Vertical and Small Space Gardening - Class Recap

I have recently been teaching several classes on Vertical and Small Space Gardening.  It seems to be a popular topic lately.  We all seem to have smaller spaces than we would like and are looking for ways to improve and maximize the spaces we have to increase produce production.

So, to make it easier for people to find this information, I have decided to post the presentation here.  Please let me know if you have any questions, or if you would like to have a class taught to your group!

Putting Your Garden To Bed

For many years, I started my vegetable garden growing space when everyone else usually does...in the spring after a long winters nap.  My energy for gardening was highest at that time and I attacked the yard, the flowerbeds and the vegetable garden with vigor and excitement.  Unfortunately, my soil type and location didn't always match up with the timing of my energy burst.  I would find myself trying to mulch, till, shape and plant in soil that was either too wet, too cold, or not quite ready to be woken up.  This delay was usually because of the dense clay I have in my gardening soils. This isn't too much of a problem in my flower beds or other places in my yard because I am not trying to prepare those beds usually at this point in the spring. But my vegetable garden...I had to get in there early to get those delicious peas and other early crops growing! Such a quandary...what to do?  Gardening can be so stressful!

Then the light dawned on me...what if I do all the "heavy lifting" of preparing my vegetable beds in the fall and let them sit through the winter?  Maybe that would work.  After a few research sessions on Google and talking with a few of my fellow Master Gardeners, I decided that by preparing my vegetable beds in the fall, it would be beneficial in several ways:

• Provides a great way to compost left over garden waste, and green waste (shredded veggie plants) in a large quantity
• Gives an opportunity to prepare a flat bed veggie space into raised beds while the soil is dry and warm
• Easy to amend and break up the soil before it is cold and too wet
• Allows for very early planting without disturbing the growing beds
• Helps warm the soil early for earlier germination of vegetables
• Allows for fall planting in the new beds at the right time (garlic, lettuce, etc.)

Now, preparing your vegetable beds in the fall does require that you have just enough gardening energy left to "put your garden to bed" properly in the fall.  But, if you push through and can get those beds amended and formed in the fall, your spring planting and summer vegetable production can be increased dramatically.

So, here is my process for preparing my vegetable beds in the fall and putting my garden to bed for the winter:

Step 1:  Take the garden down and shred all vegetation and excess vegetables for easier composting.  Please note, do not shred or attempt to compost any vegetation that exhibits any sign of disease, fungus, or deformation.  Remove this type of vegetation and dispose properly.

Step 2:  Spread the newly shredded material evenly over your vegetable garden space.  Add additional shredded green waste (leaves, grass clippings, etc) to the desired depth of organic matter.  I prefer to add between 4-6 inches of shredded organic matter to my garden each fall.

Step 3:  Sprinkle a light layer of ammonium sulphate (21-0-0) or urea (48-0-0) fertilizer across the layered organic matter.  This helps with the composting of the organic matter during the winter months.  The amount will be determined by how much new organic matter you are using to amend you garden space. I usually apply approximately 1 pound (2 cups) per 100 square feet.

Step 4:  Using your preferred method of breaking up the soil, mix the organic matter and the fertilizer into the soil.  I use a rototiller, but I know there are some that prefer a broad fork or other method.

Step 5:  Form the soil into raised beds.  I measure 30 inches and pull a string.  Using a shovel, I scoop out he freshly loosened soil out along the string creating a sort of "trench" to walk in.  I spread the loose soil on top of either side of the trench.  The trench is the walk space and the "raised beds" remain undisturbed.

Step 6:  Leave your garden undisturbed through the winter months.  Start planing your early vegetables as soon as the soil dries and warms to the appropriate levels.  I can easily start planting my peas by the first of March.








If you have a chance, you should try preparing your garden and putting your garden to bed in the fall.  The benefits will amaze you!

Where Can I Plant Vegetables In My Yard?

The short answer to this question is “Anywhere you have the proper growing conditions for the plants you want to grow”.  So, for those that have limited reading time, stop here and grow grow something.  For those who would like a bit more detail, pop some popcorn and settle in for a good read.

The longer answer to this question can be explained best by looking at the requirements of any plant:

• Soil type preferred (growing medium)
• Water requirements
• Light requirements
• Growing period needed

Soil Type (Growing Medium)

Soil is probably the most important factor when trying to produce a quality vegetable.  If the soil doesn’t fit the vegetable, the outcome will be less than desirable.  Some soils are sandy and others are more clay based.  Some have little organic matter, others have no soil in them at all (soil-less mix).  The list can go on and on.  The important thing is to make sure that you are growing the vegetables in the right medium for best results

Water Requirements

There is nothing worse than to do the work of putting in a garden and then not having the right amount of water available to see those vegetables thrive.  Their water requirements will depend on the variety and type, your climate and location, and the availability of water on site.  For instance, if you have to haul the water to your garden in a bucket everyday, chances are, those vegetable will not get watered as often as they should.  At least that would be my case.

Light Requirements

Every vegetable you plant will need a certain amount of sunlight.  Some can grow well in a  cooler, more shaded area, such as lettuce and other leafy vegetables.  Others need all the sun they can get, such as watermelon.  It is important that you give the right vegetables the right amount of light.

Growing Period

If you want to feel successful in growing vegetables, make sure to try varieties that will mature in your growing season.  For example, I would not try and grow a long season wine grape in my yard in Utah.  I just don’t have enough frost free days for a great quality wine grape.  But concord grapes thrive great on my north property line.

Being the inquisitive person I am, I have several types of growing areas in my yard and I try different things each year.  I have a dedicated garden plot, some grow boxes, a few flowerbeds, a couple containers, and a window sill.  (I’ll try and include some pictures of each through this next year)  My garden plot is about 30 feet by 30 feet with a dedicated drip system for watering.  My grow boxes consist of two 3 foot by 5 foot boxes filled with a soil-less planting medium.  The flowerbeds are full of flowers except for some spaces here and there where certain vegetables can be grown and enhance the landscape design.  The containers sit on my patio or porch where needed and can work great for herbs and flowers.  And the window sill is a great place in the house for sprouts, herbs, and staring seeds.

I guess my bottom line advice to you would be to try and put vegetables where ever you have the space and watch and learn.  Through some effort, you will be able to find what you can plant where and get some incredible results.  And in the words of Larry Sagers (Instructor for all Utah Advanced Master Gardeners), “If is doesn’t work, tell people that it was research.”