Size isn't everything!

[veggiechicken]

Yes, I know what you're thinking but this is about the size of your garden - or lack thereof!

I've been reading a book about "Square inch gardening" which claims that everyone, no matter where they live, with or without any outdoor space, can still grow food. This is by sprouting seeds, growing seedlings for eating small and other things that I don't really accept (like growing mushrooms in a cupboard).

The more I thought about it, the "size doesn't matter" concept made sense. The most productive areas in my garden are the greenhouse and the shopping trolley salad bed.
Why is that? Because I look after them, water them as required, weed and pick daily. By contrast, the end of the garden, where the courgettes and beans etc grow, has a sight-seeing visit every few days and is too big to cosset in the way that I do the GH.

I'd be interested to hear whether, in your experience, you agree with "small is bountiful" or "Big is best".

I have a cunning plan but that's for later.

[Small pumpkin]

What are you planning now
I'll be honest I really don't know
I think I look after the big and small equally, maybe even leaning slightly towards the larger areas.

It all depends on my mood on the day

[Jimny14]

Interesting VC, my consistently most productive area is the trug where I just do salad leaves all the time except depths of winter (it's just round from the back door so I see it daily and can keep tabs/water when required) and the rest of the areas are less well kept up wish as life is busy and I don't have the time consistently.

[annie8]

I tend to spend more time looking after greenhouse plants as they need it. The raised beds get walked past and depending on what I am growing get a bit of attention.

[rary]

What are you planning now

It all depends on my mood on the day

Don't get sucked in SP, you know what she's like

As for your mood on the day, we all know that for a ..... it's as changeable as the weather

[rary]

Interesting question VC having a small garden it is easier to keep on top of it, but it also means you have to be very selective of what you grow, there are a number of different things I would like to try growing but don't have the room for them

[veggiechicken]

Its not a BIG cunning plan and I won't make anyone join in, against their wishes.
In fact, nobody has to join it at all, if they don't think its a good, cunning plan - but I would like anyone who does join in, to be satisfied at the end of it.

Clear as mud?

[rary]

Clear as mud?

Just as usual then

[veggiechicken]

I like to keep you in suspense, rary! Maybe you can work out the plan yourself if you try hard.

[Chrissyteacup]

If you compared mine to an allotment it’d be considered small but then for me that’s good as I’m still learning, working full time and doing up my house too (so although I could dig up more garden I can’t it’d be too much),
So in that sense yes I probably got more veg from each plant then if I’d got a bigger plot because then I’d have more weeds competing and less time per plant.
I hope this makes sense I feel like I’m rambling!

[Selymbria]

It depends on time I have for gardening. If I had more time, I'd want a bigger garden/allotment. It also depends what you like growing, you cant grow potatoes in a square inch and I would hate to be confined to a very small space and couldnt grow produce I like eating.

[veggiechicken]

You are rambling, Chrissyteacup - join the club

You're saying what I mean - the more space you have, the less attention you can give it (unless you're dedicated), so its best to work within your limits.

I had a half plot once and it was manageable-ish. Then I was offered a full plot and thought I could cope (at the same time as having a full-time job and a home garden), but I couldn't. It was too much and, the more overgrown it became, the less I wanted to go there - so, eventually, I gave it up and decided to concentrate on growing at home.
Such a load off my mind when I handed in the key.
Since then, my home garden has doubled in size (as I bought some land at the back). I don't want it to become a chore but, as I said at the beginning, I've realised that small areas, near the house, can be more productive than trying to maintain a larger area, if you're selective about what you grow.

Still with me?
My plan is to concentrate on these areas this year and see how much I can grow in a relatively small space by choosing quick growing veg.

[Small pumpkin]

So is your plan / challenge / experiment to see how much you can grow from one MFB ?
Is that with fresh compost with each new crop or feed it, add to it or a combination of all the above?
What are your quick growing crops? I can only think of lettuce type things & radish ( that just proves how little I know about growing things )
When are you starting? I'll play

[Bren In Pots]

Interesting question VC having a small garden it is easier to keep on top of it, but it also means you have to be very selective of what you grow, there are a number of different things I would like to try growing but don't have the room for them

I'm the same rary, I have a GH, 3 beds 9x1m, an area behind the garage I grow beans and fruit then some containers and trugs.
Its small but it does keep us in greens/salad and fruit nearly all year round.
Be interesting to see what you come up with VC.

[veggiechicken]

So is your plan / challenge / experiment to see how much you can grow from one MFB ?
Is that with fresh compost with each new crop or feed it, add to it or a combination of all the above?
What are your quick growing crops? I can only think of lettuce type things & radish that just proves how little I know about growing things

You're so easily tempted, SP!!
At the moment, I'm thinking of these trays that some shops have mushrooms/spring onions in - and throw away afterwards



They're like mini raised beds or Square foot beds. I've been experimenting with a few. Lining them with cardboard, filling with compost, and sowing into them. At the moment they're in the GH but come the better weather, they're going outside on a makeshift table.
These trays are stackable, so, when first sown, they can be stacked until there's germination, when they can be moved out.

Still working up a list of what could be grown in them - obviously not long roots but round carrots and beetroot/baby turnips should be OK. I've found some deeper trays too at my local shop so they may suit normal carrots.