It takes a lot to start a vegetable garden: choosing the right vegetables to grow and buying seeds, and then there's planning the actual yard space. Of course, there's nothing like the neat and tidy rows of traditional raised garden beds, with everything lined up and planted in an orderly fashion. But, sometimes, you simply don't have the space. If you live in an apartment with a balcony, a condo, or house with a small yard, you've got to get a little more creative while making sure your garden is still functional—and (hopefully) appealing to the eyes. Fortunately, there are vegetable garden layout ideas for any size of yard.
A few factors will help you decide the best layout plan for your vegetable garden. Depending on your plant hardiness zone, you'll want to make sure you find a location for your garden that receives full sun, which is considered six or more hours of direct sunlight per day. Many garden favorites, such as tomatoes and bell peppers, like it even hotter, so eight or more hours is ideal. Very few vegetables will tolerate mostly shade, so if your yard is shaded all day, your best bet is to opt for a container garden that you can place where you do have full sun exposure.
Also, make sure you have access to water; that sounds obvious, but if you have to haul watering cans or drag a hose too far in the heat of summer, it's not the most pleasant experience! Still feel up to the challenge? To inspire you, here are the best vegetable garden layout ideas, including designs, products, and tips to make your garden even more productive. Then, start digging!
1
Plan a Potager Garden
If you want a unique but oh-so-pretty way to spruce up your yard, we suggest building a potager garden, otherwise known as a French garden. This design involves installing gravel between your garden beds full of veggies. Not only does it look nice, but the gravel also helps to keep your garden cleaner and also reduces weeds and pests.
2
Try a Square Foot Garden
To really make efficient use of your space, you can give square-foot gardening a go. SFG methods are great for any home gardeners who don't have much room to work with and are especially great for beginners. Typically, you'll start with a four-by-four-foot raised garden bed that's subdivided into one-foot squares using a lattice. You'll then plant an appropriate number of vegetables in each square.
3
Color Coordinate Vegetables
Color coordination is always easy on the eyes—even in a vegetable garden! There's several ways to do it, too. Choose an ombré look, line them in rows based on complementary colors, and more. You can base their spots off the colors of their leaves or base it on the vegetables that will soon sprout.
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4
Start a Kitchen Garden
Mix leafy greens, root crops, and herbs in a garden just steps from your home to make cooking with fresh ingredients as simple as can be. You could even sprinkle in edible flowers for the pollinators. For this idea, you'll want to replant throughout the season for a continuous supply of fresh food.
5
Build a Fenced Garden
A fenced-in garden can instantly improve the look of your space and make for a great gardening experience. And if done right, it can even keep critters from munching on your veggies. To keep out rabbits, voles, and even deer, try a combination of graduated hogwire panels and galvanized hardware cloth.
6
Hang a Pot Vegetable Garden
Short on space? Try various hanging pots, which works well for many different types of edibles including strawberries, herbs, and lettuce. Bonus: it keeps your plants away from animals in your garden such as bunnies!
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7
Prop Up a Ladder Garden
A repurposed ladder makes the perfect foundation for lots of pots of herbs without taking up a ton of space on your patio or deck. It also accommodates different sizes of pots and window boxes, as shown here, for a pretty and appealing display.
8
Interplant with Flowers
If you don't have a dedicated garden plot, plant edibles alongside your flowers. There's always room to tuck pretty plants such as Swiss chard and nasturtium here and there throughout your garden. Plus, the local pollinators will thank you!
9
Line Them in Tidy Rows
This layout is the most traditional, and it definitely is appealing! You can plant tight rows of plants that don't mind chilly weather such as lettuce, then pull them out when they go to seed as hot weather hits. Replant a heat lover such as beans in the same space.
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10
Grow Them on a Trellis
Growing up is always a space-saving option. Plus, some veggies, such as cukes and squash, are more productive and less vulnerable to disease with vertical support (due to better air circulation).
11
Grow Vegetables in Pots
Place various sizes of pots on the stairs leading to your home. The benefit is that each plant gets its own container so they're not competing for nutrients or moisture.
12
Try Companion Planting
Many gardeners believe that by planting certain combinations of plants together, they're mutually beneficial—keeping away bad insects and attracting the good ones. Here, cabbage is interplanted with signet marigolds (also edible!) for a pretty and practical display.
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13
Construct Raised Beds
Raised beds are the best way to deal with poor soil; they also warm up a bit faster in the spring than the ground. You can purchase one or DIY one from wood (don't use pressure-treated, which can leach chemicals) or concrete paver stones.
14
Grow in a Vertical Garden
If hungry garden visitors keep munching on your produce, try this ingenious solution: Long metal containers, such as repurposed gutters, can be mounted to stakes. Just be sure to punch holes in the bottom of each container, and plant shallow-rooted veggies such as various types of leaf lettuce, creeping herbs such as thyme, or kale.
15
Set Up a Windowsill Garden
If you don't have a bit of space outdoors, a windowsill garden still allows you to grow something useful! Herbs are the best choice because they're easy to grow, many adapt to indoor conditions, and they're so expensive to buy at the grocery store. Just make sure they get plenty of bright light.
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16
Mount a Wall Garden
Simple shelves or a repurposed wooden pallet make a great hanging vegetable garden. Herbs and lettuce do especially well, and you won't have to share with the neighborhood critters because they can't reach!
17
Fill a Pocket Garden
This idea is inexpensive and so cute! Repurpose hanging shoe organizers (just make sure the material is porous or poke 3 to 4 holes in each plastic pocket) to grow shallow-rooted veggies such as lettuce. You'll also find fabric pockets specifically designed for planting.
18
Grow in Stock Tanks
Stock tanks keep having a moment! Why? They're nearly indestructible, last for years, and are just about the right height for comfortable access--especially if you have back issues. Look for bottomless tanks or poke lots of holes in a traditional stock tank for drainage.
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19
Use Window Boxes
Dress up windows in a pretty, practical way with a window box full of vegetables or herbs. You can also hang window boxes from deck railing to maximize your space.
20
Arrange Shallow Containers
Why buy lettuce that just ends up going bad in the crisper? Plant shallow containers with various kinds of lettuce, and harvest when you need it. Wait a week or two in between sowings. That way, you'll keep the harvest going longer.
Arricca Elin SanSone
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
