Have a small outdoor space? Consider a raised bed
Urban gardeners are looking for ways to maximize opportunity to grow edibles in compact areas
Not everyone has a traditional yard with ample space for perennial gardens and a vegetable patch. Despite this, clever green thumbs are maximizing the space they do have to grow a variety of edible crops.
From small urban postage-stamp-sized lots to balconies or rooftops, raised beds provide the perfect growing space for both edibles and ornamentals. And you don’t need carpentry skills to build one yourself. There are plenty of options to either buy or upcycle from items you may already have. Just a few square feet can produce fresh produce you can enjoy throughout the growing season.
Here are a few tips that will give you a head start on your garden: Consider your space’s growing conditions Most vegetables, especially the heat seekers — tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc. — require at least six to eight hours of sunlight a day to bear flowers and then fruit. Take a few days to assess where the sun moves in your space throughout the day to make sure you get enough light. If your space is windy, consider using a shield to protect your plants.
One great thing about raised beds is they can be placed anywhere, making them ideal for a small, urban yard, where the soil may be poor quality. Patio stones and decks are also great space candidates. If all the sunlight happens to shine on your driveway, for example, consider a long, narrow raised bed that runs alongside, or some other type of raised bed structure that will still fit when the car is parked.
Grow up, up, up Vertical gardening isn’t a new buzzword, but it’s one that continues to gain traction as green thumbs get creative with their growing structures.
To grow vining veggies, install a small trellis system to train plants to grow upwards towards the sky. This also leaves more space in the actual garden to grow other things.
You can also buy or build tiered structures with “drawers” you can fill with soil and plant greens, such as lettuce or herbs, which thrive in a shallower space. Upcycle a raised bed Antique markets, your parents’ backyard, these are both places where you may find items you can upcycle into a garden. Old wooden washtubs, wine barrels, wooden suitcases, you name it. Stock tanks are another modern-looking option that you can buy new or used. And an old table can easily be transformed into a mini salad garden. Consider fabric pots Fabric pots come in all shapes and sizes and because they’re lightweight, they are perfect for balconies and rooftops. (If you are gardening on a balcony or roof, be sure to look into weight restrictions before introducing a raised bed to the space.)
Many fabric raised beds are deep enough to plant root vegetables.
The best part is you can empty them out and fold them up (be sure they’re dry first) for the winter months, pulling them out again next spring. This also makes it easier to bring your “raised bed” with you when you move. Les Urbainculteurs and Woolly Pocket have online shops that sell fabric raised beds. Kit and caboodle Kits may seem pricey, but consider them a long-term investment. Local companies such as Freedom Growing offer raised bed kits perfect for a small area that gets a lot of sun, like the corner of a patio or balcony.
And everything you need to put them together will be delivered right to your door. If you don’t have the tools, borrow them from a neighbour or a local tool-lending library.
Other companies, such as Urban Bufco, will deliver a raised bed kit, build it and bring along the soil re-