10 Tips to Maximise Food Production in a Small Vegetable Garden | Small Scale Veg Growing #1

This video shows you 10 tips to maximise food production in a small vegetable garden. Having a small area doesn't mean you can't grow lots of food, in fact per square foot/metre, small gardens are often far more productive than larger vegetable gardens. This video is a collaboration with Tim and Maddy Harland from the Permaculture Magazine, and have an inspiring small scale vegetable garden designed using permaculture principles. Check out their fantastic channel: / permaculturemedia
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#vegetablegardening #urbangardening #permaculture

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much for watching, and to Maddy and Tim for joining in! Subscribe to the Permaculture Magazine here: permaculture.co.uk/subscribe

[@PermacultureMagazine]

It as our pleasure and an honour - we have been appreciating your videos for years and now enjoying your books. You have encouraged so many people to start gardening. Fantastic!

[@exeterbeekeeper]

Nice to see different channels working together

[@renatamarinoiu8156]

Thank you!👍😊

[@davidthescottishvegan]

Excellent video and great to see others working together to encourage gardening. Permaculture is a good way to do gardening and grow your own crops.

[@rhysjaggar4677]

I have a garden of 30-50sqm growing space and the biggest factor I have found is that you need to disregard traditional spacings and plant closer together. I can grow 1 month's supply of salad onions in an area of 0.5*0.5m, 1sqm will grow me 23 parsnips, enough to last a winter as they grow big in a 20*20cm equilateral triangle lattice. I sow radish and carrots far closer than recommended and get excellent yields. Focussing on yield per square metre is more important than yield per plant. This year I am trying a four crop successional growing strategy on 1sqm. I got 10lb of radish (6lb after topping and tailing) in May, this month I will harvest 36 beetroots, I have sown spring onions to plant out 70 modules in late July and will put out Valdor lettuce in mid September to hopefully get a crop in mid to late November.

[@grindcorizer6818]

600m2 garden in Portugal. Totally happy with that

[@vincenzo00]

👍👍👍 good ideas.

[@andymoore9977]

4:00 Brassica cages really work, I have not had a cabbage escape yet....

[@Goghahahahahaeej]

Oh God 😂😂😂😂

[@HuwRichards]

You must have a really solid cage! Brassicas are always escaping mine and I've tried many different types of cage😂

[@tasgardener7923]

I grow a ton of food in a small space as well as duo planted fruit trees (amazing how much you can fit in a small space with a bit of imagination) but I personally wouldn't waste that much space for greens. Instead I use beet greens which gives two crops in one, and grow the lettuces etc in cracks and crannies and in spaces along the edges of other crops (or wherever a plant or two will fit) which leaves all the space that would be dedicated to greens for something else. I find the greens are very successful just popped in small holes and as borders rather than dedicating space to them I could use for something else.

[@duckyluver12]

Agreed, their greens bed is larger than my entire available growing space. I intercrop with successionally sown lettuce all season.

[@Leo-nine]

Whoa! That bean trellis is inspiring!!

[@OkieJammer2736]

Thanks to Tim, Maddy and you, Huw. Wow. I've gardened for decades and have learned many tips in this video.

[@HuwRichards]

So awesome to hear!! :)

[@paulinemcleggan7585]

12x15 metres IS NOT A SMALL GARDEN 36 feet by 45 feet is huge. I wish I had a garden that size!! More people than ever are growing their own which is fantastic. Great video

[@HuwRichards]

It's small for UK garden, it's all about context :)

[@LandoftheSarah]

Ohhhhhh that makes sense

[@corrinemaynard8787]

It's great seeing smaller gardens as a majority of people dont have large gardens but want to grow food more of this pls so many channels have huge amount of space

[@AnHeC]

The space presented in this video was huge! Way more than what most people have xD

[@litomora8468]

I just started gardening and I really find your channel soooooo educational!! Thank you soooo much sir! And I really find your books helpful❤️

[@HuwRichards]

Awh you're so welcome Lito!

[@lilolmecj]

Lito, do you live in the US? I found a lovely encyclopedia on growing gardens, it is quite old. Got from a friend, but I have seen sets at the Goodwill. If you are interested I will look up for you the name and info so you could be on the outlook.

[@litomora8468]

Huw Richards - Grow Food Organically ❤️❤️

[@litomora8468]

Carole Just Carole no ma'am. I'm from the Philippines

[@franklittle]

I'm delighted to see all that comfrey in their garden too :-)

[@andymoore9977]

I understand that comfrey is very important in Permaculture.

[@exeterbeekeeper]

it is fantastic stuff good for bee's of all kinds as well

[@janebotten2969]

Thank you Maddy, Tim and Huw. Oh my!!! Phil and I watched transfixed, what brilliant ideas!

[@PermacultureMagazine]

Thanks so much! It’s a pleasure

[@BumblebeeAdventure]

🐝 Thanks for the great video 🌻

[@hazelinthewoods9966]

I love this couple so much. Their triangular bed is what I’m planning for our new home. How do they get into their brassica cage? Also do potatoes need full sun or partial? Always great videos. Thank you!

[@doinacampean9132]

All nightshades will do best in full sun.

[@eleanorigby5881]

Numbering the tips and having them onscreen for note taking is helpful.

[@Marra7777]

Just to say, this is my go to guy on all things gardening. A no nonsense yet friendly face to the whole gardening topic. You feel your in good hands with Huw. Thanks .

[@Wings91]

That bean structure is such a great idea!

[@JustJane1972]

I'm intrigued about triangle beds now. Great video.

[@joannesherwood3562]

I didn't know quite what kind of edibles grower I identified with. Turns out, I'm a polyculture/permaculturist!!! Who knew! 😄👍

[@vincenzo00]

If only vegetable gardeming was a school subject !!

[@ThirdCoastGardening]

Too hot here to grow lettuce in the summer, but I am growing in a small space. I’m always trying to maximize my growing space and grow as much food as I can in my garden.

[@MC-ko2mx]

Really been enjoying your videos lately, Huw! Keep up the good work :)

[@HuwRichards]

Awh thank you so much Michelle!

[@giojared]

It is amazing how much you can grow in a small space if you put your mind to it.

[@eldiegoasecas]

thanks very much for the crop rotation advice it was something that kept me thinking and will try to use your approach

[@ewakraft5770]

Thanks good ideas! i really liked the wigwam and the pots on top of compost idea ♡♡

[@kimfindlay3500]

Always get new ideas. Thank you for putting in the time to find fresh content

[@solmma]

So sweet you all! Thank you!

[@Linkinparkerin19]

Hello Huw, first of all: I LOVE your videos, they do help me on my personal gardening journey. I just wondered about the tires and plastic bottles of water. In another video you tried to change fleece into jute because of trying to use as little plastic as possible. We do also have huge water storage in plastic (but no tires) and I wondered if the plastic does get into the water. Espacially with heat. Sorry if my english is not very good, I am from germany. =)

[@vincenzo00]

Appreciate your videos Huw. Many thanks.

[@jt6259]

Thank you so much for these helpful tips. My garden is small, and I'm going to try vertical growing this year as you suggest!

[@HuwRichards]

Good luck with it :)

[@adrabruzzese7610]

Thank you so much! Such a great video. I'm subbing now 😊

[@jemimahowell1791]

Chemicals in tyres can leach into the soil and then into the veg.

[@andrewjohnson6716]

Yes, so can th chemicals from the railroad ties that he uses.

[@lilolmecj]

Lovely garden, I also have been using found materials to build and protect my garden beds. I ended up with no climbing beans, guess I need to acquire. I have a very large yard, but it is mostly quite shady, so I have to be creative. This has so many clever ideas! I put some potatoes along my back fence where they can run free and they can manage with half sun.

[@micheleyates3625]

I hear you. I have the space but about 85% is shade!

[@nykclife5127]

You make your garden so organized ❤️😊👍

[@anneofpinehill]

I need Tim's Questionable Morels T-shirt 😆

[@outdooroutfitters3658]

Great video! Very good information. Thanks.

[@Bessie66]

Planted onions in a raised bed - seems an awful lot of space between the rows - could I put lettuce in between? Informative video bye 👍

[@mayfieldmanor5344]

Great ideas! I grow strawberries and pumpkins in pots on my composter.

[@normancoutts]

New ideas - very precious! Thanks!

[@myrustygarden]

I bought used netting off Facebook marketplace for my brassicas (mosquito over the bed nets)

[@MotosAllotmentGarden]

Another great video. Got your book last year. I highly requirement it to any one, very useful when starting a new allotment

[@growsoilbiology]

Full of good stuff, I love it! Thanks for the video Huw! 😃

[@Mookiethedog]

Really great information....thanks Huw & Co

[@HuwRichards]

Our pleasure!

[@PermacultureMagazine]

We really enjoyed this collaboration!

[@mammoths100]

Great video as always Huw! Your videos are always a moment of serenity in strange times :) I have an off topic and possibly offbeat question for Tim. Where did you get that t-shirt and are they available for purchase? Simply amazing :)

[@thomasjensen609]

WOW... Excellent tips and ideas. Thanks

[@annashiegl]

Great ideas for my small garden, thank you.

[@Silvereagledude]

Good stuff, Huw

[@alicevillasenor8338]

@ Maddy Harland, can you tell me what those striking orange flowers are (in front of you when you are talking about the potatoes in the wheelbarrow)?

[@sschul5886]

Calendula

[@lindahipple4817]

Goodmorning Huw! When do you harvest your sunchokes? What signs do you look for that cues you its' harvest time? What ratio of saved tubers vs harvested tubers, if any? God bless.

[@andymoore9977]

Looking forward to reading Huw's reply.

[@warmyellowshade]

Great video! Thanks for all the recommendations!

[@justgoodness333littlehomes5]

I love your channel. I found you on Huw Richards video.

[@HuwRichards]

This is a Huw Richards video 😉

[@justgoodness333littlehomes5]

@@HuwRichards sorry. I meant to post that on Permaculture Magazine's video. Love your channel too..thanks for all you do.

[@lsmith992]

I was flabbergasted when they said 12 by 15 metres because I was expecting to hear them say feet. You're talking about small spaces so how about 10 feet by 10 feet which is more realistic in modern gardens. Not the 36 by 45 above. That's a big country garden in the UK.

[@zogworth]

It is a big chunk but in terms of area it's the same as our urban semi detached.

[@zogworth]

It is a big chunk but in terms of area it's the same as our urban semi detached.

[@theimpatientgardener4682]

Not just me that was astounded then. Her “small” vegetable garden is bigger than our allotment plot. 😂

[@makola1970]

Me too! Would love to see something for 12ft x 16ft

[@eleanorigby5881]

I was thinking the same thing. I have a patio container garden and a few beds... theirs is huge by comparison

[@andreavincent4619]

A tone of good tips. Thanks

[@spoolsandbobbins]

Excellent!! Great job.

[@edwardrosales3720]

thank you so much

[@maria-josebaur1477]

Hello Huw, do you also grow sweet potato? They take extremely a lot of space and I would like to know how you would go about it in planting them in a way to control them from spreading all over the garden.

[@zogworth]

They don't grow very well here I'm afraid.

[@vivianacreagh3318]

Apparently you can use vertical trellis with them and grow in large pots I’m trying it this year as it just took over last year .

[@michaelworley7517]

instead destroying trees we can be able to use Forest as building blocks then tearing blocks. I love the Teal colors. I hope you can this wise advise why? We can be able to change the world in 2 ways not just 1 we can be able to grow gardens in trees and grow them on the trees and we could make a new species

[@vickikay54]

Was interested to see that you are growing in used tyres. The current thinking is that you should not do it, chemicals leaching out etc. I'm nearly 70 and have always done it as did my grandmother and we all seem to have suffered no ill effects.

[@cintie45]

Great ideas! One question: how does he open the screen he place around the veggies?

[@PermacultureMagazine]

2 ways. You can lift the entire brassica frame off its base. It is designed to slot in so the wind won't lift it. You can also open it from one side as it is only tied with garden wire. We made a YT about how we designed and built it here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mH25iJSYaMuCh6c

[@Karoline_g]

Huw, I keep wondering. I’ve seen other people say that growing in tires isn’t safe for reasons of lead and other pollutants getting into food. Do you line your tire planters?

[@HuwRichards]

Yes I always line them :)

[@maryannemckay3606]

....soo...what do you line them with, please Hugh?...☺️

[@cliffmays442]

I have just heard of fielderkraut cabbage this year. How is the taste? I read it is quite good.

[@catajazz1792]

Me encantaría que tuvieran traducción al español los videos no entiendo el inglés pero con las imágenes igual entiendo algo del contenido es interesante

[@bristolveggiebeds5310]

Great advice, especially as my plot isn't that big!

[@justgoodness333littlehomes5]

Thank you. Good tips

[@pambrown9288]

i love love this video brilliant

[@GardensforLife]

As always great videos! :D

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you! :)

[@cuidandonuestroaspectofisi4320]

Gracias 😍😍😍🇺🇾

[@alwayspositive999]

Nice video- any idea how to get rid of leaf miners - get these pests on the Swiss chard every year - thanks

[@jamiemcnamee1492]

I had leaf miners on my tomatoes. I now line the space under the plants with used porous cloths. Weed netting would also work. It stops the larvae from dropping and breeding in the soil. Seems to sort out the problem 😊

[@j.l8539]

Huw I noticed your bed with runner beans growing up the trellis is a bed from B&Q 😁.

[@HuwRichards]

No it isn't from there, it's simply a pallet collar. B&Q are a rip off selling pallet collars overpriced! I get mine from builders etc for free or hardly any money.

[@j.l8539]

@@HuwRichards True Huw, Very true!

[@lisaqbishop]

how do you keep the slugs off them salads?

[@grindcorizer6818]

Nice tires, wolkswagen?

[@acenurses9650]

Are those wooden lattice trellis safe for the garden? Isn’t it treated with chemicals to prevent rotting? Wouldn’t it leach into your vege patch?

[@jantellfowler5883]

New Sub. Great info👍

[@getrelaxed3848]

Awesome

[@HuwRichards]

Thanks!

[@sn232]

10:45 Notice the deer running in the background up on top of the hill.

[@HuwRichards]

It's sheep ;)

[@sn232]

@@HuwRichards Oh LOL!!! It was fun noticing them :) What a peaceful place!

[@stevendowden2579]

most enjoyable

[@XrpCookies]

Is it ok to have a Tortoise? Is there any benefit?

[@nykclife5127]

I’ve just subscribed you. I want to learn from you ! 😊

[@BassSeduction]

What do you call the yams when referring to them casually over in the uk? New zealand yam seems a mouthful

[@zogworth]

Oca are a really uncommon plant here only grown by a few enthusiastic weirdos (including me) Though with plant people just count yourself lucky they didn't start using the Latin names.

[@peterbathum2775]

I wanted to reuse, maybe as planters, the pile of tires the former owner of my property left me....as a gift. stacked 30 feet from my water well. In researching this idea, I found that unsealed rubber tires break down in the elements and shed cancer causing and otherwise toxic chemicals. Proper coating with paint can seal them but growing veg in the bare rubber allows them to draw the chemicals in by their roots. Along with ascertaining if the straw bales had persistent herbicides used before I buy it, this was the significant other hazard I think I avoided. Just ask the source of Straw or Hay what herbicides they've used, american farmers often have a couple , youre lucky of they say none, and look it up. There are 4 persistent chemical lines in some herbicides that don't break down by digestion or exposure and can continue to prevent any broad leaf plant from germinating in soil mulched with it for years. Most farmers are aware of these and avoid them today but large operations bet on the chemical over the side effects to public health. Once in the animal waste these can enter garden compost supply chains . debbie downer but the more you know ...

[@LockRocker]

Yeah, the tires are killing it. I know he lines them but they're not growing any subscribers. Just get them recycled to make new tires and save some rubber trees and steel mining in the process. Also in America they are viewed as hillbilly zoning violations.

[@jupyjones4823]

Hi Huw, Do you know if manure and woodchip compost well together?

[@guylamullins3602]

JupyJones it depends on what you want to plant and when. Wood chip produces heat but so does some compost. I add saw dust to radishes in the fall here. We get very cold winters in January and February. So I plant radish seed in October and have radishes until February when they start going to seed. Save the seed and start again.

[@jupyjones4823]

@@guylamullins3602 I would compost the woodchip and manure together and use that as mulch for a no dig bed...

[@rhysjaggar4677]

12m*15m is almost a full allotment! A small garden is 30-50sqm.

[@jmarsh5485]

Really helpful video, thanks Huw -ever inspiring :-) from @alvingtonmanorfarmgardens

[@backtotheroots5509]

Dear Huw, I am an Indian. I have got a 5000sft plot just in the suburban. I stay 15 km inside the city. My issue is my land is a bit low lying and it has some water logging issues during monsoon rains. The land is lying unused. I am about to retire by December. Can you suggest something for this plot? Regards

[@christinewinterton7111]

Hi Guruprasad Mishra, I would make raised beds and do Hugel Kulture in them. look up raised garden beds ,you can make them out of different materials, and that would lift plants above some of the flooding. Good luck.

[@sschul5886]

Straw bale gardens?

[@ChrisJohnson-pd4hh]

Actually I don't think salad is that expensive to buy! My local Aldi has been selling Iceberg lettuce for around 50p for months. There are many reasons to grow your own vege/salad but I don't think saving money is one of them. - Chris Johnson, The Lincolnshire Bucketeer.

[@ASRS-Ltd]

Don't think the pink fir harvest went to plan... Didn't seem to be any in there 🤔

[@PermacultureMagazine]

It was a little early to harvest but we have more 😊

[@andrewjohnson6716]

So, don't buy greens from the store because they might be cleaned with chlorinated water, yet you grow food in car tires and railroad tie boxes?

[@maryannemckay3606]

Hi Andrew...he mentioned in a post that he lines the tyres before planting..(l have asked what with!?) and...what are railroad tie boxes please?...☺️

[@andrewjohnson6716]

@@maryannemckay3606 Boxes made from old railway ties (the thick wooden blocks that are under the rails to prevent them from sinking) that are soaked through with pitch.

[@1whitecottagelife770]

Unrelated question…how do you pronounce your name? Huw?

[@vincenzo00]

12 x 15 m garden is NOT a small garden my dears !! Ours is about 10m x 10m and still larger than a lot of our neighbours.

[@manvanGod75]

12 x 15 is not small

[@PermacultureMagazine]

The ideas are applicable to a small garden - that’s the point.

[@Warwck24]

How are you not affected by slugs

[@juliemcgugan1244]

Who else see a ‘hyena’ on the side of the shed at 6.51?

[@deeki969]

Sorry but I thought planting in tyres was a bad idea...leachates...?

[@livspysselhemregard4573]

@familjensöderman

[@stephanversteeg9898]

Only 12 by 15 meters thats not small for most people. 😂

[@tomelliott1567]

Questionable morels!

[@clairwilliams4093]

I don't think you know what a SMALL garden is

[@HuwRichards]

Yeah, tiny.

[@thecunningkrugereffect]

That is not a "wigwam"🥴

[@davidjarrah228]

The dreary laborer globally risk because index greely haunt amongst a symptomatic judo. jagged, caring seeder

[@davidjarrah228]

The free ghost supply divide because cement problematically fail throughout a bitter division. sulky, solid joke

[@kyeldorries8283]

Does this bloke actually water his garden with jugs and watering can..... It's the 21st century mate use a bloody hose.

[@Liloldliz]

hi kyel i do this too! i live in australia and we don't always know when there will be enough water to use a spray hose. drip hoses are great, but storing rainwater and shower water to reuse has been a life saver for my garden.

[@Warwck24]

Not all gardens have taps believe it or not I do that too