By Associated Press’s Jessica Damiano
My aunt and uncle had a little backyard in Queens, New York, where they planted tomatoes in plastic buckets arranged like soldiers on the cement patio when I was a child.
In addition, they constructed a canopy out of green metal fence posts over a picnic table and planted hundreds of veggies in their 10-by-10-foot plot of land. More significantly, it supported grapevines that yielded enough fruit for their yearly homemade wine, even though it offered much-needed shade.
A successful garden doesn’t have to be separated by space or the absence of it. All you need to do is be imaginative.
For gardeners that struggle with horizontal space, vertical space is their best friend.
You can hang baskets, string up a trellis, or fasten pots to a wall or fence. When you think about the third dimension, you may be shocked at how much you can develop. Strawberries, herbs, and even vines are happy danglers or climbers.
Instead of arranging containers in straight rows or in different locations, group them strategically in clusters of odd numbers to add visual appeal. To draw the eye up and out, try placing them on ornamental pedestals, overturned crates, or stone slabs to create a sense of height.
Size does matter, of course. Look for tiny or small versions of your favorite plants if you have limited room. Many of them are prolific producers of flowers, fruits, or vegetables, and they have been cultivated to flourish in small areas. Roses, blueberries, tomatoes, peppers, and even apple and fig trees may now be easily grown in containers.
Additionally, don’t overlook plants that serve as both nutrient-dense crops and lovely ornamentals. In my perennial beds, I’ve grown rainbow char, cherry tomatoes, and amaranth. Alongside my coneflowers, zinnias, and roses, other edibles with eye-catching foliage or flowers, such as chives, fancy lettuces, and sage, would look just as good. In a mixed container, sweet potatoes can also be used as a trailing vine or ground cover.
Planting a succession of crops throughout the season will increase your production if you have a small, dedicated vegetable garden. Plant early-maturing crops first, such as lettuces, kale, beets, and peas. After harvesting, swap them out for warm-season crops like beans, tomatoes, peppers, and summer squash. Make use of the area for another round of cool-season plants as they decline and September draws near.
If you grow it in layers, even a window box or small strip can appear rich. To generate visual depth and turn even a balcony or front stoop into your own private nature refuge, place low bloomers in front, tall, upright plants in the back, and midsized growers in the middle.
Jessica Damiano publishes the acclaimed Weekly Dirt Newsletter and contributes weekly gardening essays to the AP. For weekly gardening guidance and ideas, you may join up here.
