Kitchen Gardening: Growing Large in Small Spaces

By ContributorsGuide
Written By Hannah Fuller

This article was written by a guest contributor, Paige Wagar. Read about Paige here.

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When I was in 8th grade, my teacher tasked the class with the assignment of creating a collage around the theme of “our future”—a manifestation board of sorts. Some kids cut out photos of college graduates, grinning in their cap and gown. Others filled their 8 ½ x 11 with photos of weddings and smiling couples holding babies. Mine looked a little different. My page was full of plants—photos of lush vegetable gardens enclosed by a short white picket fence, bordered by budding fruit trees and a trellis with grape vines winding their way up. All of this is to say, I have always dreamt of being able to cultivate fresh fruits and vegetables on my own. In the past 5 years, I have lived in 2 dorm rooms, 4 apartments, 1 boat, and 1 bunkhouse; none of these have been ideal for a sprawling, happy garden. 

In the years since creating that 8th grade vision board, my dream of one day having a grand, bountiful home garden has only grown more fervent. I traded in my 8th grade garden vision board for an entire Pinterest board titled “garden goals”. But what has changed is my perspective on waiting for the perfect opportunity to start cultivating my perfect garden. I’m tired of telling myself “tomorrow” or “next year”; I am ready to chase my green thumb dreams today!

Which leads me to the purpose of this post: a guide to gardening for the space-constrained. Maybe you’re like me—a borderline garden-obsessive individual living in a place without a yard—or maybe you just want to test out your green thumb in the comfort of your kitchen. Regardless of your reasoning, there are a variety of ways to satisfy your inner farmer despite whatever space limitations you have. Here are some of my top tips and things to think about for gardening in a confined space:

  1. Choose the right plants
    If I have learned anything in my attempts at growing food inside it is that, due to no fault of your own, some plants simply won’t succeed inside. With that in mind, try your best to set yourself up for success by choosing the plants that are most likely to flourish inside. Leafy greens like lettuce and kale tend to do wonderfully inside, as do herbs. Plant size, ambient temperature, and amount of sunlight all factor into whether a particular plant will thrive or fail. Don’t just choose the plant starts that are cute and small when you first plant them-- how large will that plant grow to be? Consider how much space you have to dedicate to cultivating-- do you have a few open window sills, or do you have a balcony that can accommodate some larger plants? Greens or herbs can be great in a tray on a counter, but something like a pepper plant will quickly outgrow a small space. Climbing plants like peas and traveling vines like squash may be overwhelming on a window sill, but they would thrive with a balcony wall to climb up! Think about how the light changes in your space over the course of the day--  will your plant be in direct sunlight all day or are there only a few hours of light in the afternoon? Different plants need different amounts of sun and those that need a lot of light simply cannot do enough photosynthesis to be successful, happy, healthy plants if planted inside. As a general rule, dark leafy greens or plants better suited for shoulder seasons (seasons with less blazing hot sun) will do better inside.

  2. Don’t forget about drainage! 
    Let me say that again. Don’t forget about drainage! It is so easy to look at mason jars and think that they’re great for growing, but don’t let that hip, well-styled Pinterest board fool you. All of your containers should be able to easily drain-- standing water is the fastest way to kill a plant! You can get creative with old tupperware containers or anything else you already have, but always make sure you punch a hole in the bottom to allow for drainage. If your heart is set on using a cute pot or planter without holes in the bottom, there are two simple ways around it: create a drainage layer, or use a second planter. To create a drainage layer, place rocks and gravel in the base of your pot before adding potting soil. Or if you’d rather use a second pot, you can nest your ready-to-drain pot inside of a hip pot or planter. 

  3. Think about your windows!
    Plants just need the perfect combination of sunlight, water, and nutrients to thrive. Windows provide plenty of light for abundant growth—especially if you choose the right plants. When thinking about planning your indoor garden, place plants in a place that receives sunlight at some point during the day. The way I like to think about it is by considering the “view” a plant has in a particular location in my apartment; think about how much of the sky the plant “sees.” If they’re close to the window they might “see” half of the sky, meaning they are getting a moderate amount of light. While if they are on the other side of the room away from the window, they “see” less of the sky and are in a low light environment. Seed packets and tags on new plants will explicitly state how much sun that particular plant requires. Taking a look at your space while thinking about sunlight is an important, though oft-overlooked, simple step towards cultivating successfully in your space. 

  4. Hanging planters
    Even if you don’t have a lot of room on the floor and the counter space is limited, you can still grow plants at home. Just look up! There is so much underutilized space in apartments and small homes that can grow plants and vegetables. And depending on the plant, they may even be more suited for a hanging lifestyle. Tomatoes thrive in a hanging basket, and crops like lettuce can be a lovely addition to a kitchen window. Hanging planters can also grow herbs and other small leafy plants, while not taking up any counter space.

  5. Transform your porch or patio into a garden oasis 
    Porches and patios, though lifeless at first glance, have so much cultivation potential! With a few containers or hanging planters, you can transform your space into a garden oasis. As mentioned earlier, peas or tomatoes might not work in your kitchen itself but their tendency to grow up up up can create a wonderful (and delicious) living barrier that makes your small space feel more private. Utilizing the porch space also means that I can grow plants that are tall and might take up too much space inside. 
    Plants are a great way to add color and life to your outdoor spaces; they are tasty and aesthetically pleasing. Scatter some herbs on your patio or porch and decorate with a few pots of romaine lettuce or chives—you’re not only decorating but making otherwise wasted space productive! 

  6. Make use of your food scraps 
    Once you have decided on the location of your little garden and you have figured out which plants would thrive in your small space ecosystem, it’s time to get some seeds. Of course you can go to your local nursery or gardening store to pick up some seeds packets, but why not make use of something you already have: food scraps! The bottoms of lettuce and celery, ends of green onions, and avocado pits, can all regrow when placed in a dish of water. Once I regrew a head of bok choi and it was magical. And once you are ready to transplant your little sprouts into pots, mix in some used coffee grounds or crushed up eggshells into your potting mix and they’ll keep growing. This is a great way to literally grow something new from something you thought was trash!

  7. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
    Ask for help! Whether it’s your first time as a small-space gardener or you are a seasoned urban cultivator, everyone has questions! Look into your local resources-- is there a nursery near you? Or a cooperative extension office? Maybe there’s a Walmart or a Home Depot with a Garden Center? I have found it so helpful to connect in person with people in my area that are also growing vegetables to troubleshoot and share our experiences. Just with a quick search online you may find an entire community of folks growing indoor gardens in your area. If you have specific questions or want to get some ideas of where to start, explore the resources that are local to you.

Paige’s garden at home.

Paige’s garden at home.

Of course there are exceptions to the rules and everyone’s experience is different—I swear my mother can revive a plant that has been dead for years—but hopefully you found some of these tips helpful. At the end of the day, my goal is to inspire you to embrace the magic of cultivating your own nourishment—don’t let the four walls of your own teeny tiny apartment or dorm room stop you! Let your inner farmer live out their wildest dreams. 

What do you think? Have you tried growing fruits or vegetables inside? If not, what’s stopping you? If so, what worked best for you? Any tips to add to the list?

Cultivating an indoor garden is an opportunity to be creative—to try new things and make it your own. If you find yourself gagging at the thought of living out the Plant Lady aesthetic, make it your own! Also consider how you can use plants that produce food to make your environment more liveable and fun. There is a huge trend right now around indoor Meyer lemon trees and citrus in general. While they may only produce a lemon or two a year, they can add life to your living room and those couple of lemons will be all the more delicious knowing you grew them yourself! There is a beautiful lemon tree in my childhood backyard, so an indoor lemon tree is a fun and delicious way to remind me of home. Your living room doesn’t need to be full of those classic terra cotta pots arranged just so-- I have seen people grow vegetables in hip bar carts and clever wall mounted shelving units. You can grow vegetables on a wall-mounted pallet garden (that receives adequate sunlight and has appropriate drainage, of course) or in a few mismatched pots you picked up at a garage sale. Want to know a secret? The seeds are apathetic to the aesthetics of their home. All of this is to say, get out there—or stay in there—and plant some plants!

 If you want some more resources to sink your teeth into, here’s a list for you to start: 

 

This interview was conducted and written by a guest contributor, Paige Wager. Read about Paige here.

Are you interested in contributing to Grounded Grub? Contact us anytime with proposals, we’d love to hear from you.

Hannah Fuller
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