Jennifer McGuinness - Micro Food Gardening: Project Plans and Plants for Growing Fruits and Veggies in Tiny Spaces

Project Plans and Plants for Growing Fruits and Veggies in Tiny Spaces

Jen McGuinness

Repurposing items, such as this bicycle basket, can make for fun and creative ways to grow edibles in small spaces.

Growing up in a two-family home in Queens, New York, meant space was always at a premium. Being in the city, pavement was the normincluding porches, patios, and driveways (if you were lucky enough to have one). Tall apartment buildings nearby meant limited sunlight, making one side of our home the desirable sunny window space for plants. That isnt to say that there werent any gardens, but they were often on the smaller sidesuch as a postage stamp front yard or a stoop to put containers on. That meant if you wanted to grow food, you needed to get creative with the available space. My grandfather set an example for me early on as he continually found inventive ways to grow the food he wanted.

Today, we have so many more options for growing food, including varieties bred for small spaces and light fixtures to correct our dark spaces. But there is still one thing that can elude usand that is available space to grow in.

Thats how micro food gardening is different than raised bed gardening or container gardening. Micro food gardening focuses on plants that stay very compactso youll be able to grow edibles even if you only have a front porch, window box, or windowsill. Not only is it fun to select petite varieties of plants to grow, but it is also enjoyable discovering container options for display.

Growing food in smaller spaces is a trend that is not going away. Its estimated that 68% of the world population will be living in cities by 2050, according to the World Economic Forum.

In order to accommodate a growing population, space will continue to be at a premium. A lack of land does not mean you cannot grow any food. As youll see in this book, there are many compact projects that will allow you to grow edibles in a limited space.

Edible pea shoots can be grown in decorative mason jars.

The popularity and passion of growing your own food is noticeable through social media posts and buying trends at garden centers. Plant breeders have observed the need to grow plants in smaller spaces, and as a result, we now have many compact and dwarf edible varieties to choose from when planning what we want to grow. Whether you live in an apartment, condo, or a small home, there is a plant to fit your space. Even if you do not live in a city, suburban areas are also finding innovative ways to adapt to smaller spacesmeaning it is time to get creative in using patios, decks, stoops, and balconies!

Dwarf vegetable varieties, like this eggplant, can be considered micro when they max out at 18 inches (46 cm) tall.

WHAT IS CONSIDERED A MICRO VEGGIE, FRUIT, OR HERB?

Generally speaking, it is any plant that is approximately 18 inches (46 cm) or smaller when the plant has reached harvest size. Some plants, such as vines, may grow a little larger but still produce minisize fruits. Veggies, fruits, and herbs all offer an edible component, which makes them different than a plant considered ornamental, which does not feature any edible parts. There are even some micro edible flowers, which can add a splash of color to salads, ice cubes, and cakes.

Seed catalogs offer the best selection of mini plants to grow. You can grow mini tomato plants, leafy veggies, sprouts, microgreens, and more. When reviewing seed packets or catalog descriptions, look for does well in containersand then check the plants height and spread. If you are not ready to start growing your own plants from seeds, you might be able to request micro plant varieties from your independent garden center as well.

Throughout the book, you will find recommended plants to use with each project, along with plant profiles and growing advice. This will help you choose the best project (or projects!) to suit your space. Once you figure out what you want to grow, youll need to pick the container it will grow in. (See for more information on different types of containers.) Many of the projects featured in this book include objects you may not have considered as containers beforeincluding repurposing items you might have in your home to grow food. The projects can be adapted to fit the space you have, and you will find that you do not need a ton of space to grow edibles. There are even ways to build items that can serve a useful purpose in your space, such as a compact worm bin and a rain barrel (dont worry, Ill show you how!).

Edible flowers such as these violas offer a splash of color to your micro food garden.

THE BENEFITS OF MICRO FOOD GARDENING

Micro edibles need to not only provide food, but look good, too. If you are new to gardening, many of the projects in this book provide an opportunity to experiment with growing plants. Be carefulonce you try your first homegrown tomato, you might be hooked! Many of the projects are themed around the delicious meals you can make with your micro edibles, such as the Salsa Garden, Stir-Fry Garden, and Omelet Combo.

Growing micro edibles allows you to garden on your schedulethat might be from home, taking care of kids, or spending time in an office for 1012 hours a day. Many of the projects can be assembled in a few hours or over a weekend. Then, you just have to take care of the plants you are growing. Ive divided the projects in the book into cool season and warm season projects, so you will find a project suitable for the season you are in. In addition, many of the indoor projects can also be started at any time of year.

You can grow many micro varieties of vegetables, such as tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers, from seed.

Decorative head planters not only take up little space, but are whimsical options for growing edibles, such as these chives.