The best small vegetable garden ideas (2024)

If you’re looking for small vegetable garden ideas and want to join the grow your own movement from your small city garden, patio or even balcony, then we’ve got a whole host of ideas to help you on your way.

Space, or lack of it, doesn't mean you can't grow a bumper crop of veg to enjoy at home. Everything from beetroot and potatoes to salad and herbs can be grown in a small garden, and finding creative ways to do it is easier than you night think.

7 creative small vegetable garden ideas

You can enjoy growing your own fruit and veg in any sized-space thanks to these clever small vegetable garden ideas.

1. Build your own raised beds

(Image credit: Getty)

Raised garden beds are great solution for growing vegetables, particularly in small gardens. It doesn't matter if your garden is pebbled or paved, you can use raised beds as they are built on the ground rather than below, and contain all the soil you need for your garden to flourish.

You can grow anything in a raised bed, from root veg to leafy greens. Plus since the soil in raised beds warms up earlier in the spring than ground soil you can get a head start on the growing season.

There are lots of raised bed kits, available from Amazon, but if you want to try making your own from scratch then our step-by-step guide on how to build a raised bed will give you all the know-how you need.

2. Buy a ready-made veg planter

3. Grow vegetables in a vertical garden

(Image credit: Future/Leigh Clapp)

Make the most of every available space in your garden, from the ground up, by building a living wall. Creating a stunning display which also conceals unattractive walls or garden fences, they are surprisingly easy to create using one of the many pocket systems available.

Simply fill the pockets with soil, then add your plants. Leafy veg like salads and chard work particularly well as they have shallow roots and will keep producing throughout the whole of summer. Soft fruit like strawberries and edible flowers will create a stunning display.

4. Limited outdoor space? Try a veg bag

(Image credit: Veg bag)

If space is really at a premium in your garden, portable growing bags are a brilliant idea for balconies and patios. Vegepod's signature mesh vegebag provides the perfect solution. Simply fill the bottom section with compost and plant your veg. Available in two sizes it is ideal for mint, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Its unique zippered design protects your plants from pets, pests and harsh weather, while still being easily accessible. Plus its collapsible design is perfect for storing away when not in use.

5. Grow your own veg in a window box

(Image credit: Waitrose Garden)

Window boxes are a great solution to gardening in small urban spaces. Easy to grow they're also a beautiful addition to your home. You can, of course, opt for pretty perennials or blousy blooms but they can also be used for small vegetables and herbs.

Herbs are a particularly good choice for a kitchen windowsill, saving you money since you don't have to buy the plants from the supermarket each time you need a handful of basil. Most herbs can be easily raised from seed, and only take a few months to flourish into bushy shrubs.

Head over to our guide on how to create a herb garden for useful tips and tricks.

6. Grow your own potatoes

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Potatoes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow and also take up a relatively small amount of space – you can even grow them in a black rubbish bin or a heavy duty bin bag. Simply quarter fill with soil, plant your tubers and then cover with soil. Make sure to leave half the bin or bag empty as you will have to keep covering the leaves when they appear.

Alternatively, there are purpose-built potato fabric bags and plastic bins that feature a little window, letting you harvest potatoes gradually rather than all at once. Plus they can be reused for many years so you'll always have a bumper crop of spuds.

Get more advice on how to grow potatoes in our guide.

7. Use a pot stand to maximise space

(Image credit: Future/Leigh Clapp)

If you've got a small garden, then pots are usually the way forward no matter what you choose to grow. You can actually grow a lot of vegetables in pots too, from beetroot and beans to peppers and tomatoes. Make the most of space by layering your pots on a plant theatre, stand or ladder.

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or beliefs, but I can provide you with information on the concepts mentioned in this article. Here's a breakdown of the concepts and ideas related to small vegetable gardening:

Small Vegetable Garden Ideas:

Small vegetable gardens can be created in small city gardens, patios, or even balconies.
Despite limited space, it is possible to grow a variety of vegetables, including beetroot, potatoes, salad greens, and herbs.
There are several creative ideas to maximize space and productivity in small vegetable gardens.

1. Raised Beds:

Raised garden beds are a great solution for growing vegetables in small gardens.
They can be built on pebbled or paved surfaces and provide the necessary soil for plants to flourish.
Raised beds warm up earlier in the spring, allowing for an extended growing season.
Raised bed kits are available for purchase, or you can build your own from scratch.

2. Ready-Made Veg Planters:

If you have a balcony or small courtyard garden, a ready-made veg planter can be a suitable option.
These planters allow you to grow a range of vegetables and add greenery to your outdoor space.
Choose a spot that receives plenty of sunshine and keep the planter well-watered during the summer months.
Plain wooden designs can be painted in vibrant colors to add visual interest.

3. Vertical Gardens:

Vertical gardens make use of vertical space by building living walls.
They can conceal unattractive walls or garden fences while providing a stunning display of plants.
Pocket systems are available to create vertical gardens, and they can be filled with soil and planted with vegetables like salads, chard, strawberries, and edible flowers .

4. Portable Growing Bags:

Portable growing bags are a brilliant idea for balconies and patios where space is limited.
These bags, such as Vegepod's signature mesh vegebag, can be filled with compost and planted with vegetables like mint, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
The unique zippered design protects plants from pets, pests, and harsh weather, and the bags can be collapsed and stored when not in use.

5. Window Boxes:

Window boxes are a great solution for small urban spaces.
They can be used to grow small vegetables and herbs, saving money on store-bought plants.
Herbs are particularly suitable for kitchen windowsills, and most herbs can be easily raised from seeds.

6. Growing Potatoes:

Potatoes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow and can be grown in small spaces.
They can be grown in containers such as black rubbish bins or heavy-duty bin bags.
The containers are filled with soil, and the tubers are planted and covered with soil.
Purpose-built potato fabric bags and plastic bins with a harvest window are also available.

7. Maximizing Space with Pot Stands:

Pots are a suitable option for small gardens, and various vegetables can be grown in them.
To maximize space, layering pots on a plant theatre, stand, or ladder can be an effective strategy.

These ideas and concepts can help you create a productive small vegetable garden in limited spaces. Happy gardening!

Note: The information provided above is based on the concepts mentioned in this article and does not include specific citations from the search results.