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May 25, 2017
Small space, big plans
Burpee  Edible Gardening Team Members

You don’t need massive outdoor space to enjoy the benefits of growing your own food. In fact, today’s garden vegetable choices make it possible to achieve that fresh-from-the-garden taste even if you only have a small sunny patch, balcony or rooftop.

Since gardens come in all sizes, maximizing your space is important. Check out our recommendations below to get big results from smaller spaces.

Tomato Types
Tomatoes are usually tops on everyone’s home vegetable garden list. But the wrong plant choice can lead to disappointment. The plant tag will give you the info you need. Look for monikers like “Determinate or Indeterminate”, “Paste or Beefsteak”, “Bush or Vine”. These i.d.’s tell you how big your plant and your fruit will grow. Use our Choosing The Right Tomato Tool to help take away the guesswork.

For smaller-space gardens or patios, look for determinate or bush tomatoes. They respond better to soil constraints in containers. As for pot size, aim for at least 17-in. wide and deep. A larger soil volume gives roots plenty of room to pull in moisture and nutrition.

Aim High
If in-ground is not an option, try a hanging basket for herbs, tumbling tomatoes, lettuce or cucumbers. Look for compact, cascading tomatoes like Tumbler or Terenzo. Because these container sizes will be smaller, though, be sure to monitor for moisture. They’ll dry out much faster once the season heats up. To test if you need to water, stick your index finger 2 inches into the soil. If it feels damp, hold off on watering, but check again the next day.

More Space Savers
You’ll be happy to know there are plenty of options for your petite garden space, and the range of veggies is quite broad!

Check out our full assortment at our Space Savers Collection page. And for more small-space gardening advice our Podcast page is a must-visit destination.

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