In the world of gardening (and Instagram), we so often see pictures of massive gardens with more raised beds than we can count. And harvests? Martha-Stewart-esque baskets overflowing with fresh veggies seemingly just picked from the garden, still with their morning dew.
Those gardens might be intended to be aspirational, but they can be a bit discouraging, honestly. Why even try gardening if you don’t have so much space that you’ll be able to grow every veggie and herb your family will eat in a year?
I’ll let you in on a secret.
You don’t need much space to garden successfully, to offset a large chunk of your grocery bill, or to make a beautiful addition to your backyard or patio. Even the tiniest spaces can grow more fresh, homegrown produce than you’ll be able to eat.
Focusing on smaller plants, such as herbs and salad greens, will make the most of your space and give you more bang for the buck than gardens with 5x your square footage.
Small Space, Big Returns
In every garden, the key is to maximize every inch. To do that, grow herbs and salad greens. Herbs like basil, rosemary, and thyme take up so little space that they can be grown in small pots or even on windowsills. Salad greens like including lettuce, arugula, and spinach thrive in containers, hanging baskets, and vertical planters.
Unlike larger plants (ahem, tomatoes) that demand more time, water, and nutrients before yielding fruit, herbs and salad greens provide lightening-fast harvests. Herbs can be harvested immediately after planting, and your salad greens will follow in just a few weeks.
How Much Can a Salad Garden Save You?
Being able to harvest herbs and salad greens from your garden quickly and more often means that you’ll be able to offset more of your grocery bill. Just think: if you buy a package of salad each week for $7.99, you’re spending $208 in just six months. If you have one 4’x4’ bed just dedicated to salad greens, it will cost you that same $200 to assemble the bed and fill it with soil, but you’ll be able to grow twice as much lettuce each week as you’re buying in packs from the store. And after that first six months, your start-up costs disappear, leaving new seeds and fresh compost as your only costs. Now, you’re saving $200 every six months. Who wouldn’t want that?
Herb Gardens Save You Even More
The math works even more in your favor with herbs. Each of those little packages of herbs at the grocery store are about $5 each, and let’s say that you buy two each week. That’s $520 every year! But if you buy two large pots and potting soil for $100 and fill them with herb plants, you’ll have more herbs that you know what to do with. If you harvest from each herb plant at least once a week and dry the herbs you don’t use that week, you’ll easily have a year-round supply of herbs.
By concentrating on smaller plants that give you quick and continuous harvest, you’ll enjoy the freshest salad greens and herbs that money can buy for not a lot of money.
Beauty in Small Gardens
Small gardens have their own charm and allure. With the right choice of containers and accessories, you can create a visually stunning space that reflects your personality and style.
Consider using beautiful and colorful terra cotta pots to add elegance to your small garden. These classic containers not only complement the natural beauty of plants but also provide excellent aeration for the roots. Use trellises to add vertical interest, allowing vines and climbers like snap peas to flourish without occupying precious ground space.
Your Next Steps
Whether you’re looking for a beautiful garden or one that saves you money, successful gardening doesn’t require lots of growing space. When you focus on herbs and salad greens, you can turn even the smallest spaces into thriving, productive gardens that look beautiful and take a bite out of your grocery bill.
If I’ve convinced you that adding a salad or herb garden to your small space is a great way for you to garden, here are a few steps you can take:
- If you’re feeling stuck or intimidated about creating the right garden for your space, I’ve got you covered. In a Garden Design Consultation, I’ll visit you in your soon-to-be garden, talk with you about your garden goals, and create a customized plan for your new garden that will build your confidence in your growing skills from Day 1.
- If you’ve tried gardening before but learned that your thumb was black, don’t worry – a black thumb is just a sign that you need to learn more, and a Private Coaching Session will get you there. I’ll visit your garden and troubleshoot what’s blocking you from being successful.
I’m here to help you become the gardener you’ve always dreamed of being. Hope to see you in your garden soon!
