Spring is right around the corner, and though we are currently battling through the Coronavirus Epicdemic which has everyone worried about their food source and how often to go into the supermarket, it makes now an even better time to start planning for a small or big Spring Vegetable Garden!
If this is your first year gardening, there are a ton of options to start growing your own vegetables. Try container gardening in raised beds or containers. It allows you to turn a condominium patio or apartment terrace into a small space garden. You can tuck a container full of pretty vegetables on a porch, hang some from an arbor or pergola, or line them up in a side yard if it’s sunny enough. A garden tower allows you to plant a multitude of plants in a small space. You can make your own grow tower or buy a ready-made version.
Container gardens offer a bit of instant gratification, too. Fill them with good soil, plant your seeds or seedlings, water, and you’ve got a little garden! Container gardening also allows you to extend the season. You can move pots around as the seasons change to catch the most sun. And you can bring pots inside if frost is threatening before your crop is ready to harvest.
Find Out What Zone You’re In
Since I am based in San Fernando Valley, I am considered Zone 10. The winter is warmer here so I can sustain plants longer without worrying that they will freeze. You can learn more about your gardening zone here.
Decide What Kind of Planting You Want to Do
Ok, this is kind of a broad statement, but what I mean is are you planning on doing the no till method of planting? Maybe you want to do raised garden beds. There are also container gardens, or even planting right into the ground. Think about how much sun or shade you have in those areas. Is the area windy? Try to keep in mind things like: container garden plants cannot have deep roots, carrots need soft soil in order for their roots to grow large and deep, cabbage does well in colder shaded areas and tomatoes thrive in lots of sunlight.
Choose vegetable plants with high yields for your small garden. If you’re limited on garden space, it makes sense to choose plants that are great producers. These crops are great options — consider them as you sort through all of your small garden ideas, trying to get the most from your space.
Plant Veggies with Fast and/or High Yields
When you have limited space to work with try growing vegetables that grow fast and have high yields.
- Radishes
- Leafy Greens (except spinach which I have found to be a slow grower)
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
- Carrots
- Beans (pole & bush)
- Peas
- Cucumbers
- Swiss Chard
This year I planted many variations of lettuce like argula, organic blend and romaine to name a few then I also planted zucchini, variations of squash, variations tomatoes, variation of peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, variations of basil, thyme, mint, cilantro, parsley, dill, chives, lemon balm and this was just to get started. 😋
There is so much more to gardening, this is really just the tip of the iceberg. Most of what happens in gardening is trial and error. Soil changes from region to region, zones are general guidelines but not necessarily going to tell you everything about what you should plant and when. Make sure to look at the seed packets for information on the plant or go buy seedlings at your local organic garden store. And, most importantly, have fun! Gardening will soon become an addiction, and you’ll be like me, waiting on the edge of your seat for winter to pass so you can begin planting your spring vegetable garden again!
