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I know the kind of trouble you can get into trying to grow food in a small backyard, especially if you’re still a beginner at gardening.

For one, you’re not sure if the available space will accommodate the plants’ root systems or ensure they get enough water and nutrients. I was constantly trying to figure out which plant types could grow close together without affecting their growth rate or yield.

So, to boost your food production in your tiny garden, I’ll be sharing with you some tips that could help you overcome these common struggles.

Let’s go!

Tip 1: Choose Plants Suitable for Tight Spaces

Fresh Lettuce Growing In A Small Raised Garden Bed

Let me start by helping you make the most of your available garden space before we think outside the box.

The best way to maximize that space is to know which plant varieties don’t mind limited areas. They either have shallow root systems, don’t grow to take up too much space, or don’t have crowding tendencies.

Some of my favorites include:

Plant type	Minimum space needed between seeds/plants
Carrots	2–3 inches, 12–18 inches between rows
Lettuce	6 inches (smaller, loose-leaf types)
Cilantro, chives, dill, and parsley	1 foot in diameter
Basil, thyme, and tarragon	2 feet in diameter
Rosemary, sage, mint, oregano, and marjoram	3–4 feet in diameter
Peppers	18 inches (plant them closer in colder weather)

Another cool idea is to grow dwarf varieties, specifically bred to spread in a contained manner. I recommend cherry tomatoes and baby broccoli if you’d like to take this route.

Always remember to do your research on the minimum space between seeds before adding a new plant to your garden. Crowding your plants can cause slow growth rates, low yields, and plant disease.

Tip 2: Say Yes to Vertical Planting

I was delighted to find out that many of the veggies that I like to include in my salads and dishes are perfect for trellis planting. Others strive in hanging baskets or enjoy climbing over fences.

You know what that means—more ground space for other vegetables!

So, what are some varieties that welcome vertical planting?

Cucumbers, beans, peas, indeterminate tomatoes, and bell peppers (trellises and fences)
Strawberries (hanging baskets)
Melons and pumpkins (fences)

Tip 3: Don’t Forget to Use Containers

Containers give you an added benefit because they allow you to expand your planting beyond your vegetable garden.

They let you grow food in any available place on your patio or deck. Plus, they’re portable and give you more control over the soil you put inside them.

My top choices for container planting are leafy greens, peppers, peas, herbs, beans, dwarf eggplants, bush berries, and small melon varieties.

Tip 4: Make Use of Intercropping

Harvesting Fresh Tomatoes And Lettuce From The Garden

The concept of intercropping has been a lifesaver to me, helping me take advantage of those few inches of space between established plants.

But the key here is to know your perfect pairings to prevent your plants from competing over the water, nutrients, and sunlight.

Here are a few companion plants that are always in harmony for interplanting:

Carrots and broccoli
Tomatoes and lettuce
Parsnips and potatoes
Carrots and peas
Baby eggplants and cucumbers

Tip 5: Consider Succession Planting

The final strategy that completely changed my food production game is succession planting.

It does wonders to increase your production by growing crops at strategic times of the season, letting you use your soil twice. This is especially true if you live somewhere warm where the growing season lasts relatively long.

If you plan things carefully, you can double your harvest and enjoy a wider variety of veggies (sometimes even later in the year than usual!).

Some awesome options to succession-plant in early spring and then in fall involve:

Arugula
Radishes
Carrots
Cucumbers
Turnips
Endive
Baby leaf greens
Summer squash
Escarole

Also, you’ve got quite a selection of herbs that you can succession-plant for year-round use in all your favorite dishes, like:

Parsley
Leaf fennel
Dill
Cilantro
Basil

There’s an important thing you should know about succession planting, though. Sometimes, the periods of planting your veggies may overlap because your first crops might not be produced before you plant your second ones.

That’s why you’ll need to plant the second crop in a different spot from the first.

If you’re not a fan of that approach, you can plant one type of vegetable or legume at the beginning of the season, followed by another toward the end.

For instance, grow and harvest garlic in July, prepare your garden once again, then plant some radishes.

Final Thoughts

Opting for a huge harvest from a tiny yard?

I hope my foolproof hacks to maximize your food production in limited areas have given you some ideas.

Give them all a try or mix and match and let me know which technique worked out for you!

Lisa Bridenstine

Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.