grow
whatever costs the most at the market in your area.
13- Most herbs do really well in small pots. The pots can be moved
around to take full advantage of sunlight, and even taken indoors in the
fall to extend their productivity. Some herbs to consider: parsley,
chives, mints, basil, dill, oregano and thyme.
14- "To select your vegetable garden plot, consider what vegetables need
to thrive. Vegetables and fruits need 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. The
vegetable garden plot should be well-drained and convenient to water
(vegetables require 1 inch of water weekly or 75 gallons per 100 square
feet)." -- Preparing a Garden Plot (no longer available online)
15- "Soil that is loamy, well drained, and high in organic matter is
ideal for your vegetable garden. Visit your local cooperative extension
or health department and pick up a free soil-test kit. The ideal pH for
vegetables is 6.0 to 6.5. The test tells you if your soil needs lime
added (available at your local gardening center)." -- Preparing a Garden
Plot (no longer available online).
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The Mini Farming Bible: The Complete Guide to Self-Sufficiency on ¼ Acre - This book, by Brett Markham, contains detailed information on: Composting, Seed Starting, Pest and disease control, Selecting and saving seed, Raising chicken for eggs and raising chicken for meat, Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, parsnips, and other veggies, Weed control, and much more, all geared towards urbanites and suburbanites with small yards of ¼ acre or less!
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