Having only a small patio for your outdoor garden doesn’t mean you can’t grow your own delicious vegetables. Something my family and I are taking part in this summer is focusing on bringing fresh foods to the table. A lot of people would think this is next to impossible with such a small space outside. However, I’m going to give you some small patio garden inspiration.
You might not be able to grow an entire farm, but you most certainly will be able to grow some of your favorite fruits and vegetables. You can be an “urban homesteader” in an apartment or condo.
Small Patio Garden Inspiration
Let’s start by getting ourselves set-up. Head to your local Walmart and pick up Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix.
Be sure to enter at the garden center. That is where you will find the potting mix and most of what you will need. I found my Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix just outside of my Walmart garden center.
Container Ideas
I recommend you take the time to research the plant identification cards while picking out what you want to grow. Each type of plant requires a certain amount of space to grow properly.
Things like carrots, peas, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and strawberries all do well in containers. While you can’t grow everything in an outdoor container garden, you’d be surprised at what all do well.
Use the spacing needed for each plant to calculate what size containers you will need to purchase.
I personally like using a variety of containers for my garden. Railing pots are perfect for planting strawberries. It gets the pot off the ground; freeing up space for taller plants that need more of a base.
Plus, they flourish in the sunlight (needing roughly 6-10 hours a day). Just ensure that your railing pot is well-drained. It is best to find the type that has the plugs that you can remove.
For my tomato plants, I like to use my wood container. I love this container because it is lifted off the ground just enough to ensure the proper draining of the soil. It also looks nice on a patio.
My biggest recommendation for plants (like tomatoes) is to purchase a self-watering container.
These have reservoirs that are built into the bottom of your planter, that you will fill over the top with soil. A small tube will lead from the top of the soil to the reservoirs.
The tube is where you will water. This allows for the roots of the plants to be properly watered and not miss out.
In most scenarios, only the topsoil of plants receives water prior to being dried out by the sun. Self-watering containers allow for the water to reach all of the plants for a better harvest. Not to mention, tomatoes do well when properly watered.
The other bonus to some self-watering containers is that they have wheels. Perfect for moving around your patio, if you don’t have the perfect amount of sunlight during the day.
Also great if you need to bring your plants indoors during cold snaps.
I have also used container planting for blackberries. You can grow blackberries in a pot by either ensuring they have plenty of stakes to tie in stems, or simply weave them through your deck siding and railings.
The kids enjoy picking the berries when it is time to harvest for sweet treats and jams.
Another option is to use hanging baskets. Vine plants do well in these. I’ve planted my peas (this season) in a hanging basket. Peas do need a good amount of sunlight, so I ensured to hang my basket in an area that they will flourish in.
What Plants Do Well in Container Gardens
Here is a quick printable to take with you to the garden center of what plants do well in container gardens.
This will help you get a start on your small patio garden inspiration. You can always check with your garden center expert for other patio garden ideas.
Let’s Get Planting
I recommend that if you have the room, get yourself a potting bench. This makes it so much easier to pot your plants, without having to bend over. You can then use it as a way to display your herbs and flowers.
What I did for ours was simply upcycling an old desk. I purchased some paint in my favorite shade of color and went to town on painting it.
I didn’t worry too much about sanding down or priming the desk because I knew it wouldn’t become too weathered undercover on the patio.
It’s perfect for storing my gloves and other things in the drawer that works. The broken drawer made for a perfect planter for my filler greens.
I mentioned earlier to pick up Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix and here is why. This premium potting soil for indoor and outdoor containers is perfect for growing plants twice as big versus unfed plants. It also feeds your flowers and vegetables for up to 6 months.
Perfect for making your small patio garden virtually hassle-free. You’ll be able to sit back all season and enjoy it.
I’ve trusted the Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix since my grandparents used it in their gardens. Now, I use it in ours. Watch more
Soil, water, and sunlight are all important factors of container growing. You want to ensure your containers are well-drained, you’re using well-fed soil and the right amount of sunlight is on each plant. This will ensure a bountiful and healthy garden.
Make Space Your Own
Just because you don’t have a yard, doesn’t mean you cannot make your patio a haven for enjoying the outdoors. Decorate it to your liking. Add a small birdbath, like the one I have.
These are perfect for the corner of the patio and don’t take up much space. Add bird feeders to attract local wildlife. Put out flowers to attract the honey bees to pollinate your garden.
Pick your favorite eats and flowers, and “ready, set, gro” this spring and summer. Don’t just let the enjoyment of your home stop indoors.
Even in a small space, you can enjoy a garden that will provide great eats for your family.
