Seizing Control of the Porch Area
Front Stoop Miniature Vegetable Garden Thrives in Shade
In a small rental space, a miniature vegetable garden has taken root on the front stoop. The gardener, an inexperienced enthusiast, has planted a variety of shade-tolerant crops, including kale, butter lettuce, radishes, basil, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
To accommodate the garden's potential relocation for optimal sunlight, the gardener has chosen containers that are easy to move. The garden is situated near reflective surfaces, such as a white wall, to increase light availability for the plants.
The gardener started seeds indoors or early in a warm spot to enhance germination before transplanting them to the shaded area. Basil, for instance, was propagated from a cutting off an indoor plant. The gardener has been instructed to keep the soil damp.
Despite the limited space and partial shade, the plants are thriving. Kale, butter lettuce, radishes, and basil are growing well, while cucumbers and tomatoes, which require more sunlight, are making the best of their situation. To help the cucumber plants, one small sprout was pruned to give the remaining one a better chance to grow.
The gardener is aware of the challenges and is hopeful for the best. Social distancing has caused a slight delay in the growth of the plants, but they are catching up. The tomatoes, originally intended for a sunnier windowsill, have been moved to the front stoop with the neighbour's permission.
Radishes can be planted multiple times during the season, allowing for continuous harvest. Succession planting with heat-sensitive plants like lettuce and radishes during cooler seasons, and switching to more heat-tolerant crops in late spring or summer, is being practised.
A custom-built planter was created to fit the small space at the front door. The tomatoes, being sun-loving plants, are covered with a shade cloth to protect them from direct hot sun and prevent leaf burn.
With careful watering and soil care, the gardener is confident that the shaded stoop garden will continue to flourish. The ultimate goal is to be more self-sufficient with respect to food, and the miniature vegetable garden is a step in that direction.
In this situation, the gardener has embraced a sustainable lifestyle, nurturing a miniature, shade-tolerant vegetable garden that embodies a home-and-garden gardening approach on their front stoop. The growing plants, such as kale, lettuce, radishes, basil, cucumbers, and tomatoes, are a testament to the resilience of their gardening methods, even in limited space and shade conditions.
