Garden in Small Spaces With Mini Veggies

When you imagine gardening, what comes to mind? You might see wide-open, rolling fields and rows upon rows of carefully tended plants. The truth is, you don’t need a lot of space to have a high-producing garden. There are plenty of options out there for small spaces. If you have room for a few planters and pots, you can start small gardens with mini veggies!

Sometimes it’s difficult to imagine how to make the most of your space, especially if you’re new to the gardening scene. Fortunately, this article focuses on some great ideas for mini vegetables that fit perfectly into even the most compact gardens. Take a glance at these tasty choices and start picking out planters!

What Are Mini Vegetables?

Mini vegetables are smaller versions of their larger counterparts (as you probably guessed). There are miniature, or “baby,” versions of many common vegetables. Some mini varieties are simply harvested early to keep their small size. Some are actual dwarf varieties, however. They’ll be significantly smaller than regular-sized varieties even when fully grown and mature.

How to Make the Most of Your Space

Miniature vegetables are often grown in pots and planters. If you can’t find ones that suit your available space, it’s simple to make your own with lumber and basic tools. Alternatively, repurpose things like wooden crates or even large paint or coffee cans!

If you don’t have a ton of space to expand, try going up instead. Vertical gardens are a fantastic way to utilize every bit of your available space. There are plenty of plants that are happy to grow vertically, too, including several of the miniature varieties you’ll see in this article. Tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, and many other veggies are happy to climb a trellis, garden stakes, or a cage.

Pallet gardens are excellent ways to grow vertical gardens, too. You’ll just need a pallet, landscaping fabric, and a staple gun to get started. It’s something that anyone can do – even if you’re only working with a small balcony in an urban area!

The Best Mini Veggies for Small Gardens

Let’s dive into the multitude of baby vegetables out there. There’s really something for everyone, and you’re bound to find at least one of your favorites on this list. Don’t feel discouraged if you don’t have a lot of space – you can still grow plenty of fresh food!

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow in general. They’re great in vertical gardens, as mentioned above, and there are also several miniature varieties.

• Tiny Tim – This variety grows around 12 inches tall and produces fruit about three-quarters of an inch in diameter. It matures early, too, so you’ll see the fruits of your labor earlier.
• Micro-Tom – ‘Micro-Tom’ is one of the world’s smallest varieties of tomatoes, clocking in at just six to eight inches tall. Each tomato only weighs about an ounce! You’ll just need a medium-sized pot and plenty of sun for this tasty tomato.

Lettuce

Do you want an ultra-fresh salad but don’t have space for a whole row of lettuce? Try out the Pomegranate Crunch variety. It’s a cross between romaine and butterhead lettuce and is ready to harvest at around 45 days after sprouting. It’s also quite striking, thanks to its deep purple coloration.

Peppers (my favorite for small gardens with mini veggies!)

Peppers have excellent nutrients and vitamins. They make great snacks, so why not grow them snack-sized? There are mini varieties of yellow, orange, and red bell peppers called Hungarian Cheese peppers. The whole plant stops growing at around two feet high and yields peppers quickly! The more you pick, the more it will grow.

Peas

Peas are small even as full-sized vegetables. After all, people often use the term “pea-sized” to describe something small. However, there are still dwarf pea varieties out there!

• Tom Thumb – These tiny peas are frost and cold-resistant. The whole plant only grows to around 10 inches tall and the peas are about two inches in diameter. Typical tomato plants require staking, but this variety is so small that you won’t have to bother!
• Charmette – This dwarf only grows to about two feet tall and yields an abundance of little pea pods. They only need three to five inches of soil for planting and about eight inches between plants, making them a great addition to small container gardens.

Broccoli

You’ve likely seen or tasted broccolini before. If you’re a fan of this kale and broccoli hybrid, there’s good news! You can grow it in your own small garden without hassle. It’s so easy to grow that you can even use a window box. It just needs 24 inches or so of space for planting. Aspabroc Baby is the original broccolini variety. It’s small, grows quickly, and you’ll be eating your own mini veggies in less than two months after transplanting!

Okra

If you live in warmer areas, consider planting some dwarf okra varieties to mix things up. Okra thrives in high-temperature soils, so don’t plant it if you’re expecting a frost to roll in. There are a few dwarf okra options out there.

• Little Lucy – This variety is stunning to behold. It has delicate yellow flowers and pods that reach around four inches or so.
• Long Green Pod – Expect about seven to eight inches for these pods, while the plant stands at around 24 inches.

Final Thoughts for Small Gardens With Mini Veggies

As you can see, there’s a whole cornucopia of mini vegetables suitable for small gardens, vertical gardens, and any area where you’re trying to keep things compact. If you’re local and looking to branch out and get a bit more greenspace to work with, however, Stoney Farms has a wonderful garden plot rental option! All you do is choose the size of your plot and rent it for the season. Plant to your heart’s content! If that isn’t an option, you can do plenty with the space you do have!

If you’re interested in learning more gardening tips, head over to Stoney Creek Farms. We offer tons of special classes and events and even have a YouTube channel. We hope to see you there!