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Tomatoes and peppers in a basket. Small space gardening

Small space gardening:
A beginner’s guide

Words: Ayana Moore

Video: Ben Suliteanu and João Lopes

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Imagine the satisfaction of tucking into veggies you grew yourself, or a meal seasoned with herbs you nurtured on your own kitchen countertop. No matter how small a space you have, there are things you can grow.

This video series is your friendly guide to starting your own garden – no matter how small the space!

Hello! I’m Ayana.

I’m an artist and urban gardener in the Bay Area. My local community garden has become like a second home to me. When I’m not learning from the master gardeners and educators there, I’m leading volunteer groups and passing on what I’ve learned. At home, I have a small patio garden where I grow my favorite veggies and experiment with new methods. I share about slow, sustainable living on Instagram as @auntieayana.

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Small space gardening

Where to start?

The first step is determining how much space you have for your garden. What are the spots – in or outside your home – that get the most sunlight?

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Let’s get planting

It’s time to work out what you want to grow… and get planting! There are a few options to choose from: you can sow seeds, purchase seedlings or propagate from existing plants.

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Learn to propagate

Propagating means taking parts from existing plants (most commonly herbs) to grow more. You can do it by cutting parts from plants, or dividing plants into sections with their own roots.

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Watering

Learning how and when to water your plants can be one of the most daunting parts of gardening. Here’s how to ensure your plants are getting the amount of water they need to thrive.

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Time to talk fertilizer

Fertilizer is a blend of essential nutrients for your garden, boosting plant growth and yield.

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Small space gardening

Pruning and, finally, harvesting

Pruning and harvesting consistently will direct your plants’ energy to growing more leaves and veggies.

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Small space gardening

Good luck with your garden! Keep in mind that gardening is a learning experience, and it’s often about trial and error. Experiment to find out what works. Get creative with your approach. Every bit of the journey will be worthwhile when you’re enjoying your delicious homegrown veggies and feeling more connected with nature!

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