Saving Space

[shangrilyla]

Sorry if this has been discussed before. (And feel free to point me to a thread if it has been!) I'm wondering what kind of techniques everyone uses to save space. I used to live on the east coast of the US on my grandparent's 'farm' of 85 acres where space was definitely not an issue. Now I'm in Manchester on a 600 square foot allotment... and a 6 square foot apartment balcony. :-P

Anyway, I've been thinking about creative ways to save space. I already plan to stake my tomatoes and grow beans, cucumbers and peas on trellises. I'm aching to grow at least one pumpkin for Halloweeen (the American in me will never die :-P) - so I'm not sure if I should just let it sprawl, keep the vines in check by moving them, or train it to climb up something and support the fruit. Has anyone done this before?

I've found this link.... potatoes | Apartment Therapy Re-Nest ... which is pretty interesting. I might try something like it. Not sure if 100 pounds of potatoes is realistic, but it looks like it would save space. My neighbors do something similar on their balcony with a reusable shopping bag. I guess any upright container would work - just as long as the soil can be piled up.

Anyway... any suggestions would be great! Looking forward to hearing how everyone else maximizes the space they have.

-Amanda

[buzzingtalk]

See, 600 square foot sounds massive to me - but my knowledge of what a 'square foot' is is non-existant.

However, with pumpkins, you can train them into a spiral shape, it requires you to position it every week or so during growing but you can then 'contain' the pumpkin/squash into a much smaller and controlled space...I also know that some people on here grow pumpkin/squash in between and underneath toms and beans to save space.

I too have the same problems, I don't have any garden or allotment but I have a small space for a car out the back of my citycentre house, and have turned a 3x5m concrete block into an urban jungle, growing blueberries, toms, chillis, all sorts of herbs, strawbs etc.

[Bigmallly]

Not sure if this thread is of any use espescially the link on the 1st post.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_44388.html

[Potstubsdustbins]

Shangriyla,

I would thing 100 pounds is going some, though I once managed over 50 pounds from one of my dustbins.

Buzzing 600 sqft approx 55 sq mtrs.

Colin

[Creemteez]

You have the right idea with going skyward with what you can. As has been mentioned, squash and pumpkins are perfectly happy sharing a bed. - Mine shared with sweetcorn last year and got on famously. As for other stuff I never designate any official space to lettuces. I use them as edging and put them between rows of slower growing stuff. Empty compost bags are good potato growing containers. Start with them rolled down and unroll as you top 'em up.
If you have sturdy fences or walls which will take a hanging basket bracket or two, then you can grow Tumbling Tom Tomatoes or Strawberries in them. Have fun!

[Two_Sheds]

When I had a balcony I used to grow lettuce etc in hanging baskets (strung from the overhead balcony)

[Jono]

Check this site out: Vertical Veg

Loads of ideas, I love looking at the pictures of stuff on shelves.

[buzzingtalk]

Pots, nice one. Still sounds massive though? (Note - my awareness of legnth and space is atroucious, as you can already tell!) So I have a space for my veg outside, I wreckon its about 3m by 5m so how big is that in square??

I managed to grow toms well in pots, and I am going to even downsize the pots this year as I think they will do as well in smaller ones. Get those reusable grow bags and plant 3 toms in there, and basil/marigolds inbetween. I'm intruiged to see what else you can do to save space though!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Buzzing,
15 sq metres not large but if used carefully very productive. To save room have you have you thought of doing your toms in hanging baskets?

Colin

[buzzingtalk]

Nice one Colin. I managed to squeeze in 4 tom plants (very large!!) about 2 strawbs, salad leaves, 6 blueberry bushes (small) about 10 herb plants, 1 courgette plant (MASSIVE!) as well as a blowaway greenhouse thing, room to move through the plants to access the house and the 3 bins and recycling stuff. So pretty crammed!

I looked at doing toms in hanging baskets, as the wall the divides our bit from next doors is solid brick but I've got no idea where to buy that sort of stuff from, and how sturdy it actually is - can you recommend anything in particular? Thanks fi the help!

[Two_Sheds]

I looked at doing toms in hanging baskets, ... but I've got no idea where to buy that sort of stuff from, and how sturdy it actually is

Hanging baskets? Pound shops, Roys of Wroxham, anywhere really.

Drill a hole in the brick, bung in a rawlplug, then screw in your hanging basket

[buzzingtalk]

Will get my flatmate to do it, he's good with tools and the like. Do they usually come with the brackets? Can you grow strawbs in hanging baskets too>

[Potstubsdustbins]

Hi Buzzing,

You usually buy the brackets separately, get the largest baskets you can for best results.

Never tried strawb's in hanging baskets, I do mine in mangers/troughs screwed to the wall under my HB's so I suppose yes you could use HB's

Colin

[Two_Sheds]

Colin, is the net against blackbirds? You probably don't need it, blackies are ground feeders, they won't perch on a basket to feed

[crazii_c]

last year i tried 3 tumbler toms in a hanging basket because im short of space so grow most things in containers. the toms were a complete success. they produced loads of lovely cherry toms. once my toms finished i replanted the basket with rosemary, tyme and sage (with some pansys for winter colour). it kept me in fresh herbs all winter and is still going strong now. so hanging baskets can be used all year round.