Since our [Kaeirdwyn], who usually provides us with wonderfully informative cooking articles is out due to surgery, Elftown's very own [Ariandra], soon to be Heralder, has offered to fill in for her by providing us with wonderful gardening ideas and tips for those of us with no room for actual gardens. Enjoy!
-[Lerune]
Small Space Gardening for the Stomach
When someone says the word "garden", it brings to mind a large patch of cultivated land covered with a bountiful harvest of vegetables. However, in this age of non-traditional lifestyles, the concept of a garden can also adapt.
The only requirements for growing your own veggies are soil, a source of light, water, and enough space to accommodate mature plants. And don't be confined to the idea that vegetables have to be grown outside! A spare room, large closet, balcony, or even just a section of living space can be successfully converted into a productive area. Obviously some plants take up more room than others, so you have to decide up front what space can be devoted to greenery.
The first need that we will address is soil. This is one thing that will not change. All vegetables require soil in which to be planted. Some are a little more finicky than others, but a good potting mix and a bit of fertilizer should meet the needs of most vegetables. Vegetables can be potted just like any other plant, and keeping your veggies potted indoors virtually eliminates the threat of garden pests! Most bugs and animals simply won't have access to your garden.
Next, we'll talk about light. Any sunny place outdoors is great, but a window or balcony that gets at least 6 hours of sun a day will do nicely. Remember, the more light a plant gets, the more productive it will be. Lacking a sunny location to utilize, fluorescent plant lights are a good alternative. These lights provide a great source of ultraviolet rays, are economical to use, and they stay relatively cool. This makes them great for small space gardening.
Another need is moisture. Water is something that all living things need to survive, but even sharks can drown! One good way to be sure that you don't over water is to set your potted veggie into a larger leak proof container atop a couple of spacers, and fill the outermost pot with water. When it's empty, you simply add more, and in this way, the plant can reach down and get the water it needs without its feet being constantly soaked.
Now we will go over some choices that are suitable for confined spaces.
Corn is a tall plant, but very narrow. You must have at least two stalks for the corn to pollinate and produce anything edible. If you really want to grow corn in your small space, it is a very tolerant plant and will do well. The husks, stalk, and silk can also be used for various craft projects and decorations, so virtually all of the plant is useful. You should have about 1 ft sq for every 2 stalks of corn.
A tomato plant is not only decorative and pretty, it is also an ever-bearing plant, and a single plant will probably provide all the tomatoes you need in a season. The grape and cherry varieties are especially attractive, and really good for snacking and using in salads.
Lettuce, spinach, and greens are all very space conscious plants. They can all be planted together in a long box or large planter, and you will have mixed salad ready to go all the time. They are easy to harvest as well. When the leaves look mature and ready to eat, simply cut them off to about 1 inch above the soil and they will re-grow! Only leaf lettuces are suited for this arrangement, since head lettuce takes up more space. However, since leaf lettuce is more nutritious and attractive, it's really no hardship!
Mushrooms are incredibly easy to grow, and you don't even need light. Most gardening catalogs sell mushroom kits that will provide plenty of mushrooms for a long time.
Sprouts are another easy salad item to grow. All you need is a glass jar and a window sill. Many gardening books will tell you how to grow various kinds of sprouts.
An unlikely group of small space plants are the vine vegetables, which include cucumbers, squash, zucchini, beans, and peas. If you really want to grow any of these, you should have a trellis on which they can climb, or if you want to be really creative, you could train the plant to grow around a window, or on a lamp, etc. The good thing about them is that they don't require much soil. A four-gallon pot should suffice for a couple of healthy plants. These are all prolific plants, so you may want to make a deal with a friend to grow a different one of these, so you can trade with them.
Although they aren't vegetables, strawberries are excellent container plants that I felt that they deserved mentioning here. There are numerous kits for growing them available now, and there are special strawberry pots for the most efficient use of space when growing them.
Peppers are a flavorful group of plants that would make an attractive and colorful addition to your container garden. With all the varieties available today, you could grow a dozen different peppers, and none would even look alike! Peppers do like A LOT of light, so be sure to account for that when placing them.
The last item that needs mentioning is the many varieties of dwarf fruit trees that are available now. Many of these will do nicely in a large planter on a porch or balcony. Some of them may be small enough to be placed indoors if your space is large enough. And a fruit tree can be trained to grow along the wall if pinned down as it grows. Dwarf apple, pear, and fruit cocktail trees are now on the market that provide several varieties of fruit on one tree! Banana trees are also a nice choice for a small space.
You can get a lot of satisfaction from growing your own food, and for those of you who are in a dorm, it can be a good way to cut costs, make friends, and decorate your room! Whatever you decide to grow, be sure to plan out your space carefully and find out more about your particular vegetables before bringing them home. A little education can go a long way toward avoiding problems and enjoying the fruits of your labors!
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