While houseplants are so much fun, there’s just something about growing a plant from a seed or watching bulbs bloom, year after year. Growing your own food is not only sustainable, but it’s also incredibly rewarding to make something using ingredients you grew on your own. Plus, there’s just something very calming about getting your hands dirty. We’d like to think that gardening is accessible to everyone, even if you don’t have a huge backyard or garden to do it in, so we talked to an expert to share some of her best tips for successfully gardening in a tiny space.
Start With High-Yield Plants
Pick plants that will make the most of your small amount of space. “I suggest growing plants that will be used frequently, but in small amounts," says Pennington. “This gives plants time to regrow between cuttings. No sense in planting a crop that you’ll wipe out in one go.” Herbs generally like to be pruned back anyways as it promotes better growth. So if you love to cook roast chicken with fresh thyme and rosemary, grow those. Or if you love to make your own pesto, basil is an excellent choice. “I rely heavily on herbs for tiny spaces," notes Pennington. “I also grow plants that produce abundant quantities of ingredients that I know I’ll use often. Lettuces, for example, are wonderful to grow at home because they take up little space, produce (and reproduce!) quickly, and offer fresh greens for salads or a nice leafy garnish.”
Pay Attention to Pot Size
Shopping for pots can be stressful. “Not all plants do well in small pots that fit on windowsills and countertops. Most plants need legroom to stretch their roots," says Pennington. “Try to plant in a pot that’s a bit bigger than the plant will actually need.” If you use a pot that’s too small, you’ll have to be cautious of how many seedlings you actually grow because there will only be so much room in there. If you use a bigger pot, you’re giving more young plants a better chance of growing and reaching maturity.
Fertilize Regularly
It’s really important to fertilize or feed your plants because they need nutrients to thrive. “Containers are continually being flushed (from watering), so it’s important to keep them on a regular feeding schedule," explains Pennington. “Since containers are not a natural environment in which to grow plants, your goal as an urban or tiny space gardener is to mimic their natural soil conditions within the confines of your pots.” Look to fertilizers to provide that nutrients (though you should note that not all herbs need fertilizer).
Watch Your Watering
It’s so easy to overwater your plant, especially when it’s in a container. That notion often scares people into underwatering. “Too much or too little water will promptly stress out a plant. Do your research on each plant family so you can understand what the plant needs,” suggests Pennington. There are so many ways to research your plants these days. You can consult books, gardening websites, an online plant A-Z index, or even talk to someone at your local plant nursery.
