Cute Garden
🔞 ALL INFORMATION CLICK HERE 👈🏻👈🏻👈🏻
Cute Garden
There was an error. Please try again.
There was an error. Please try again.
9 Creative Vegetable Garden Ideas
Make Your Vegetable Garden Stand Out Beautifully
Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles.
Learn more about The Spruce's
Editorial Process
Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming.
Learn more about The Spruce's
Review Board
Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever.
There was an error. Please try again.
The Spruce is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Review our Privacy Policy
Vegetable gardens come in all shapes and sizes. Vegetable gardens can be just as creative and attractive as ornamental flower gardens.
There was a time when people simply had "a garden." Vegetables and flowers were chosen for their usefulness and intermixed in one garden, a cottage garden , that was often in the front yard.
Now, you can create a conversation piece as well as a productive little vegetable patch. An old set of drawers finds new purpose as a planter when arranged on a ladder-like structure. The drawers are deep enough to grow most vegetables and there is even room for a small tomato cage.
Some vegetables, like rainbow Swiss chard , are too beautiful to be confined to the vegetable garden. Show them off by making them focal points in your garden.
This rainbow Swiss chard was recently planted in these strawberry pots, but once they fill out, they will be even more attractive. And as you harvest the outer leaves, new leaves will fill in, keeping the plants fresh looking and lush.
You can grow just about any vegetable in containers . This can be a very creative and ornamental way to design a vegetable garden. Virtually any container will do, as long as it has good drainage.
Containers can be moved about to take full advantage of the sun. You can plant one type of vegetable per container or mix things up. A downside is that the soil in containers tends to dry out quickly and you may need to water it every day.
There is no gardening rule that says hanging baskets have to be flowers. Most vegetables will work in hanging planters, too. You may even get a better yield, due in part to the heat that is being reflected back off the wall.
You can use any type of container you like, from old buckets to recycled soda bottles, and even expensive ceramic bowls. Just remember that the containers will get heavy when they are full of wet soil and fruiting plants. This gardener has hung baskets attached to strong horizontal boards along a wall.
Sometimes you have to think outside of the garden. Many vegetables make attractive bedding plants, especially if they are quick growers and frequently harvested, like lettuce and other salad greens. A shady spot under a tree is the perfect spot for them. Or you could try a row of something like carrots on the edge around a sunny border.
Rabbits and other wildlife may find your vegetable bed tempting, but if you interplant with companion flowers that have a strong scent or toss in a few onion plants, these will act as a deterrent.
Many gardeners know that old, discarded pallets make great compost bins . They also make great vertical gardens. Staple some landscape fabric to the inside of the front of your pallet and the outside of the rear. Fill the whole thing with some good potting soil . Then turn the pallet on its side and make slits where you want to insert your plants. If you are going to be hanging your pallet garden, make sure you have sturdy hooks, because all that soil and wood will make it very heavy.
A simple crate is all you need to plant a salad garden that will feed you for weeks. This is a variation on a raised bed garden , but since it's self-contained, it's portable. It may be too heavy to lift when full, but if you put wheels on it, you could move it to wherever the sun decides to shine.
You can squeeze a lot into one small space. Vegetables that are harvested frequently, such as lettuce , carrots , and onions , will be thinned out as you harvest them, so there will not be overcrowding.
If you have shelves, you have a garden—and a nice looking one at that. You do not need to buy special hangers or spend the weekend digging out a spot in the yard—all you need is a set of shelves and some containers.
Place your collection on your deck or patio just outside your kitchen, and you will find yourself harvesting far more often than if you had to walk out to the garden. You can even bring some of the containers indoors when the weather turns cold. Do not forget to include some herbs , too.
A lot of times raised beds are only a few inches off the ground. While that does provide benefits to the plants, like improved drainage and warming the soil earlier in spring, you can give the gardener another benefit if you raise the bed even higher: less bending.
Lifting the planting beds to waist height, like the three weathered troughs running through this colorful garden, means very little bending and far fewer wildlife problems that would otherwise need additional fencing.
The term garden room usually refers to a secluded spot in the garden. But gardening in a greenhouse will not only provide fresh vegetables year-round, but you can also pull up a chair and literally watch the plants grow.
This greenhouse provides a view of the garden outside as well as the sheltered vegetables and flowers growing undercover. It is a great place to set up an office while you keep tabs on how everything is growing.
If you are drawn toward sustainability, look into creating a permaculture garden . This type of garden tries to duplicate the layering found in natural systems and forests. There are upper story trees, climbers, perennial vegetables , root crops , and self-sowers that intermingle, creating your own personal foraging garden.
It takes some effort to create a working permaculture garden, but it will require much less maintenance than traditional vegetable gardens once it gets going.
Create your dream home on any budget
(opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab)
(Image credit: Elizabeth Whiting & Associates / Alamy Stock Photo)
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands
Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
(Image credit: J Montgomery Designs)
(Image credit: Fiona Walker-Arnott)
(Image credit: Derek Harris / Alamy Stock Photo)
(Image credit: Mabo / Alamy Stock Photo)
(Image credit: Thommy Bengtsson x Ikea)
(Image credit: GKSFlorapics / Alamy Stock Photo)
(Image credit: Elizabeth Whiting & Associates / Alamy Stock Photo)
(Image credit: Mark Pinkerton/ Casa Smith Designs)
(Image credit: M.Sobreira / Alamy Stock Photo)
(Image credit: martinwimmer / Getty)
(Image credit: A Garden / Alamy Stock Photo)
(Image credit: fotolinchen / Getty)
Related
All Voucher brands (opens in new tab)
Homebuilding & Renovating (opens in new tab)
Plotfinder (opens in new tab)
Homebuilding & Renovating Shows (opens in new tab)
Advertise with us (opens in new tab)
Top Guides
Best mattress (opens in new tab)
Best vacuum cleaner (opens in new tab)
Best mortgage rates (opens in new tab)
Extension cost calculator (opens in new tab)
More stories to check out before you go
Real Homes is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s why you can trust us .
These small garden ideas will help you realize all your veg and flower growing ambitions, even if your outdoor space is truly minuscule...
Get the best home decor ideas, DIY advice and project inspiration straight to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to Realhomes. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
These small garden ideas will help you rethink your tiny plot and get so much more out of it. Even small urban courtyards and balconies have the potential to become luscious and productive gardens – you just need to be a bit creative about how you use the space and what you grow.
From planting and landscaping tips, to innovative layouts that will suit a small garden design perfectly, we've rounded up clever garden ideas to help you perfect your outdoor space with even the smallest square footage.
The first rule for any small garden is that even if it's tiny it should have a coherent design. Gardens that are unkempt or haphazard look even smaller than they are. Start with a simple geometric layout for your garden beds , with a neat fence around the perimeter, and you'll see the difference immediately. This neat small garden was created by J Montgomery Designs (opens in new tab) .
Too little room for a permanent raised bed in your garden? You can make yours mobile – by fitting wheels at the bottom. This is a really good solution for plots that are so small that you'd be able to access a fixed raised bed only on one side – which is not good for your back and is just a bit awkward. Caster wheels can be bought on Amazon (opens in new tab) and fitted to a container of your choice on a DIY basis.
Yes, you can still have a vegetable garden in a small backyard, but you'll have to be clever about how you design it. This clever small garden design by Houston-based Nature's Realm (opens in new tab) turns a painted raised bed into the garden centerpiece, giving the space a distinctive look. Learning how to make raised beds is very easy and gives you complete control over growing vegetables, herbs, and even flowers. We also really like the paved path that goes around the bed, which makes the whole design look smarter.
Not everyone likes the look of traditional wooden raised beds. If you want something a bit different, you can clad yours. There are many different materials and looks to choose from, including metal, stone, and wicker for an easy-going, rustic look.
Growing veg isn't limited to greenhouses, allotments and extensive gardens – almost everyone can have a go at creating a kitchen garden . Whether you have space on your window sill to grow a few herbs, or a spot on your balcony for a tomato plant or two, there are always options for growing (a bit) of your own.
And you don't have to invest in expensive planters either. Here the Samla Box from IKEA (opens in new tab) , has been used, and it starts at $1.49 But, you could just as easily upcycle something you already have at home.
A garden doesn't have to use all of your outdoor space. If you want more of a backyard setup where you can relax, you can still grow veg as well – just allocate a sunny border for your edibles. If your plot doesn't have any soil, build a corner raised bed to make one.
Cute, fragrant and tasty, squeeze in a herb garden station on a covered patio or balcony space and you'll be so distracted by the loveliness of it that you'll forget how mini it is.
A small garden should still have all of the things are large garden has – that includes garden paths, fencing, and even outbuildings. Never sacrifice paths in any garden, even if it's tiny – you need to be able to move around freely, so choose garden path ideas that are functional as well as pretty.
Growing fruit, veg and herbs near the kitchen door means that when tomatoes, zucchini and the like are ripe and ready for eating, you can access them easily, without sacrificing any of the loveliness from your garden design .
There's great news for those who want to grow their own but don't necessarily like a rustic garden style: you can have a more formal-looking garden and still grow plenty of veg. Choose more upmarket paving and dot your garden with a few sculptural plants like cypress or box hedge, and you'll have a space that is both smart-looking and functional.
If you're serious about growing your own food, you may choose to dedicate your entire garden to doing just that. Raised beds provide by far the easiest method for doing this in a smaller space, and you can still make the garden look nice by carefully planning the layout of your beds.
We really like this striking garden design by Casa Smith Designs (opens in new tab) , with the central star-shaped bed adding design interest as well as making the garden easier to walk around.
If you've ever tried to learn how to grow min t, you'll know that it will take over your whole garden if you don't contain it. Avoid your small garden becoming a monoculture – know your invasive crops and plant them in pots.
Narrow garden? Look to vertical garden ideas . You can use old pallets or wood planks to build a shelving unit that will house several tiers of pot-grown herbs and veg. Add a few hooks at the top and hang some hanging baskets for more variety. Making use of vertical space is one of the best options if you're figuring out how to make a small garden look bigger .
You can also buy a plant stand from Amazon (opens in new tab) and use that if you don't feel like DIYing this idea.
'In a small space, a few large features are better than many small ones. Two or three big pots will have much more impact and look far more stylish than a dozen ill-assorted smaller ones,' says gardening expert and TV personality Alan Titchmarsh. Potting your herbs in a few large, beautiful pots will always look nicer than using lots of tiny ones.
Think that greenhouses are for large gardens only? Think again. There are plenty of DIY greenhouse ideas that are perfect for small spaces, some suitable for even the tiniest of spaces. And even the smallest greenhouse will make a huge difference to what you can grow if you live in an area with cold winters.
Not all crops need lots of soil in order to survive and thrive. Many herbs and even lettuces will grow perfectly well in narrow and shallow troughs. We really like this DIY idea where old guttering has been repurposed as an ultra-slim vertical garden. You can also use old plastic bottles or even tree bark.
If, on the other hand, you are set on crops that need a lot of root space – potatoes, looking at you – you'll need to be flexible with what you use, even if it's not the best-looking container. Grow bags are invaluable in smaller spaces – they give your root veggies the space they need to grow while taking up minimal floor space – and they look great weaved in with other container garden ideas .
Breaking news: many vegetables are also beautiful plants that you can use to create a living wall . Tomatoes and cucumbers, but also zucchini, beans, and peas all make for lovely climbers that look beautiful grown on a trellis or frame.
Many outdoor kitchen ideas are suitable for small spaces – and there's no reason why you can't have a veggie or herb patch right next to yours. Just imagine the joy of preparing a fresh salad you've grown outside. Just avoid placing your grill too close to your plants, especially if yours runs on gas.
Finally, a garden can – and should – include flowers and all manner of colorful garden plants – they're not just for decorative backyard spaces. Get some wildflower seeds for a wildflower patch or just dot some of your favorite flowers in between the veggie beds. They'll add color and attractive pollinators.
The best way to layout your small garden mostly depends on how small your outdoor space is, and what you're growing in it. Planting vertically is your friend, even if it's a vegetable garden. And, although it's a small area you're working with, you shouldn't be afraid of filling it with a variety of decorative touches and different areas as a busy space looks and feels more spacious than an empty one. Consider water features and more to add interest for the whole family but also for wildlife to keep your space biodiverse.
Then you need to be clever with how you fit it out, furniture-wise. If a convivial atmosphere is important for you, choose furniture that can work flexibly – much like your space will. David Hough from home improvement specialists, SMART Balustrades (opens in new tab) recommends that 'Where possible, choose non-fixed outdoor seating – so it can be moved at leisure to create different spaces, and packed away when not in use for those with smaller outdoor spaces such as balconies.'
Brilliant planting will without a doubt add color and life to your small garden space. Bright plants will not only add vibrancy to your garden, but will also encourage wildlife in, making for a more dynamic and wholesome area to enjoy too.
In a study mentioned by UK- Rowse Honey (opens in new tab) apparently, gardens in urban areas take the top spot in producing the most nectar per unit area for bees... Proving that you can keep bees happy even in a tiny garden.
'Did you know that simply planting a few bee-friendly flowers in a window ledge container or hanging basket can help keep our buzzing buddies happy and healthy?' says Rowse Gardening Experts. 'Any outdoor space, no matter the size, can be transformed into a foraging wonderland for pollinating insects. Every space has potential, and a mini makeover will help to brighten up the place while giving bees the food they really need!' Lavender, Catmint, Valley Valentines, Sunflowers, Chives, Cosmos and Wildflowers are some of the favorite flowers as recommended by Rowse to transform your small space, using a window box placement or small ground container. 'Wonderful wildflowers don’t just grow in fields and grass verges – they’re perfectly happy sitting in a pot, too! Planting wildflower seeds will bring natural wonder to your outdoor space, no matter how big, and they really are the blooms that bees love best. A bee-autiful display of blossoms will brighten up your day, and help feed our buzzing friends at the same time – it really is a win-win.'
Anna is Content Editor at Real Homes. She moved to the world of interiors from academic research in the field of English Literature and photography. She is the author of London Writing of the 1930s and has a passion for contemporary home decor and gardening. At Real Homes, she covers a range of topics, from practical advice to interior and garden design.
This versatile trend is here to stay, so embrace our boho decor ideas in every room of your home
By Sophie Warren-Smith
•
Published 2 September 22
Find out the cost to move house in the UK – plus, top tips to save on your move
By Anna Cottrell
•
Published 2 September 22
Real Homes is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site .
© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wale
Slut Wars The Vagina Squirts Back
Hottest Nude
Allamericanwoman