You don’t need a big backyard (or even a backyard at all) to grow your own food or garden. Whether you’ve got a sunny balcony, a compact courtyard, a rented patch, or just one corner of a garden bed to work with, there’s still plenty you can grow.
From pots and recycled containers to neatly organised vegie squares, there are clever ways to turn tight spaces into thriving edible gardens.
Container gardening: grow anywhere
Containers are the ultimate small-space solution. Whether you’re working with a balcony, front step, or tiny courtyard, if you’ve got sun, you can grow food. Pots, tubs, crates, even old wheelbarrows or teapots can be turned into productive mini gardens.
The real beauty of container gardening is flexibility. You can move your plants to chase the sun, escape strong winds, or create a seasonal display right outside your kitchen door. They're perfect for renters, too because your garden can move when you do.
What to grow:
Almost any edible can work in a container, especially compact or fast-growing crops. Think:
-
Leafy greens like lettuce and spinach.
-
Herbs like basil, mint,parsley and thyme.
-
Compact veg like bush beans, cherry tomatoes, mini cauliflowers, and chillies.
-
Strawberries, dwarf citrus, and even blueberries in the right potting mix.
Top tips for container success:
-
Choose big enough pots to allow roots to grow. Bigger pots dry out more slowly and need less watering.
-
Use a quality potting mix designed for edibles. Add compost and mulch to help retain moisture.
-
Group pots together to create microclimates and reduce evaporation.
-
Containers dry out quickly so water regularly,especially in summer.
With a little planning, container gardens can be just as productive as in-ground beds and a lot more flexible.
Vegie squares: small plots, big yields
If you’ve got a patch of soil, a raised bed, or even a few square metres of courtyard, vegie squares are a brilliant way to maximise your growing space. Based on the “square foot gardening” concept, this method divides your garden into small, manageable squares, each one dedicated to a specific crop.
It’s tidy, efficient, and perfect for beginners or anyone wanting to grow a wide variety of food without the overwhelm of a traditional garden bed.
A typical layout is a 1.2 x 1.2 metre bed (4x4 squares), giving you 16 mini plots to fill. Each square is planted based on spacing needs. For instance, carrots might have 16 per square, while a tomato takes just one.
Subscribe to our newsletter here and receive a free vegie squares guide today.
Why it works:
-
Dense planting suppresses weeds and makes watering more efficient.
-
Easy crop rotation. Replant a square as soon asit’s harvested.
-
Ideal for small backyards, courtyards, or edges of existing beds.
-
No digging required, just build a bed, fill with good soil, and start planting.
What to grow:
Almost anything! Leafy greens, herbs, root veg, compact fruiting crops, and flowers for pollinators. Mix crops based on height and growing season to keep the garden productive year-round.
For even more space-saving, grow climbers like beans or cucumbers on a trellis at the back and let low growers like lettuce or radishes take the front.
Whetheryou’re growing herbs, flowers, vegies or a mix of everything, pocket-sized gardens prove that you can bring the beauty of gardening into any space,and enjoy the calm, creativity and satisfaction that comes with it.
Shop our collection of vegetable seeds to sow now and get started today!
