How to Grow Mini Vegetables
Mini-vegetables are bred to grow to a smaller full size than average vegetables. They are available as seed or seedlings in most gardening stores. Mini-vegetable gardens are a sustainable food source that can be grown in containers placed in a backyard, or on a roof or balcony. These gardens can produce enough vegetables to help feed a small family, and they can be grown without the use of pesticides. They are even easy to plant and grow, needing only a little strategy and maintenance to keep them growing. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Several very large terracotta pots
- Potting soil
- Coarse sand
- Peat moss fertilizer
- Mature compost
- Water
- Mini-vegetable seeds or seedlings
- Gardening stakes
Instructions
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1
Choose the mini-vegetables you wish to plant. Consider your favorite vegetables, and the ones you cook with most often. Use the References below to find names for specific mini-vegetables.
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2
Choose between seeds and seedlings. Seedlings will grow faster and more reliably, while seeds are less prone to damage while they sprout underground.
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3
Mix equal parts potting soil, peat moss fertilizer, sand and compost for each pot. Fill the pots to about three inches below the rim. The sand ensures the soil will drain well, while the fertilizer and compost add nutrition. Make sure your pots have drainage holes and drip trays.
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4
Dig one-inch holes for seeds and plant them three inches apart, covering lightly with soil. Dig four-inch deep, three-inch- wide holes for seedlings. Untangle the roots lightly with you fingers, place them in the holes and cover the roots lightly with soil.
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5
Water the plants or seeds generously, dampening the soil until it is wet, but not flooded. Empty the drip-trays of excess water immediately. Wait until the top layer of soil is dry before watering again.
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6
Plant one or two mini vegetables in each pot. Group them into short plants and tall plants. For instance, plant high-growing Pixie tomatoes and Topcrop green beans in the same pot. This conserves space and lowers light competition between plants.
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Plant low-growing vine plants together, such as Gold Neck squash and Long Tom eggplant. The vines will cover the bare soil between plants and prevent weed growth.
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Place the pots in a warm, sunny area. Keep them outside during the summer, if desired, but be sure to bring them in when the nights begin to cool. Drive stakes into the soil next to climbing plants, like tomatoes, when they reach four inches.
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