Want to start a garden but live in an apartment? Here’s how to start

Everyone wants to grow veggies in your garden, but what happens when you have a small space? Luckily ,you don’t need acres to get your harvest – and actually some of the best gardeners I know started in their balconies!

Also you can grow mushrooms! All you need is a garage space.

Here is how you organize your small space to start veggie gardening:

1. Start with containers instead of garden beds Pots, planters, and even repurposed buckets work beautifully on balconies, patios, or windowsills. Choose containers that are at least 12 inches deep for most vegetables, and make sure they have drainage holes. Cherry tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and herbs all thrive in containers. Put something underneath them! You don’t want the water all over your kitchen floor.

2. Grow vertically to maximize your space Use trellises, wall planters, or hanging baskets to grow up instead of out. Climbing vegetables like beans, peas, cucumbers, and even small squash varieties can be trained upward. This gives you more growing space without taking up valuable floor area. You’ll have to get used to watering them every day.

3. Choose compact or dwarf varieties Look for vegetables specifically bred for small spaces. Dwarf tomatoes (babies!), bush beans, mini bell peppers, and compact lettuce varieties produce full-sized harvests but take up much less room. Seed packets will usually indicate if a variety is suitable for containers or small gardens.

4. Focus on high-value crops you actually eat In limited space, prioritize vegetables that are expensive to buy, taste better fresh, or that you use frequently in cooking. Fresh herbs, salad greens, cherry tomatoes, and peppers give you the most bang for your buck and space. Skip things like corn or pumpkins that need lots of room. Want a fun project? Plant a tea garden! Start small and then go big.

5. Use good quality potting soil and feed regularly Container vegetables can’t search for nutrients like in-ground plants can, so start with quality potting mix (not garden soil) and fertilize every few weeks. Containers also dry out faster, so check soil moisture daily during hot weather. These small efforts make a huge difference in small-space success.

Here’s a list of tools or gadgets you may want in your journey to your new gardening era: