Focus On... Compact Growing

You may not have sweeping fruiting vistas and endless rows of veggies, but you can still dream big if you grow in small spaces. Lucy considers the options of compact growing

- Lucy Chamberlain

In times when we’re all assessing our food availability, you may well be tempted to cram as many fruit, vegetables and herbs into your garden as possible. Well, I don’t blame you! Some crops positively thrive when grown in close quarters, but others won’t enjoy it at all, which will result in parsimonious or poor-quality yields. So let’s explore the edibles that enjoy life cheek by jowl.

“Some edibles actually enjoy life cheek by jowl”

Spacing basics

Crop spacing influences two things: yield per unit area, and individual crop size. Some crops, notably onions, leeks and carrots, will still produce their highest yields per square metre if spaced close together, but individual bulb, shaft or root size becomes smaller.

Onions, leeks or carrots in close quarters may just be individually smaller

Beetroot, turnip and radish, however, will produce all leaf and little root if they​ are packed in too tightly – that’s not what we’re after!

A heading lettuce like ‘Little Gem’ will grow like a loose-leaf variety if seedlings are packed tightly together, and yields will still be high. Equally, hearting cabbages can be forced to act like spring greens at close spacings. As you can see, there’s lots of room to experiment!

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