Produce to grow in a small space

with Mat Pember, author and founder of the Little Veggie Patch Co

Lettuce With a shallow root structure and easy-going nature, lettuce doesn’t mind growing in close quarters, particularly amongst its salad friends. To maximise yield, pick leaf by leaf, taking from the outer mature leaves and working your way in. Make sure to water first thing in the morning; most pests are active at night. Herbs Presenting great value and perfectly suited to pots, herbs have almost monopolised the small space veggie patch awards. Much like with lettuce, harvesting stimulates subsequent growth. When growing herbs in pots ensure you use good-quality organic potting mix and to water well. Most herbs (with the exception of mint) will love the sunniest space you can afford them. Nasturtium Completely edible and delicious (from its flowers to leaves, stem and pods), a vertical climber (and cascader), all-round great companion (attracting pollinators for other vegetables and predatory insects to limit pests) and shallow-rooted plant, you’d have to harbour the irrational dislike of usefulness to not grow this plant. Mat’s latest book, with Dillon Seitchik- Reardon, Grow. Food. Anywhere., ($45, Hardie Grant Books) is out now. Visit littleveggiepatchco.com.au.