Have a dirty weekend: 4 veg and herb container projects you can complete in a weekend along with a DIY compost system that is super simple to create
Ah, the British weather. It’s enough to make any budding gardener throw in the trowel. Sorry pun haters, I couldn’t help myself.
Rain aside, British soil conditions can also be unpredictable with clay in some spots, and sandy in others. There is a solution: growing herbs and veg in containers. These can be placed indoors in your home as well as dotted around your outside space, no matter how limited.
A combination of store-bought potting soil and compost, plus homegrown compost made from your fruit, veg and paper scraps, can make soil problems no longer an excuse not to get planting. See later in this article some amazing DIY composting tips courtesy of Epic Gardening
Short on time and space?
Even if you’re short on space and time, in this article we suggest how you can still cultivate a thriving vegetable garden in less time than you’d expect. Whether you have a small patio, a narrow walkway, a balcony overlooking the high street, or just a sunny windowsill in your kitchen or home office, there’s a world of possibilities waiting to be explored. And in just a weekend.
One of the first tips I would offer is to appreciate the unique challenges and rewards of small-space gardening. It’s all about choosing the right plants for your culinary needs, maximising your vertical space, and embracing the versatility of containers. Gardening is also a great way to be productive while being mindful. In other words, thinking of little else but the job at hand. Bliss!
Vertical vegetables: the sky’s your limit
One of the best ways to make the most of a small space is to think vertically. Climbing plants, such as runner beans and peas, are your best friends. A simple trellis or obelisk can transform a bare wall into a productive growing area. Cucumbers, squash, and even tomatoes can be trained upwards, leaving valuable ground space for other crops. For inspiration, take a look at Gardening Know How’s article on vertical gardening: 7 Best Vertical Vegetable Garden Ideas For Small Spaces. The authors offer some clever solutions, from repurposing old pallets to creating living walls with hanging baskets.
The versatility of containers
Containers are the small space gardener’s secret weapon. From terracotta pots to repurposed buckets, there’s a container to suit every style and budget. Herbs thrive in pots, adding flavour to your dishes and fragrance to your outdoor space (or even your kitchen). Salad leaves, such as spinach, can be grown in shallow containers and harvested as needed. Speaking of spinach, Gardening Know How has a great article on growing this nutritious green in pots: How To Grow Spinach In Pots For Fresh Greens Anywhere.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different vegetables and herbs in containers. Carrots, radishes, and even dwarf varieties of fruit trees can all be successfully grown in pots. It is wise though to choose a container that is appropriately sized for the plant and ensure good drainage to prevent waterlogging.
Making memories and meals
Some herbs if left to their own devices outdoors can grow and spread vertically and horizontally, such as Tarragon.
If you are fortunate enough to have ample amounts of herbs or veg from your containers or dotted around your outside space, cut and preserve them by freezing them. You can blend your homegrown herbs in a blender with some olive oil and freeze them into portions within ice cube trays. Each portion is ideal for a soup or sauce base.
The scent of tarragon leaves always brings back memories of creamy tarragon chicken with asparagus dish I made one summer evening. Knowing the herbs (a prolific amount) were picked from my garden made the meal extra special. I hope you have those special moments, too.
Foodscaping: where veg gets a makeover
Who says your garden can’t be both beautiful and productive? Foodscaping is the art of integrating edible plants into your ornamental garden. Imagine colourful Swiss chard adding a vibrant touch to your flowerbeds, or a blueberry bush providing both fruit and visual interest. Gardening Know How offers some fantastic foodscaping ideas in their article: Foodscaping Ideas For Pots: Grow An Edible Landscape Anywhere. They suggest using herbs as edging plants, growing trailing tomatoes in hanging baskets, and even creating edible vertical gardens with strawberries.
Square foot gardening: make the most of your space
If you have a small patio or balcony, consider adopting the square foot gardening method. This technique involves dividing your growing area into one-foot squares and planting a specific number of plants per square, depending on their size. It’s a great way to maximise your space and ensure a diverse harvest. Gardening Know How’s article, Grow A Square-Foot Vegetable Garden With This Year-Long Plan, provides a comprehensive guide to this method, including a year-long planting plan.
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How to come to terms with the British weather
Don’t let a few rain showers dampen your gardening spirits. Even a cloudy day provides valuable light for your plants. You can always invest in a small cloche or cold frame to protect your seedlings from the elements. You can even find these for free or for a song on Facebook marketplace in your local area.
Consider growing varieties that are well-suited to your region. Hardy lettuce, kale, and chard are pretty safe bets for most parts of Britain as are rhubarb, potatoes and onions.
Small spaces can bring big rewards
Gardening in small spaces can have its challenges, but the rewards are immense. There’s nothing quite like harvesting your own fresh produce, knowing that you nurtured it from seed to table (or those sweet freshly picked peas – straight to mouth!.)
With a little creativity and perseverance, you can create a thriving garden, no matter how small your space. So, either embrace the British weather or keep your creativity with containers indoors. Either way, enjoy the cycles of growing your own food, even if it’s just a handful of herbs on a windowsill. You grew them and that’s what counts.
