frankie’s tips on what to grow in compact spaces

We all like the idea of growing our own veggies and living off the land, but most of us don’t live on a farm in the Cotswolds, surrounded by bluebirds and kitchen gardens and rolling acres of Winnie-The-Pooh-type scenery. But you know what? That doesn’t matter. If you’ve got a courtyard, or a balcony, or a spare scrap of sunny outdoor space, you can grow your own food. And it’s actually pretty easy. Even if your horticulture level sits somewhere around: ‘Green bits go above the dirt’.

So with winter around the corner, and the weather cooling down, we want to share some tips for compact autumn gardening. Minimum space, maximum veggies. Let’s goooooo.

GRAB A PORTABLE RAISED GARDEN BED No soil? No worries. A raised planter bed, like Backyard Farmer’s Georgie, means you can grow fresh veggies, herbs or fruit on a balcony. Georgie is self-watering, compact and portable, and the planter is made from UV-resistant 98% recycled plastic. It comes in three parts: the self-watering planter, protection canopy and metal trolley. All you have to do is fill it with potting mix, a bit of compost, and some slow-release fertilizer. The 25L reservoir allows water to wick up gradually into the soil, preventing overwatering. It’s got wheels, too, which is a big deal for planters. You want something portable. That way you can move it throughout the year, ensuring optimum growing conditions.

PICK COMPACT, HIGH-YIELD PLANTS We’ve included a handy autumn planting guide below, but as a general rule, which plants you choose will depend on your climate and the location of your planter. Shady spot? Pick shade-tolerant veggies like kale, lettuce, spinach, beets and carrots. More sun opens up more options: think capsicums, cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, lettuce, shallots. The list goes on and on. Just make sure to check each plant’s mature habit (their eventual shape and size) before sticking them in your planter. No gum trees.

GROW UPWARDS, NOT OUTWARDS If you can’t plant sideways, plant up! Climbers and climbing veggies – sugar snap peas, beans and vining (AKA indeterminate) tomatoes – are perfect for compact balconies and courtyards, because they make use of all that vertical space. All you need is a support structure, to give them something to cling to. Luckily, there are two Backyard Farmer Garden Trellises, with either 25mm or 50mm square apertures. Just pop a few stakes into your Georgie planter and attach the trellis. Secure any new shoots with soft ties or twine to encourage the plant to grab hold. Georgie has an extra tall protection canopy, too, so there’s plenty of space for climbers.

WATER WISELY Plants in pots or raised beds need a bit of extra water care, particularly in sunny, north-facing spots. With compact gardening, this is generally easy, and you don’t need an expensive irrigation system. A plain-old watering can will do the trick. The general rule is to water till you see it running out the bottom of the pot. You can also invest in self-wicking planters, like the Georgie Raised Garden Bed, that water from below the soil, or ollas (terra cotta pots that sit in the soil and allow water to seep out slowly). Pro tip: don’t water the leaves of your veggies; water straight into the soil, if you can. This will reduce the risk of mildew, fungus and other diseases.

PICK THE RIGHT COMPANIONS With limited garden space, you need to get smart with your soil, and your plants. If you’re growing veggies, rotate your crops each season: first peas, beans and legumes, to fix nitrogen into the soil, then leafy greens like cabbage and broccoli, then fruiting plants like tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplant, and finally your root veggies – potatoes, garlic and so on. Then start the cycle again. This will keep your soil healthy and minimize the risk of disease. Also give companion planting a try. Dotting some marigolds, alyssums and nasturtiums among your veggies helps repel aphids and attract pollinators. Plus they look good!

RAISE SOME SEED CAPITAL Growing veggies from seed is super satisfying – and much cheaper than buying mature plants. You also get a bit more control over the quality and origin of your veggies (look for heirloom, non-GMO, open-pollinated seeds, where possible). You don’t need a fancy greenhouse for this stuff, either. Backyard Farmer makes the compact Flori Seed Raising Kit that fits on your average outdoor table, or on the shelves of your Georgie metal trolley. You can even keep it on a kitchen windowsill. Once your seedlings have struck and started to grow, take them out of the Punnet Trays and stick them in your planter. Job done.

AUTUMN GROWING GUIDE
Just because things are cooling down, doesn’t mean you can’t start growing yummy veggies. Here’s what to plant in Australia between March and May.

Temperate regions: miniature cabbage, miniature cauliflower, coriander, brussels sprouts, sprouting broccoli, radish, garlic cloves, kale, lettuce, rocket, mustard greens, dwarf peas, coriander, spinach and celery.

Cold regions: miniature cabbage, miniature cauliflower, coriander, sprouting broccoli, brussels sprouts, garlic cloves, lettuce, kale, rocket, spring onions, dwarf peas, mustard greens, spinach and radish.

Subtropical regions: sprouting broccoli, miniature cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, lettuce, rocket, carrot, beetroot, celery, spring onions and tomatoes.

Tropical regions: broccoli, miniature cabbage, cucumber, capsicum, celery, chilli, eggplant, kale, lettuce, bush tomatoes, miniature watermelons and zucchini.

This handy guide was produced in partnership with Backyard Farmer. Check out their complete home growing solution the Georgie Portable Raised Garden Bed on the Backyard Farmer website or in-store at Bunnings, Mitre 10 and independant garden retailers.