Small Garden Succession Planting Tips for Success

Succession planting is a growing method designed to maximize the amount of fresh produce that can be harvested from a particular growing area. It is all about the efficient use of time and space to produce high level results. For this reason, succession planting is worth a look if you have limited space or if you just want to get as much reward as possible from your gardening efforts.

Companion planting of carrots and onions (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Single Crop vs. Multiple Crop Strategies

There are a couple of ways you can approach succession planting. One option is to focus on growing a single crop in a defined area. The other option is to inter-plant several complementary plant species within the same area. Regardless of which option you choose, it’s a good idea to start small with one or two beds until you get the hang of creating a planting schedule that works for you. In general, experimenting with a single type of plant or several that are closely related, such as different types of salad greens, is also recommended.

Successive Planting vs. Simultaneous Planting

Depending on what plants you plan to grow, you can either employ successive planting, simultaneous planting, or a combination of the two. Successive planting refers to planting small amounts of seeds over and over again throughout the season. The seeds planted can be either from the same plant or from two or more complementary varieties or species.

On the other hand, simultaneous planting involves planting several varieties of either the same or different types of plants with varying maturity dates at once. Diverse plants with early, mid and late maturity varieties are ideal for simultaneous planting. Tomatoes are good examples.

Ideal Plants for Successive Planting 

Lettuce and other salad greens are perfect choices for successive planting thanks to their fast growth cycle. The same can also be said for many herbs, such as basil and cilantro. The primary benefit to planting new seeds or seedlings every few weeks is that it ensures a continuous supply of fresh produce all season long. 

Temperature preference is another factor to consider when choosing two or more plants for successive planting. Some plants thrive during cooler seasons, while others are more tolerant of hot summer weather. By understanding what conditions your plants prefer, you can make the best use of your available growing space.

For example, you can plant cool weather crops like radishes and carrots early in the year and then again in late summer or early fall. In between, you can fill those beds with more heat-tolerant transplants such like eggplant or hot peppers.

Selecting Plants for Simultaneous Planting 

The key to a successful simultaneous planting is to choose non-competing plants with different maturity dates. You’ll also want to note what type of root structure they have (shallow versus a single, deep tap root), how much water and sunlight they need, and which nutrients they require. If you get stuck, you may want to pick up a reputable companion planting resource to answer any specific questions you may have. 

Although this may seem like a lot of information to absorb, don’t get discouraged and feel like you need to know everything at once. Start small with only a few plants and work your way up as your knowledge and skill increases.

Helpful Resources for Succession & Companion Planting:
   

FREE E-Book: How to Grow More Delicious Veggies In Less Space

In honor of gardening season, this month we're giving away a great resource on how to grow a successful vegetable garden this year, regardless of where you live, or how much space you have.

Having lived in tiny apartments, with limited or no gardening space for many years, I have experienced gardening on a small scale in pretty much every aspect! From growing tomatoes and herbs in pots on a second-floor patio through the hot, wet, humid summers of Houston, TX, to coaxing potatoes to grow in a tiny, shady bed through the cool summers of Ohio - I've been there, done that!

I know it can be difficult to grow your own vegetables if you live in a city, but I am also living proof that it's possible - even if you only rent a small apartment with little to no outdoor space.

This short report will show you 5 methods of growing your own veggies in a very limited amount of space, as well as tips for a growing successful and bountiful garden - no matter where you live.

Click Here to Download Your Free Small Space Gardening E-Book!

Creative Ideas to Include Fruits & Vegetables In Your Landscaping

If you lack the space for a full-scale garden, you can still grow your own fresh fruits, vegetables and culinary herbs. The only requirement is that you have access to an outdoor space, such as around your home’s foundation, deck, patio, or on a balcony.

This month, we're going to share some helpful tips - as well as an excellent FREE resource - on how to grow a beautiful, successful garden in a very small amount of space.

Here are a few stealthy ideas to grow more healthy and delicious fruits and vegetables around your home this year:

Vegetables and ornamental plants. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you live in a home with landscape plants around its foundation, you have plenty of opportunities to grow fresh produce. Assuming you have permission to modify the existing landscaping, you can weave in a many different kinds of food-producing plants. The key to doing this without making your home look like an eyesore is to look for plants that are both beautiful and yield a tasty crop. You will also want to be sure your ornamental plants aren’t sprayed with chemicals or pesticides that can contaminate your food-producing plants.

Most traditional landscape designs consist of a variety of ornamental trees, bushes, shrubs and flowering plants. While this approach can be very pleasing to the eye, it doesn’t do much for your stomach. So, instead of planting strictly ornamental landscape plants to improve your home’s curb appeal, start looking for edible alternatives that are suitable for your climate.

For example, many fruit-bearing trees, including apples, pears, plums, peaches or cherries, are available in compact, attractive varieties. Blueberries are both delicious and nutritious, but many people don’t realize they grow on beautiful ornamental bushes that can add 3-season appeal to your landscape design. Compact bush beans form attractive deep green mounds that look lovely, especially when planted en masse. The gorgeous Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’ variety creates an eye-catching color pallet with its deep red and yellow stalks and dark green leaves. 

In the fall, you can tuck some hardneck seed garlic in amongst your established landscape plants. To make them easier to find next year, plant them in clusters. Then, once they develop those charming gooseneck scapes in the spring, cut them off to force the plant's energy back into the bulb. Don’t let them go to waste, however. Tender garlic scapes are delicious chopped and used on top of baked potatoes, fresh salads or in soups!

Thyme is also a welcome addition to any landscape because of its gentle creeping habit and wonderful fragrance when it is disturbed. For this reason, thyme is ideal for filling in along paths and walkways. For a more distinctive look and wonderful citrusy aroma, look for the lovely lemon variety. If you plan to use your thyme in recipes, plant some in elevated containers or in an out-of-reach area where domestic pets or other animals aren’t likely to do their business on it.

Sage, with its soft greyish-green leaves, is another herb that is as beautiful as it is delicious. Planted in groups, it makes an attractive focal point at the front of a landscape bed. To enjoy, snip several leaves to make a delicious browned butter and sage sauce to top fresh gnocchi or pumpkin ravioli.

Herbs in containers. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Even plants that aren’t traditionally attractive can add visual appeal to a landscape. For example, cherry or pear tomato plants aren’t necessarily pretty by themselves, but look great when added to large colorful containers and set in amongst other ornamentals. Try this old design trick: use an odd-number of containers to create a strong visual statement. A collection of 3 or 5 cobalt blue planters with neatly staked and well-maintained plants creates a visually interesting display.

Speaking of containers, don’t forget to tuck fragrant herbs and edible flowers in amongst your more traditional annual ornamental flowers. Rosemary is a great addition to container gardens because it offers a strong vertical element that complements plants with more compact and trailing growth habits. You may want to consider edible flowers such as violas and chive blossoms, as well.

If your planting area is confined to a small patio or balcony, don’t despair. You can still grow a lot of wonderful culinary herbs, dwarf fruit plants and a couple of tomato plants in a very small space. In fact, you may be pleasantly surprised by how much your modest areas can produce!

Be sure to stay tuned later this month, as we'll be giving away a FREE E-book just for those looking to grow more food in less space!

4 Easy-to-Grow Culinary Herbs Ideal for Small Spaces

Fresh herbs are a great way to bring the flavors of your dishes to life. Unfortunately, they can be expensive to buy at the grocery store and they aren’t always in season. Although you can use their dried counterparts in your favorite recipes, they just don’t deliver the same flavor profile.  Fortunately, you can enjoy fresh herb flavor all year long and you don’t need a ton of space to do it.

If full-scale gardening isn’t your thing or if space is at a premium in your garden, you’ll want to get the most bang for your buck from your plant choices. Not only do you want to select herbs that are easy to grow, you’ll also want to select versatile options that pair well with a diverse selection of recipes. The following list of easy-to-grow culinary herbs can help you get started.

Here are 4 Easy-to-Grow and Versatile Herbs

Basil (Photo credit: Skrewtape)

1. Basil. Basil tops the list because it is so versatile and is super easy to grow from seed. All you need is a small pot and sunny windowsill and you can have fresh basil at your fingertips all year long.

After all, what could be better than juicy tomatoes paired with fresh mozzarella and fresh-picked basil?  Top with a balsamic reduction, some good extra virgin olive oil, and a little salt and fresh-cracked pepper and you’ve got a delicious and easy lunch entrée or dinner salad.

Basil is also an important ingredient in fresh pesto recipes and it pairs beautifully with tomato-based pasta sauces. For a unique twist, add julienned basil and Brie cheese to sourdough bread for a fabulous grilled cheese sandwich.  If you want to get even more creative, plant a pot of purple basil to make a beautiful and delicious purple basil jelly.

Fresh Cilantro (Coriander). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2. Cilantro (Coriander).  This herb does double duty. The fresh leaves (cilantro) of young plants are a staple in Mexican cooking. Fresh cilantro is a key ingredient in homemade salsas and also adds a unique flavor dimension to salad greens. It can also be used in a wide variety of marinades for beef, chicken, pork and vegetables. It is especially well suited for marinating meats for fajita recipes.

Cilantro is also very easy to grow from seed. You can extend the life of your plant by keeping it plucked down and keeping it in cooler areas. In spite of your best efforts, however, it will eventually “bolt” to form lacy flowers that will set seeds that can be harvested. Those seeds can be lightly toasted and ground down to create coriander, which is much more mellow in flavor than its fresh counterpart and is a nice complement to many recipes.

Rosemary (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. Rosemary. Rosemary can also be started from seeds, but you may find it easier to pick up small plants from your local garden center each spring. They can then be brought indoors during cooler weather, but you will need to keep them moist and provide access to a sunny window, preferably with a southern exposure, * to keep them happy. If cared for properly, they will live for many years.

Not only is rosemary delicious in marinades for roasted chicken, pork, or beef, it also imparts a wonderful earthy aroma to roasted new potatoes and homemade focaccia bread.

Rosemary is also a very pretty plant with decorative appeal. It adds structure to the herb garden with its elegant upright growth habit. Plus, it can easily be shaped to look like a Christmas tree. As a result, rosemary makes a lovely hostess gift around the holidays.

Thyme (Photo credit: Erutuon)

4. Thyme. This is another classic culinary herb that is so easy to grow. Fresh thyme is a staple in many types of cuisine and adds a distinctive flavor to meat-based dishes and is wonderful in stews and soups, as well. For a special treat, grow lemon thyme to add an unexpected hint of citrus flavor to your dishes.

Another thing to love about thyme is its beauty. It has a beautiful growth habit that makes it ideal in pots next to taller herbs like rosemary. Use it outdoors to edge walkways and paths to add a fragrant element to your landscape.

Of course, these four easy-to-grow culinary herbs barely scratch the surface of what you can grow in a limited space. The herbs listed here are easy to grow and can be found in a diverse range of recipes, so not only will you enjoy growing them, you’ll love using them, too.

*Southern exposure in the Northern hemisphere.

Video: Example of A Small Garden Space Plan

This video shows a really cool little garden space with all sorts of cool design elements. Strategically placed mirrors, pots, sculptures, and plants create a feeling of space and coziness at the same time. The Moroccan theme brings an oriental feel to the place, and a lovely mosaic and interesting table add to the beautiful and unique character of this garden. You can find a lot of pieces like this at yard sales and on Ebay without spending a fortune, and create a lovely and unique garden space of your very own.

Small Garden Ideas Pt 1- How to make a small space garden look larger -- Interview
For more tips and ideas for small space gardens visit: http://www.successfulgardendesign.com/?cat=10 In this video, professional garden designer Rachel Mathe...

Video - 4 Quick & Simple Trellis Ideas

Here is a great little video demonstrating 4 different types of trellises with varying degrees of mobility and functionality, but they are all super easy to do, and a couple of them are so simple it's hard to believe I haven't used them before! The last one does require an existing structure, which you may or may not have, but the first 3 are all extremely cheap and easy and require almost no work to construct.

Trellises are great for small gardens (or even container gardening), as they allow you to make use of vertical space, and also give your garden more visual interest. A wide variety of crops (and of course flowers) may be trellised, from tomatoes, to cucumbers and melons, to beans and peas, and then some.

Check these out, and get your spring garden off the ground! (Pun intended.)  :-)

4 simple Trellises
There are easy and cheap ways to add height and structure to your garden with these easy to make structures and trellises

Trellis-Building Supplies:
   

Summer Gardens for Small Spaces

There are many people who relish the idea of having a summer garden but feel that it is not possible for them, based on their living situation or location. The good news is that in the modern world in which we live, nothing could be further from the truth. The only thing is you may have to rearrange your idea of what a summer garden is and is not. You can still manage to have the beauty of flowers or fresh picked vegetables in almost any situation if you are willing to take the necessary extra steps required to do so.

Image via WikipediaFirst of all, those who live in high rise buildings often feel as though they have no options larger than a window sill for their gardening needs. This is often not the case. Discuss with the landlord the option of establishing raised gardens on the roof top of the building in which you live. These are becoming more and more popular and some buildings also offer greenhouse possibilities, usage, or space to tenants to satisfy the urge many of us get to give our green (or not so green as the case may be) thumbs an adequate workout. Raised gardens are a great choice for many landlords and building owners as long as they are created and maintained at the expense of the tenant who proposed the garden. (See our article series from last week for more on raised gardens.) Some buildings even offer gardening co-ops as perks to those who live within the building and a system of contributing and sharing the fruits of the labor of those who have contributed to these gardens by planting and maintaining flowers, plants, fruits, and/or vegetables. This is also a great way to meet neighbors that may share your passion.

If you live in a smaller apartment setting that has little or no lawn space you still have a few options available to you. First of all, many of these types of apartments come with balcony space or a small patio area. This means that you can use ferns or flowering plants to add a little bit of green and other colors and have the plants hanging along the patio or balcony. Another thing that is growing in popularity for small spaces is hanging vegetables such as tomatoes. This is a little outside the area of traditional but provides the opportunity for fresh tomatoes to even those who have very limited gardening space. Small peppers also do well growing upside down though this isn't recommended for the larger sweet peppers as they are too heavy for the vines to support. Hanging part of your garden this way frees up whatever valuable ground space you have for must-have plants to be planted in containers or raised beds that can be made quite small to accommodate your specific needs.

Image by basswulf via FlickrA vertical garden is yet another option. This requires some degree of handyman skills (or a friend who has them) for designing and building a platform for your gardening needs that allows you to grow the flowers or vegetables you crave without taking up nearly as much ground space. This is also a convenient way of gardening for those who are in wheelchairs and cannot get up and down for regular gardening tasks as easily. A vertical garden can be planted with very little ground space, such as what would be available on a patio or a balcony and allows for many more plants that one might expect with such a small growing space. Combine this method with hanging plants and you may find that you have quite an impressive little summer garden growing.

Do not allow limited real estate to be an obstacle for your summer garden needs. One way to overcome this is to begin thinking vertically when it comes to real estate rather than horizontally. You may discover that you have a lot more room with which to work than you realized. The important thing to remember is that your summer garden does not have to conform to anyone's idea of what a summer garden should be. Make it your own and have fun.

Related Articles:

• Small-Space Urban Gardening Solutions (casasugar.com)
• Gardening on your roof? It’s not as hard as it sounds (theglobeandmail.com)
• Balcony Gardening Explained and Extolled (treehugger.com)
• Condo Gardening, Here We Come! (bakerrealestate.com)
• Green Enthusiasts + Urban Living = Rooftop Gardens (apartmenttherapy.com)
• 8 Reasons for Vertical Gardening (urbangardensolutions.wordpress.com)

Is a Raised Garden Right for You?

Raised gardens are becoming quite popular as more and more people are renting property or find themselves in high rise apartment buildings with little to no lawn space and even less access to actual soil in which to plant the flowers and vegetables they desire to grow. There are actually quite a few pros for using raised gardens as opposed to tilling the soil for those who wish to have smaller gardens or have limited space. At the same time, those who desire bigger yields are often dissatisfied with the limits of Image by VeggieGardeningTips via Flickrraised gardens. The choice is ultimately yours but I will try to point out some of the pros and cons of this type of garden so that you may decide for yourself.

Soil compaction: Plants love to breathe and that is often difficult when placed in traditional garden rows, as we have quite a bit of difficulty avoiding the possibility of stepping onto the tilled rows in which we have planted our fruits, vegetables, or plants. By using a raised garden, which is designed to be worked from without rather than within, there is little fear of compacting the soil around the plants. At the same time many lifelong gardeners feel the inability to walk around in their gardens is a disadvantage in itself and prefer to be able to do so. This is often a matter of preference rather than practicality but a valid opposition just the same.

Numbers: You can actually plant more plants in the same amount of square footage in a raised bed because there is no need for rows. You should also be aware that plants in raised beds often tend to grow larger than plants in traditional garden rows. That being said you should resist the urge to over plant within the raised garden bed, as this will eliminate that slight benefit. (For some helpful tips on this, see info on Square Foot Gardening.)

Watering and Drainage: One huge benefit to raised beds for summer gardens in areas that are nearly saturated with excess moisture is that raised beds allow much better drainage than traditional row gardening. This is one thing that the average gardener will not argue with unless he lives in an area in which this isn't much of a problem. Most gardeners in the south though, where there is a great deal of humidity and moisture will agree that proper drainage is a problem.

Image via WikipediaMobility/Tending To Your Garden: Raised beds are less back-breaking. This is a huge benefit to those of us who are feeling the years creeping into our bones. By being above ground, raised gardens offer easier access for planting, weeding, planting, and investigating for signs of pests. Another great thing about raised gardens is that they warm more quickly, which renders them more productive and with longer growing seasons than most gardens that are placed in the ground.

Also, for those who have unusually shaped yards or growing areas, raised gardens allow the opportunity to have a beautiful summer garden in almost any shape you can build the box for. This means you are not limited to rows, as many gardens tend to be and that you have a few more options for aesthetics when planning and growing your summer garden.

The downside to raised gardens is that they are difficult to dismantle and nearly impossible to till. This means you must do all the working of the soil by hand and many gardeners do not fully appreciate the beauty of that process. The most important thing however, is that you choose a summer garden system that works for you.

You can do a traditional raised-bed garden, or try an alternative method such as straw-bale or Square Foot Gardening - either way you can reap the benefits of this unique gardening technique.

Raised Bed Gardening Resources:
    

Video - Easy Container Gardening

Here is a quick and very helpful video on setting up your own container garden quickly and easily. She gives some tips for cheap container ideas, as well as each step of setting up your container garden. To make your garden organic and sustainable, be sure to use natural fertilizers or even better - make your own compost! (This blog has many articles on composting, and if you are short on space, you can even compost in an enclosed container that doesn't take up a lot of room (I have mine right on my patio!).

Container Gardening - How to Start an Easy Basic Garden
Please be sure to subscribe to Naztazia's channel! This is a how-to video on growing fruits and vegetables in containers and planters instead of a traditional in-ground garden. Also known as container gardens or container gardening. These types of ga...

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• Essential Tips For A Successful Container Garden (allhome-improve.com)
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• 5 Step by Step Tips For Gardening in Containers (hbb2obm.com)

Sustainable Gardening for Renters

If you live in an apartment (like I do), gardening may seem like a difficult proposition. Limited space (as well as sometimes lack of light or otherwise unfavorable location), limited budget, and other considerations may come into play, which those with more space may not have to deal with – at least not to the same extent.

However, the use of containers, vertical gardening, and wise use of existing space can allow almost anyone to grow at least a small garden.

This article gives some great tips and ideas for apartment dwellers with a gardener’s soul!

Rental Properties – Sustainable Gardening on a Budget
Sustainable gardening might seem difficult in a rental property but here are some great ideas that are kind on the environment and the budget.
Publish Date: 08/01/2010 7:26
http://www.suite101.com/content/rental-properties—sustainable-gardening-on-a-budget-a264432

Related articles on Gardening with Limited Space:

• Top Tips to Banish the Blues by Gardening in Winter (brighthub.com)
• Attention Urban Gardeners: Do you know what’s in your soil? (self.com)
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Getting Started in Container Gardening

Sometimes, the urge to garden might be quelled by other circumstances, such as living arrangements or space constrictions. If you live in an apartment, you can’t really operate a full garden, just because you don’t really have a yard! One of the best solutions for this problem is to grow plants in containers. You can hang these, or just arrange them on your patio, window sill or balcony. Just a few baskets or pots, and your whole living area will look much classier and nicer.

A benefit of growing in small containers is the fact that you can move them around to suit your needs. If you rearrange your furniture and you think that the plants would look nicer in another area, it’s no trouble at all to scoot them over. As long as the lighting is about the same, your plants shouldn’t mind the transition at all. Another benefit of the containers’ versatility is the fact that you can adapt it to simulate any environment depending on the type of soil you fill it with and where you place it.

Image via WikipediaIf you are trying to make an aesthetically pleasing arrangement of containers and plants, you can adjust the containers to be at different heights by hanging them from the ceiling or placing them on supports. Hanging them will allow you to make the most of the space you have. This is called “vertical gardening”. If you pull it off right, you can make a very pleasing arrangement of plants while conserving your valuable space.

If you live in an apartment, you know how important it is to conserve space! One method of vertical gardening is the use of a wooden step ladder. If painted correctly, you can arrange all the plants on it in a beautiful, stylish cascade of color.

The maintenance of container plants takes slightly more time, since you have to water more often and go around to each individual container. However, the square footage for container plants is much less than that of an actual garden, so the time spent on maintenance and watering is more balanced. It is important that you don’t over-water your container plants, as this can be just as fatal to their health as under-watering.

When choosing containers for your plants, you’ll want to buy them all at once along with some extras in case they break or you add more plants later. You don’t want them to be all the same shape and size, but definitely the same style so that the compliment each other. Plastic containers are the best and require the least amount of watering, but if you want to stick with clay or earthen pots then you should line the inside with plastic. This helps it retain water more, as the clay will soak up water. (Just make sure if you do this, that you poke some holes in the bottom so that excess water doesn’t sit and drown the roots of your plants!)

Image by LollyKnit via FlickrAnother thing to remember when buying pots is the fact that the size of the pot will ultimately constrict the size of the plant. Make a careful choice of pots according to what you wish to grow in each one. If you search for the plant you chose on the internet, you should be able to find specifications as to how much root space it should be given. This can even be an advantage for you if you choose a plant that can grow very large. If you only have a limited amount of space for it, you can constrict it by choosing a pot that isn’t large enough to support huge amounts of growth, and this will keep the plant smaller

If the benefits of container gardening sound appealing to you, you can start planning out your container garden today. If you write a list of all the plants you desire to have, you can do the necessary research to find out what size and shape of pots you should get. After that, it’s just a matter of arranging them in a way that makes your home look the nicest.

Related articles on Container Gardening:

• Grow Container Vegetables (hbb2obm.com)
• Container Gardening for the Fall Season (brighthub.com)
• Chron.com: Want to garden but don’t have time or energy? Try containers (chron.com)
• Decorating with container gardens (seattletimes.nwsource.com)