Grow Your Own Edible Garden

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An edible garden is useful, beautiful and easier to create than you might think, no matter how much – or how little – space you have.

With many of us living in smaller spaces, you might think growing an edible garden is out of the question. The average Australian backyard has certainly shrunk, with block sizes around one-quarter of the size of the 1950s. But you can grow an abundance of food in the smallest of spaces. Whether you have a small backyard, courtyard or just a windowsill, there are edible plants you can grow and harvest.

Benefits of an edible garden

An edible garden is cost-saving and beneficial to your health and the environment, says Arabella Forge, nutritionist and author of “Frugavore” (Black Inc., $26.99). “An organic lettuce costs around five dollars whereas a punnet of lettuce seedlings is much less.”

Forge recommends an edible garden to “reduce food miles and reduce waste by composting produce back into your soil”. By far the biggest benefit of edible gardens is the nutrient-dense food supply. “Nothing is as healthy as plants picked from your garden that are on your plate in minutes,” she says.

What plants to choose?

The easiest foods to grow in small spaces are herbs and leafy green vegetables such as silverbeet, lettuces or celery. “These basic culinary staples are fast-growing, easy to maintain and a quick, healthy addition to most meals,” says Forge.

These basic culinary staples are fast-growing, easy to maintain and a quick, healthy addition to most meals

If you’ve got more room to play with, Forge recommends quick-growing plants such as zucchini, eggplant, rhubarb or strawberries in a pot.

Director of Secret Gardens of Sydney, Matt Cantwell, recommends a citrus tree in a pot or espaliered against a wall. This is a method of pruning and tying a plant a frame on a wall, which is perfect for small space. “Olives, kaffir limes, mandarin trees and cumquats are also beautiful, delicious options,” he says.

Where to set up your garden

For very small spaces, Cantwell recommends one pot with a variety of herbs that you use a lot. “A cluster of pots works well in a courtyard corner, and try growing chilli in a window box,” he says.

In the backyard, maximize available space with garden beds raised to attract sunlight. You can purchase wall garden units or try recycled wooden crates that you can place anywhere in your backyard. Inexperience wooden or steel garden vegie beds are available from Bunning stores nationally.

Cantwell has seen a surge in the popularity of vertical wall gardens, which make the most of small spaces. “They range from complex structures holding soil to simple ideas of hanging pots on a wall.” An economical and easy way to turn a wall into a garden is with the system from Wall Garden, www.wallgarden.com.au.

What you need to get started

According to Matthew Pember, founder of The Little Veggie Patch Company, you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment. “You need a pair of hands, seeds or plants, a means of watering and a little gardening knowledge,” he says. A great start is Pember’s book “How To Grow Food in Small Spaces” (Plum Publishing, $45), which gives step-by-step guides on building raised garden beds, saving and sowing seeds, and includes a list of planting and harvesting advice for 40 different vegetables.

What time of year is best?

When timing the planting of your edible garden, spring always yields greater success, according to Cantwell. “If you want an edible garden to enjoy right now, I recommend buying advanced plants if your budget allows.” You’ll be able to harvest fresh food much sooner.

Soil and planting

When planting your edible garden ensure you have rich nutritious soil for your vegie, fruits and herbs. Forge recommends starting a worm farm or compost heap. “The healthiest plants are grown in nutrient-dense soils that are fertilized with good quality compost and worm castings,” she says. You could also add slow-release fertilizers and soil conditioners. When planting seedlings, follow the instructions on the seed packet and keep up watering until your plants have become established.

You could also add slow-release fertilizers and soil conditioners.

Climate

Another important consideration is the conditions and “the best area for your edible garden is one that has sunlight, heat and airflow,” says Pember. Courtyards can actually work well because concrete and brick walls produce residual heat. Airflow is obviously always better in outdoor spaces so a balcony or windowsill is a good choice.

“If you’re struggling to gather sunlight at ground level, elevate your growing levels using wall garden units, tall pots or hanging pots,” he adds. Try www.urbanbalcony.com.au – they have a Greenbo planter, $45, that sits over your balcony railing.