Making the most of small spaces

[Tomato Head]

Sorry if this isn't the right forum to post this - I wasn't sure where the best place was.

If anyone else has had to be creative to make the most of a very small space, could they post pics of how they've managed to utilise their space? esp using the space vertically. I have seen pics people have posted and thought that's a great idea but then forgotten where the post was and can't find the pic again.

The only space I have available to me is the front and back of my flat. This is communal space and not my own, but isn't blocking anyone's access, although I do have to make sure I leave room for the window cleaner to get in (not so much for my windows but to access the flats above me). Permanent structures are a no no and I need to be able to move things if necesary. I have absolutely no DIY skills and living in a one bed flat with no garden doesn't result in having odds and ends lying around that I can use to make things with. So I am mainly looking at buying stuff but I'm interested in how I can utilise things designed for a different purpose to hold my plants, rather than buying purpose built stuff since I'm on a very tight budget. I currently have a plastic greenhouse out the front plus a few extra pots with tomato plants, a couple of pots with flowers and a couple of pots with other veg. I am running out of room so need to start to think vertical.

Thanks.

[Bren In Pots]

T/head there's a few ideas using a pallet here :-

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eas_65545.html

[Hans Mum]

look at BM's Square Foot Gardening thread...
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_44388.html

[eirish]

Depends on what you want to grow, but you can do a lot with a small space. This was my balcony garden long ago and far away. Cherry and yellow pear tomatoes growing up the trellis, a little lemon tree, various houseplants, a morning glory on a bamboo cane teepee, lots of herbs on a tiered stand. I didn't try much veg - not really enough sun - although I did get one very tasty little cucumber and a few jalapeno chillies on that balcony. But it might give you an idea of how space and pots can be utilised.

My current garden is small, about 25 sq m. I'm focusing on things that I like and that should produce well in not-too-much space. So, beans, squash and cucumbers are in because they can grow up teepees made from downed branches I've scrounged and garden twine. Sweetcorn, which needs a good-size block to pollinate properly, is out.

[veggiechicken]

.
Permanent structures are a no no and I need to be able to move things if necesary.

This is the bit that concerns me! How movable do you mean? Anything that has to be picked up and physically moved restricts your options considerably. Do you have a wall that you could use to hang things from?

[Tomato Head]

This is the bit that concerns me! How movable do you mean? Anything that has to be picked up and physically moved restricts your options considerably. Do you have a wall that you could use to hang things from?

Yes it does restrict me but unfortunately that's what I am stuck with as I have no space of my own. I do have a wall but it's not my personal wall, just the outside of my block of flats. I rent and have to make sure I don't cause any obstructions or problems for other tenants. I also have to make sure that I don't prevent workmen etc. from accessing the outside of the building. The main concern is the window cleaner - there are hooks on the wall either side of each window for ladders so I need to make sure I dont block access to those. I'm not bothered about getting my windows cleaned (I'd be happy to do those myself as I'm on the ground floor) but I can't prevent the window cleaner accessing the windows in the flats above me. I can put stuff there but I need to be able to move things slightly if need be when the window cleaners come and then move them back.

I also have to make sure I don't put anything outside that could be deemed an eyesore or that would encourage anyone to complain. I can't imagine anyone complaining about a few pots and growbags, but I need to make sure it all looks presentable and remember that it's not my personal balcony or patio space, especially out the front.

I'm thinking along the lines of shelving that could hold various pots but could also be moved if need be.

[veggiechicken]

I thought that might be the problem, TH, so any pallet type structure would be impossible as you couldn't move it once full of soil, unless it was on wheels. I use a plastic trolley, probably intended to be used alongside a BBQ for your cooking utensils etc. It has shelves inside and put seed trays in there and bigger stuff on top. My point is that it can be wheeled to another spot without difficulty. Maybe you could think of something on these lines?

[kentishgal]

I'm thinking along the lines of shelving that could hold various pots but could also be moved if need be.

Ive just bought greenhouse staging shelves, slightly smaller then my blowaway mini tomato greenhouse. The plan is to use the shelves againest the side of the house to grow stuff in pots then move the shelf into the blowaway when the toms are done so I can grow some winter crops too! (the shelving was only 13 quid so not too expensive).
I have a 4ft x 15(ish)ft concrete alley next to my house that I need to be able to get down. I bought alot of large trugs and filled them with herbs, chard, flowers and strawberries to go either side of the alley. They are big enough to fit a wigwam in for beans too! I also have a couple of minarette fruit trees which are easy to move and look lovely.
(wish I could do pictures but Im technologically challenged so you will have to take my word for it....it looks lovely and the whole lot could be moved in minutes!).

[tamsin]

Flower buckets would be good - a handy size as they are easy lifted when full but you could grow a lot of different things in them. I'd stack them two rows high. Space the bottom row out slightly and stack the second level so they rested offset half on the two pots below (like bricks in a wall) Things like toms/cucumber which only have a stalk in the pot would be fine for the bottom row and then you've the whole top pot for things that cover the surface.

Two buckets stacked one straight on top of the other with holes in the sides would make a good mini strawberry tower.

You could do peppers inside - particularly once they are adult sized and have enough leaves the lower light isn't such an issue.

[Feral007]

I've got 3 hanging baskets on my deck this winter. They have succulents in them - look lovely in summer, but I've planted snow peas.......mange tout? around the edges, and they hang over. So you can pick the peas with out even lifting the baskets down (altho I get the boys to lift them down now and again for a really good watering). The thing is if you put some veg in with some flowers, then the neighbours will prob feel that they enjoy seeing them. You can also grow cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets, just don't let the plant get too big. They sell those mini cukes here in the supermarkets for kids lunchboxes and I bet that plant could prob be kept smaller too.

I think those trugs veggie chicken was referring to, are those coloured plastic containers with built in handles. We use them for everything now. The more rubbery ones are more expensive but will last longer. The other thing you could do with them is to have one of those round bases on wheels that the nurseries and hardware stores sell. You have to pick up your plant and put them on the wheels, but then just push them to where ever you want to move them to, and then take them off. Makes it easier for you to use,and if there was anything like the window cleaners, I'd ask if they wanted me to leave them out so they could move one if they needed.

You'll probably end up with so many options here that you'll have to move to a bigger place so you can try them ALL out Oh and then you'll want an allottment...............

[Florence Fennel]

Flower buckets are really cheap, and in most cases free, so I'd be utilising those. I hope that you've budgeted for plenty of compost. It must be awful to be restricted like this, are you on a waiting list for an allotment?

[Tomato Head]

I have looked at those greenhouse staging shelves - how stable are they? would they need to be secured to anything?

I am already looking into allotments but alas the waiting list here is several years long. I am thinking of getting involved in a nearby community allotment though.

I did buy a plastic cloche greenhouse last week which I'm hoping will be a bit more stable than the tomato greenhouse due being lower (although it will still need tying to something at one side). I want to put that out the back but I'm not sure whether there is enough sun out there. With a tomato greenhouse out front and that out back, plus a few pots of flowers, I need to get creative with the rest of the veggies and find ways to stack them on top of each other.

[Two_Sheds]

one bed flat with no garden

This is my 6th floor flat's balcony, 2003



Pots were from the £ shop mostly. The "hanging baskets" at the far end are full of lettuce & tomatoes and are 2 & 5 litre milk/pop/water bottles, which I crocheted some 70s macrame style holders, but you could just use string

[kathyd]

Hi TH

I'm wondering whether something like a clothes hanging rail could be adapted, if it's strong enough.. it has wheels to move it, and legs for things to climb up, and rails for baskets to hang from, and possibly a shelf to stand things on. You could also throw some plastic or fleece over it in the winter if you wanted to. I'm not sure how robust they are though, or whether they could be strengthened. This one at Tesco is currently on offer at £16.77 - Buy Tesco double garment rail from our Children's Storage range - Tesco.com. Unless you can find one on Freecycle of course .

[Tomato Head]

Thanks for the suggestions. At the moment I'm trying to find a wooden slatted shelving unit (shoe rack?) that will allow me to put some things above others plus will be heavy/stable enough to not need securing but light enough to move if/when need be. I'm also looking at getting some greenhouse shelving but again I want something that's sturdy enough to require minimal securing but light enough to move. I'm still interested in off the wall ideas though so keep them coming