In This Post:
I love to grow a massive garden that feeds my family for an entire year. However, I completely recognize that not everyone has the acreage, time, or inclination to garden on such a large scale!
I get questions constantly from people wanting to grow their own food with limited room. Today, I am sharing exactly what I would do if I had to design a small space garden plan. We are going to look at a standard 10×10 foot space. I will show you how to lay it out, what to plant, and exactly how much money it can save you at the grocery store.
Even if you only have a sunny apartment balcony, keep reading! I have some great tips for container gardening, too.
The Golden Rule of Garden Orientation
Before you plant a single seed, you must look at the orientation of your garden. You need to know which direction is North and which is South.
In any small space garden plan, you must plant your tallest plants on the North side. As you move toward the South side of the garden, your plants should gradually get shorter. Most of your sunlight comes from the South. If you plant massive tomatoes on the South edge, they will completely shade out the rest of your garden!
The Most Profitable Crops for a 10×10 Space
When space is limited, you must focus on two things. First, only grow food your family will actually eat! Second, focus on high-value crops that save you the most money. Here is exactly what I would put in a 10×10 small space garden plan:
1. Trellised Tomatoes and Cucumbers
Along the very back (North side) of your garden, put up a sturdy trellis.
- Tomatoes: Plant three indeterminate tomato plants. Indeterminate varieties grow very tall and produce heavily. Three plants can yield up to 75 pounds of tomatoes! (Estimated Savings: $188 to $450 CAD).
- Cucumbers: Plant three cucumber plants on the trellis. A good variety like Socrates can yield 10 to 15 cucumbers per plant. (Estimated Savings: $30 to $60 CAD).
2. Peppers and Zucchini
Moving forward in the garden bed, plant your bushy vegetables.
- Peppers: Plant four pepper plants. You can squeeze these in fairly tightly. This should yield 40 to 60 peppers. (Estimated Savings: $80 to $180 CAD).
- Zucchini: Zucchini takes up space, but you only need one plant! A single plant will easily give you 20 to 30 pounds of zucchini for fresh eating, baking, and preserving. (Estimated Savings: $40 to $60 CAD).
3. High-Value Greens and Herbs
I have never understood why salad greens are so expensive at the store. They are incredibly easy to grow and take up very little room!
- Lettuce: Dedicate a small section to grow 20 to 30 heads of lettuce. (Estimated Savings: $120 to $200 CAD).
- Herbs: Plant a small patch of herbs. You can harvest, dry, and freeze-dry them to last all winter. (Estimated Savings: $90 to $150 CAD).
4. Fun Additions: Carrots and Potatoes
Root vegetables are cheap at the grocery store, so they are not the most profitable use of space. However, they are incredibly fun to grow, especially if you have children!
- Carrots: Plant a small row for fresh snacking. (Estimated Savings: $30 to $40 CAD).
- Potatoes: Save your garden soil by growing potatoes in containers or grow bags along the outside edge of your 10×10 garden. (Estimated Savings: $25 to $40 CAD).
Total Expected Grocery Savings
Can a small space garden plan actually make a dent in your food budget? Absolutely.
A conservative estimate for this 10×10 layout is about $595 in grocery savings. For an average year, you can expect to save between $600 and $800. If you have a highly productive, perfect season, you could easily save over $900 a year just from this tiny space!
Tips for Patio and Container Gardening
What if you don’t even have a 10×10 plot of grass? If you only have a patio or balcony, you can still grow a massive amount of food! You just need to follow a few specific rules:
- Check Your Sun: Your patio must get a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight. Eight hours is even better.
- Fertilize Often: Container soil is not touching the earth. It lacks natural microorganisms. You must fertilize your containers every couple of weeks to feed the plants.
- Buy Container Varieties: Look for seeds specifically bred for small spaces. Buy dwarf tomato plants, patio cucumbers, and micro-greens.
If you are new to gardening and feeling a bit overwhelmed, you do not have to figure it out alone. I invite you to join us inside the Little Mountain Ranch Community! We have absolute beginners growing alongside seasoned pros. It is the most positive, helpful space on the internet for learning how to grow your own food.
Click right here to explore the membership and find your new gardening family.
Whether you are planting a massive backyard plot or a single patio pot, I am cheering you on.
Happy gardening!