Crops for SMALL SPACES

These easy vegetables and salads will keep going all summer, no matter how little outdoor space you have for them

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Homegrown tastes better and is so easy to do. It's also good for your wellbeing: growing your own produce gives you a sense of calm - and a regular supply to eat. From salad with extra crunch to heavenly scented tomatoes and fresh herbs, it's all very doable. The trick is to grow small amounts of different crops that offer big rewards. Avoid anything needing elaborate preparation and cultivation and opt for easy produce such as cut-and-come-again salad leaves, perpetual spinach and dwarf kale, herbs, chillies, dwarf varieties of French beans and compact tomatoes. Edible flowers such as nasturtium, borage and calendula are another good choice, and add a pretty touch to the garden. Another idea is to plant mixed containers of herbs, tomatoes and chillies, for example, or large pots of mixed herbs, rather than separating varieties into individual pots. This adds more interest to your planting.

What space is tight

Even if your outdoor area is small, as long as you utilise it efficiently there's still lots you can grow. The sheltered environment offered by a balcony means it's the perfect growing space. There's usually plenty of wall area for slotting in vertical planters or trellis to provide support for young plants. Courtyards and patios generally offer more space for growing things than a balcony or terrace, but shade can be an issue if you're overlooked. Just remember to choose the sunniest and most sheltered spot possible for your plants.

Getting started