(With apologies to Gabriel García Márquez for hijacking the title of his masterpiece)


It hit me hard when I saw the almost empty Produce Section of a local supermarket. Growing healthy food in small spaces could soon become more of a necessity than a hobby. So, after 40 plus years of “growing some veggies in the backyard”, I’m plotting a gardening strategy for the days I hope will never come.

My “New-Reality” Gardening Principles

No Experimentation
Each year I experiment with new varieties just for fun. Not Now. I will only grow varieties I have previously grown, and know will succeed. Stay away from the latest fads.

More F1 Hybrids Less Heirlooms
Many F1 hybrids are bred to resist disease and taste good too (e.g. the Defiant tomato - one of my favorites). For the short term, I’ll go with more F1s. I hope to go back to more “heirlooms” someday.

More Inter-Planting
Inter-planting (not to be confused here with Companion Planting) produces a better utilization of space by planting crops together which mature at different times. See corn and winter squash inter-planting below.

Start More Seeds Indoors for Year Round Gardening
Many varieties claim to tolerate cold weather. But there is a catch. Root systems must be strong and well established before severe weather hits. This requires planning. Based on published maturity dates and information from my own journals, I’ll start transplants inside so they will have plenty of time to grow before being moved outside. See https://www.ranchoincognito.com/blog-1/2019/10/6/the-right-light

More Bio Intensive Planting and Better Use of Shade
Make better use of triangular/hexagonal planting, vertical and inclined trellises; and shade (Shade tolerant plant are usually these grown for their roots or leaves, not their fruit).

Plant For Maximum Use.
Avoid space wasters like rambling squash vines producing small fruit. Beets are good - both the leaves and roots are delicious.

Keep Soil as Healthy as Possible
Usually I “rest” beds in the winter by planting a nitrogen fixing cover crop like Hairy Vetch or Rye Grass. But, if garden crops are growing in all beds all the time, keeping soil healthy will be a challenge. This calls for thoughtful crop rotation, inoculating legumes with Rhizoma, and using quick curing techniques (Proper Layering. Constant Moisture. Frequent Turning) to make compost fast.

A FEW CROP SUGGESTIONS

Cow Peas (Black Eyed Peas)
Great source of protein and soluble fiber. This is one of the few crops I know that will continue to produce in the severe Texas heat of July and August.

Tatume Squash
Delicious Mexican squash. Thinner vines make this variety more resistant (but not immune) to squash bugs.

Beets
When it comes to space utilization, beets are the best. Use the beet root for, well - beets - and the leave for salad greens

Corn Interplanted with Winter Squash
Corn is a notorious space hog for small gardens. I have had very good luck interplanting corn with winter squash or pumpkins. Here’s how I do it.
Pant corn seeds on 15 inch centers. When corn stalks are knee high, plant winter squash or pumpkins in the open spaces. After corn is harvested either pull up the stalks (if this doesn’t damage nearby squash plants), or cut the stalks off even with the ground. This gives the squash plants plenty of light.

Mostly Indeterminate Tomatoes
I usually plant half and half. Now it will be mostly indeterminate varieties. See https://www.ranchoincognito.com/blog-1/2019/9/18/indeterminate-vs-determinate-tomatoes-so-why-is-this-a-question

Eggplant
Eggplants are prolific, nutrient rich and chocked full of antioxidants. They do well in summer heat. I plant two types: Asian, and classic Italian.

Short Stalk Okra
Okra is another hot weather plant that continues to produce when temps hit triple digits. It’s great for August in Texas.

Only Essential Herbs
I am limiting my herb garden to three herbs we use most: Rosemary, Basil, Mint.

Beans
Grow green Pole Beans for fiber; Black Beans for protein.

More Mesclun Mix. Less Lettuce.
”Clip-and-Come-Back” Mesclun mixes make lots of salad fixins in very little space.

Collards
Well established collard plants will thrive well into winter. Leaves are sweeter when they go through a frost.

Parsnips
Parsnips aren’t popular in my neck of the woods, but they are great for late fall and winter crops.

Carrots
Broadcast tiny seeds then harvest strategically. Pick young ones for baby carrots making room for others to grow big.

Greens
Spinach and Kale are both very winter hardy plants, and make very good use of space.

Peppers - One Hot. One Sweet
Each year I grow five or six varieties of peppers, but his year I need the space so two plants of two varieties only. That’s Carmens (sweet Italian frying peppers) and Padrons (hot Spanish).


Growing food in small spaces may soon become much more than a pleasant diversion. If so, backyard veggie gardeners will need to adapt (read ‘change’) for maximum productivity. I know not everyone will agree with what I’ve said here. That’s OK. But now is the time for backyard veggie gardeners to share their most productive experiences and their best ideas.