PRACTICAL ADVICE Growing more food in less space
20 WAYS TO GROW MORE FOOD IN LESS SPACE When you want to grow your own food, but don't have the luxury of a large garden, it comes down to getting the most out of the space you have.
1 A bed of their own.
Make permanent garden beds no more than one metre wide and separated by paths so that the entire garden is easily reached without stepping on the soil. Whether your garden beds are raised for easier access or at ground level, the important thing is that they are located in sun.
2 No gaps.
Take a cue from permaculture and plant intensively. There is no need to plant in straight rows. Seedlings can be grown in small informal groups, blocks or hexagon patterns. Grow quick crops like lettuces in between slower growing crops like carrots and broccoli. Have seedlings ready to plant in gaps as you harvest. Combo seedling packs from the garden centre are a great way to grow a wider variety in a small space.
3 Mulch mulch mulch.
Ideally, soil will be covered with crops for most of the year. Between times, any bare soil should be hidden under a protective layer of straw or other organic mulch. This keeps moisture in and space-robbing weeds out while building the soil for future crops.
4 Succession planting.
To avoid waste, plant or sow a small number of each kind of vegetable at a time. Why have a whole garden full of lettuces ready at once when you could grow a variety of tasty greens in the same space? Stagger your harvest by planting a few seedlings every few weeks.
5 Shun old seeds.
The fresher the seed, the more vigorously it will grow, giving your garden the most productive plants that are ready to eat in a shorter space of time. Most seed loses vigour quickly as it ages, so don’t waste precious space on seed that has reached its use by date. Even if old seed germinates, the resulting seedlings are weaker, slower growing plants.
6 Grow favourites.
Plant what your family most wants to eat. For example, if it’s hard work to get the kids to eat broad beans, maybe use the space for peas instead. Involve the family in prioritising which vegetables or which fruit trees to plant.
7 Focus on fresh.
Carrots and onions will keep until you next go shopping but salad greens will always be freshest (and healthiest) when picked straight from your garden.
8 Grow what grows best.
Trying to grow crops that fail to thrive in your soil or climate is a waste of space. Seek advice on the right crops to plant in each season. Winter chilling is needed for most stone fruit varieties, although some varieties will set fruit with less chill than others. Citrus trees grow best in warmer climates, even though some are more cold hardy than others.
9 Choose high yielding plants.
Go for vegetable and fruit varieties that give the highest yields. It’s a gamble to devote precious space to that wildling pumpkin or tomato plant that grew from your compost heap. Grow the plants that give the most food for the space they take to grow. With lettuces we can eat the entire plant except the roots. Sweet corn on the other hand, takes a lot more space for the amount of food it produces, even if it is energy dense and delicious.
10 Big crops on small trees.
Space-saving dwarf fruit trees produce a very high volume of fruit for their size. Plant dwarf fruit tree varieties or those grown on dwarfing rootstocks. Column shaped Ballerina apples are fantastic for narrow spaces and they grow well in containers too.
11 Make way for winners.
When the disease status of a tree means its fruit is no longer of a high standard and its yield is low, it’s time to say goodbye and make space for something more productive.
12 Grow vertical
Make the most of every sunny wall or fence to grow climbing edibles such as beans, passionfruit or grapes. Grow peas and cucumbers on teepees or trellis and train fruit trees along wires. Espaliers are highly decorative and an efficient way to grow more fruit in less space.
13 Feed the soil.
The more food we harvest from our soil, the more we need to give back. Use compost to replenish and build your soil and achieve high yields. Plants grow faster with the right kind of feeding. Feed vege plants as recommended at planting time and during the growing season to support rapid growth. Apply seaweed solution to strengthen young roots and improve nutrient uptake.
14 Invite pollinators.
Maximise the productivity of fruit trees and summer vegetables like zucchini by making sure their flowers get pollinated. Grow plants that attract bees and other pollinating insects. Check whether or not your chosen fruit tree needs a pollinator variety for peak productivity.
15 Grow potatoes.
Potatoes are high-energy food with high yields that can be achieved in limited space. They are easily grown in a sack or a bucket (read more on page 20). Choose high yielding varieties like ‘Listea’, ‘Summer Delight’ and ‘Rocket’.
16 Cover up.
Make reusable frames that support frost cloth, bird net or insect mesh to protect against crop losses.
17 Get water wise.
An effective watering system that is easy to use can save water and ensure crops get all the moisture they need for unchecked growth, maximising productivity.
18 Grow food in containers.
If a balcony or patio is all the space you have, plant in bags, pots and planter boxes. Choose containers that are a manageable size but hold plenty of soil and won’t dry out too quickly. A depth of 30-40cm depth is plenty for most vegetable plants.
19 Prune for productivity.
The right kind of pruning helps keep trees to a manageable size with fruit that’s in easy reach. It also allows more sunlight into a tree which means tastier fruit and more of it.
20 Multi-purpose.
Substitute purely ornamental plants with those that produce something edible. Fruiting plants can double as screen trees, sun shades, hedges, and wall decoration. Perennial herbs make attractive ground cover plants and can fill a garden with colour when they flower. If there is room for only one lawn tree, make it a fruit tree. Or create a ‘family tree’ with three or four different fruit varieties (read more on page 18).