Backyard Oasis

There is a trend in backyard design and gardening to work with small space to get the most use out of an area. This is particularly good news for renters and city dwellers. The other plus to small space gardening is the smaller the area, the less work you will have. Backyards are to be enjoyed – not to be all work. 
photo credit: amandabhslater

When people think of a small garden they think of a few flowers and vegetables in a container but the truth is herbs, flowers, vegetables, fruits and even fruit trees can easily be grown in a small space and produce enough to supply a family with fresh produce. Containers, soil, a trellis or wall are all you need.

Strawberries adapt well to growing in containers. Put a strawberry jar in a corner along with a few small plants for a nice floral arrangement. If you have more room set up a strawberry barrel or a tower container. If you keep these watered they will produce a plentiful supply of berries.

My personal favorite is growing strawberries in hanging baskets. If you water and fertilize regularly its possible to have fresh homegrown berries all season long.

Rhubarb is very ornamental and I grow it in with my flowers. You can grow it in a large pot as a foliage plant for the patio or balcony. But the rhubarb will not produce as large of a crop in a container.

One other fruit I grow is the vine peach. It’s an heirloom seed that produces a small fruit somewhat like a melon in texture. I have grown it for years and it makes wonderful jams and jellies.

And if you have space on a patio you can even grow a few melons in a large container. You need a container that will hold a lot of dirt and fertilizer. Melons are heavy feeds and I put about one foot of compost and fertilizer in the bottom of a container to make sure the plants will have an ample supply of nutrients for the season. This container also has a trellis so that the melons grow vertical.

If you have a trellis or available wall, Blackberries, Raspberries, gooseberries and grapes can be trained to grow on a trellis, fence or wall. You will need to keep the vines trimmed to increase the plants fruit production and to control the vines from encroaching into living space.

Kiwi grows very well in a container or on a trellis. Just check to see the hardiness or the kiwi variety you have chosen. The kiwi plant is very beautiful and I like to mix the container in with other flowering containers. It makes a nice focal point when arranged this way.
photo credit: Sheep purple

You can grow fruit trees in containers but you need to check the rootstock to purchase the right fruit variety and you will need to prune the fruit trees to keep them small and manageable.