#18. Growing Vegetables in a Thimble Size Yard
People often get discouraged when they don't have the space they need to grow their vegetables. But fruits and vegetables will grow in pots, grow bags and hanging containers. You just need to get creative, take care of the plants and provide the right growing conditions for them.
With all the concerns there are today about how things are grown and the dangers of toxic chemicals and pesticides, it is safer and healthier to grow your own vegetables. You are in control of what you grow and eat.
There are various factors that govern what you can grow. Regardless of how little space you have, these factors need to be considered.
Soil is the number one priority for anyone planning to grow their own vegetables. When growing in the ground, you need to have the right soil, pH balance and nutrients to grow healthy vegetables. Growing in containers means your growing is not restricted by soil type. You simply need a very good quality of potting soil or compost. In this case you need to choose vegetables that will thrive in a container and provide the right growing conditions.
If you are willing to take that step and make your miniscule yard into a vegetable garden – good for you. Select the sunniest patch of garden and level the ground. This means digging the lot up, getting rid of the weeds and clearing debris like stones. The ideal soil is one that is not too sandy or clayey with good draining ability. You don't want soil that holds onto the water making the plants soggy.
You may have to modify the soil by adding organic matter to increase the soils water retention capacity. You can add well rotted manure and compost to the soil as well.
Try not to plant up against the north side of the house or under trees. The trees, with their vast network of roots, will absorb all the water and nutrients meant for your vegetables. While full sun is required for almost all vegetables, some crops like beets, carrots and turnips can grow in partial shade. You need to see which part of the plot gets some shade during the day and divide up the vegetables accordingly.
Growing in pots means you can move the pots around to get maximum sunlight, but make sure you have provided adequate drainage for your plants.
Put mulch on top of the soil to hold in the water and make sure that you water regularly to prevent drying out.