When it comes to vegetable gardening, often the limited space you have made the idea of growing a large garden impractical. However, if you find yourself with a small yard, encourage yourself to look around and spot where you could make use of extra sunlight. While most of us grow plants for our gardens’ vegetables, others plant them for the sun’s rays itself. For most, thinking creatively about how to plant backyard garden ideas with limited space will often exponentially increase (or triple) your backyard garden’s potential vegetable surface space.
A great idea for a vertical vegetable garden is a trellis system, similar to those used in schools to hang baskets or other items. Trellises made of wood are a little more expensive to build than some other systems, but they are incredibly sturdy and have proven to work just as well as a more traditional wall. The first step in constructing a trellis, then, is to build four walls up against two corner walls. One wall on each side will hold the trellis in place while the second wall will support the wall of the trellis.
Next, fill in around the four corners with gravel or sand to ensure proper drainage and to shape the garden properly. Be sure to get a level and flat surface. Also, be sure that any crops you plant won’t be directly exposed to the sun, and that the planting area will receive at least six to eight hours of light per day.
Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, broccoli, and herbs such as parsley make wonderful crop plants for a vertical vegetable garden. Tomatoes are easy to grow, can be harvested often, and will keep for a long time. Cucumbers, on the other hand, don’t require a lot of water to thrive. Both of these produce delicious fruit, though the flavor of cherries may be enhanced by being pickled. Broccoli is another great crop to include in your vertical garden. The smaller varieties can hang baskets of fresh broccoli sprouts from their vines without getting soggy.
In addition to planting high, vegetables can also be grown in the ground close to the buildings. This is an ideal gardening solution for urban dwellers. Growing vegetables in raised beds allows you to be closer to your vegetables, and it can provide a cheaper way to get organic produce. Hanging baskets or small boxes filled with soil and fertilizer are a nice addition to any urban gardening toolbox. These tools are very useful for growing vegetables without taking up a lot of storage room. And hoses and sprinklers can easily be attaching to raise the plants safely from the roof.
No matter what type of gardening you choose, be sure to protect the root system by pruning. A well cared for garden will be able to grow year after year, provided you take care of the soil and plant life. Many vegetables will take care of themselves, but others may need some extra help. If you’re not sure how to handle a given plant, ask a friend or neighbor who has a vertical hydroponic garden for advice. Your neighbors could easily give you a few tips for success.
One of the challenges of growing a vegetable garden that thrives year after year is finding the right balance between too much and too little sunlight or shade. Some plants need full sun, while other vegetables like tomatoes need partial shade. Tending a garden that is in full sun all year can leave you with dried tomatoes or damaged vines. Growing tomatoes in a shady area, on the other hand, can cause the plant to do better and save you money on tomato purchases. Just be sure that you take care to place the plant in just the right location.
When you grow vegetables with tiny pots, you cut down on the amount of time you spend watering, fertilizing, and weeding. With these garden tools, you are able to prune your plants and thin out the vine crops without digging up every pot. The tiny pots also keep pests like rodents and insects from attacking your valuable produce. You’ll find that when you learn to care for your plants, they will reward you with bountiful harvests and beautiful looks.
