Category Small Space. Garden Ideas

Spend just a little bit of time choosing the right potting mix and meeting the watering, feeding, and care requirements of your plants, and you will reap the rewards: healthy growth and a good, productive yield of flowers or crops.

Potting mix

Most plants will grow well in general multipurpose potting mix, but some have special requirements or are more suited to free-draining soil or acidic mix. You should always read plant labels for a guide to soil requirements, but it’s also a good idea to do a bit of your own research before you plant anything, so that you can buy the correct potting mix.

Home composting

Add fruit and vegetable peelings to an outside compost bin where you can also put prunings.

Mix plant matter with plenty of shredded paper and cardboard, and turn everything regularl...

There are a few tools and materials you’ll need to look after your plants and garden area. Make the tools part of your garden display by storing them in an attractive cupboard or use a small table that could also double as a plant display area, and hang smaller items from hooks on trellis.

Watering can Hand, fork

Use one with і detachable Useful to lightlY dig in between p|ants nozzle so that you can get and incorPorate granular fertilizer.

the spout directly into pots and containers.

Water mister

Great for spritzing moisture and
humidity on to plants in warmer weather.
Also good for liquid foliar fertilizer.

tool maintenance

It is worth taking the time to keep tools dean by removing soil and potting mix after use...

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### Fully hardy, blossoms may need frost protection ## Can survive in mild regions/sheltered sites J Protect from frost

Basil

Easy to grow in a sunny sheltered spot or on a windowsill. Large-leaved is perfect for pesto; smaller and purple­leaved types are ideal for garnish. Also grows well with tomatoes.

Care: Sow indoors, then place outside in pots when risk of frost is over.

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Coriander

Distinctive flavor. Can grow quite tall, but regular harvesting will keep plants in check. Leave some to flower and set seed—they can also be used in cooking.

Care: Sow seeds direct in growing position at intervals. Protect later crops from harsher weather.

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Fennel

A perennial. The whole plant is edible...

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Key to symbols: W Drought tolerant 4 Water often Г Keep constantly wet t Grow in full sun У Partial shade U Full shade

Apples

Huge range of varieties, but for smaller spaces choose plants grown on dwarf root stock, or cultivated patio or trained varieties. Needs large containers.

Care: Choose a sheltered site to protect blossoms from frost. Thin tiny apples out in midsummer for bigger fruit.

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Black currants

Packed with vitamin C, and easy to grow as bushes or standard shrubs. Prune in winter to get air to center of plant. Feed well in growing season for a good crop.

Care: Remove branches touching the ground and prune back a third of the plant each winter.

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Pea...

### Fully hardy ## Can survive in mild regions/sheltered sites J Protect from frost

Carrots

Many shapes, sizes, and colors available, mostly suitable for containers. Needs free-draining soil. Can be sown year round, some under cover, for an almost continuous crop.

Care: Sow directly in soil. Grow onions with them to deter carrot rust flies.

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Garlic

Easy to grow as long as you remember two key things: water and food. Needs free-draining soil. Bulbs need a period of cold, so best planted in fall.

Care: Water and feed well when leaves start to grow. Cut off flowering stems for bigger bulbs.

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Leeks

Versatile winter vegetable. Can be used when young and mini, or as mature plants. Good to have during fall/ winter when little else is harvested.

Care: Best started in seed flats or m...

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Key to symbols: W Drought tolerant 4 Water often Г Keep constantly wet t Grow in full sun У Partial shade U Full shade

Broad beans

Dwarf varieties are ideal for containers, but taller plants will need staking. Pick as a mini vegetable when pods are 1%-i^in (3-4cm) long. Grow seeds in fall for an early spring crop.

Care: Harvest and eat when young and sweet. Picking encourages more pods.

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Borlotti beans

Pods are green at first, then mottled purple, red, and cream. Eat as whole pods when green; eat as beans when either half ripe or mature and dried. Climbing and dwarf varieties available.

Care: Sow outdoors or put out when frost...

### Fully hardy ## Can survive in mild regions/sheltered sites J Protect from frost

Broccoli

Broccoli includes Calabrese and sprouting broccoli; the latter is usually purple but there’s also a delicious white type. Needs lots of room to grow, but this nutritious crop is well worthwhile.

Care: Takes about four months to grow. Harvest buds before flowers open.

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Cabbage

Fall/winter varieties have denser heads and can be stored; spring/summer types, which are round or pointed, should be eaten right away.

Care: Harvest spring/early summer cabbages as spring greens. Net in summer from cabbage white butterflies.

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Cauliflower

Most varieties can be grown year round, and have snow white heads, but also try purple, green, or orange...

Think big, think creatively, and think bountiful. Your growing space may be tiny, but that doesn’t mean your harvest needs to be small as well. By matching the right plants with the right growing conditions, you’ll enjoy a delicious crop.

Growing plants for an edible crop is easy. Some plants may require a bit more attention than others, but don’t be put off trying something new and different. Before you start growing, do some preparation and decide what you want to grow and how you are going to do it...

### Fully hardy ## Can survive outside in mild regions/sheltered sites J Move inside for winter

Phyllostachys nigra

An attractive, tall, upright bamboo with stunning blackish-brown stems. Wind rustling through leaves makes lovely sound. Plant in large containers. Under plant spring bulbs for seasonal colour.

Care: Remove older stems to thin out and show off newer stems.

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Miscanthus sinensis

Ornamental grass with upright stems and arching silky flowers. Foliage has fall color or is evergreen. Good in containers and planted in groups.

Care: Leave flowers and stems over winter for added interest. Cut back to soil level in late winter.

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Carpinus betulus

Hornbeam can be grown as a hedge in large containers. Foliage turns a rich yellow in fall...

### Fully hardy ## Can survive outside in mild regions/sheltered sites J Move inside for winter

Pulmonaria

Delicate blue, white, or pink flowers from late winter to early spring. Interesting blotchy leaves for most of the year. Lovely groundcover under other plants.

Care: Cut back old leaves before flowers appear, and again in summer.

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Hosta

Easy to grow, hostas come in a wide range of heights and leaf colors, some with variegation. The perfect foliage plant for light to part shade, with pretty upright flowers in summer.

Care: Feed monthly during growing season with liquid or soluble fertilizer.

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Astrantia major

Dainty pincushion-style flowers ranging from white or pale green to pinks and reds. Can also be planted in sun, but needs moist soil...