Gardening is an increasingly popular hobby, as more and more people look to grow their own produce at home. But while this may be easy for people with big, sprawling gardens, what about people who live in flats and apartments?
Luckily, you don’t need loads of space to grow your own fruit and vegetables. There are plenty of things you can grow in a smaller space, whether that’s a balcony, or even just a sunny windowsill!
Follow our tips and start growing your own edible garden today.
Getting Started
1
Make sure there’s plenty of sun – 5 hours or more per day in summer if possible.
2
Uncovered is a plus – rain saves on watering.
3
The wider the better – more space means less crowding.
4
Be careful when using window boxes – make sure they’re secure and aren’t at risk of falling.
1
Check your positioning – how much direct or indirect sunlight does the area get? What about rain and wind?
2
Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid anything too heavy and make sure things are secured.
3
Put a tray or dish under pots to avoid too much water dripping down to lower balconies.
4
Make use of vertical surfaces too – consider hanging smaller containers off walls.
1
Create more vertical space.
2
Maximise your growing season.
3
Increased heat and no rain means soil can dry out quickly, so make sure you’re watering enough daily.
4
How much do you want to spend? Do you want to go with simple plastic or a more complex metal and glass option?
Choose your container
The bigger the better, but aim for at least:
15cm across
for herbs
25cm across
for smaller fruit and veg
35cm across
for larger veg
20cm deep
for herbs
30cm deep
for fruit and veg
As long as you’ve got the right size, you can use just about anything!
Traditional
Plant pots
Window boxes
Hanging baskets
Grow bags
Upcycled
Buckets
Wellies
Paint pots
Biscuit tins
Plastic bottles
Wooden pallets
How much space to leave when sowing seeds?
The more space the better, as overcrowding can limit growth. Aim for at least:
5-10cm for things like carrots, herbs, French beans, spring onions, peas, radishes
10-15cm for things like beetroot, garlic, leeks, spinach
15-25cm for things like broad beans, lettuce, swiss chard
30-45cm for things like tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, cabbage
Your growing guide
Vegetable
Herb
Fruit
Leaf
Direct sunlight
Partial sunlight
Sow
Harvest
Windowsill
Balcony
Greenhouse
Sun
Days to Harvest
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Aubergines
40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Basil
40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Beetroot40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Blackcurrants120+
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Blueberries120+
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Broad beans40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Carrots40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Cherry tomatoes40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Chicory<40
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Chillies80-120
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Chives80-120
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
French beans40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Garlic80-120
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Gooseberries80-120
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Kale40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Lettuce<40
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Micro greens<40
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Mint80-120
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Oregano80-120
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Parsley40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Peas40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Peppers40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Potatoes40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Radishes<40
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Rocket<40
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Rosemary80-120
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Runner beans80-120
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Sage120+
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Spinach<40
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Spring onions40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Strawberries40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Swiss chard40-80
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Thyme120+
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Tomatoes40-50
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Watercress<40
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sow
Harvest
Top tips
Do you rent your property? If so, check what you’re allowed to do.
Don’t overcrowd when sowing – give your produce room to grow.
Smaller containers need more frequent watering.
Put a layer of gravel at the bottom of your container to allow for drainage, then lightly pack compost on top.
Choose the right compost, ideally one designed specifically for containers. These retain water better & contain extra nutrients.
Use a liquid feed every couple of weeks – your crops will have used up all the nutrients in the soil.
Worried about over or under-watering? Stick your finger into the soil, if it’s moist just below the surface, you’re all good.
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