Best Crops for Small Gardens We Love!

How to Grow an Abundant Garden in Raised Beds or Containers!

I had a big garden dream but barely any space. We started with raised beds in a small backyard rental home, and then the kids’ toys overtook everything the dog needed space, and our tiny backyard needed some dedicated garden space. So we found a little home on a bit of land and got creative and you know what? It worked! You don’t need acres to grow a surprising amount of fresh produce. With the right crops and a few smart tricks, you can turn raised beds, containers, or even a sunny patio into a productive mini garden. Here’s how to get the most food from the smallest space.

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Why Small-Space Gardens Work

Bigger isn’t always better. you will quickly find out if you have pest problems, soil issues, or maybe even water issues. This can wipe out a whole season’s harvest. In fact, small gardens are easier to manage, and if you choose high-yield crops, you can grow more than you think. Plus, with smaller spaces, you can:

• Use better soil (no need to fix a whole yard).
• Focus on high-value crops (skip the giant pumpkins).
• Plant intensively for higher yields per square foot.
• Easily water, weed, and harvest — everything’s within reach.

I started with a few pots, then a simple wooden raised bed, and that one bed gave us salad greens, herbs, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers all summer.

Top 12 Best Crops for Small Gardens

These high-yield, space-saving crops are perfect for raised beds, containers, or small garden plots:

1. Lettuce & Salad Greens

• Fast-growing, cut-and-come-again.
• Fits into small gaps and containers.
• Grows well under taller crops.

2. Radishes

• Ready in 3-4 weeks.
• Grows well between slower crops.
• Doesn’t need deep soil.

3. Cherry Tomatoes

• Huge harvest from one plant.
• Can be trellised or grown in pots.
• Keeps producing all season.

4. Cucumbers (Trellised)

• Climbing varieties save ground space.
• High-yield with regular picking.
• Great for salads and pickles.

5. Bush Beans

• Compact and productive.
• No trellis needed.
• Continuous harvest.

6. Peppers

• Perfect for containers.
• Small footprint, high yield.
• Sweet or spicy varieties.

7. Herbs (Basil, Thyme, Parsley, etc.)

• Thrive in small pots.
• High-value for cooking.
• Many are cut-and-come-again.

8. Spinach & Kale

• Cold-hardy and continuous harvest.
• Fits in tight rows or containers.
• Grows well in partial shade.

9. Carrots

• Shorter varieties work in shallow beds.
• Can be sown closely together.
• Easy to grow if soil is loose.

10. Zucchini (Bush Varieties)

• One plant = tons of squash.
• Can be grown in a large pot.
• Harvest small for best flavor.

11. Strawberries

• Perfect for hanging baskets or raised beds.
• Spreads by runners.
• Sweet fresh snacks all season.

12. Green Onions

• Tuck into any small corner.
• Continuous harvest.
• Great companion plant.

I plant basil under tomatoes, lettuce under cucumbers, and radishes between slow crops — I’m all about squeezing every inch of space!

Tips for Maximizing Small Gardens

I added an arch between two raised beds — it’s now my favorite spot for snap peas in spring and cucumbers in summer.

o cram everything in, but plants need airflow and sunlight to thrive.

Even if you only have a small raised bed or a few sunny pots, you can still grow a surprising amount of fresh, homegrown food. Focus on high-yield, compact crops, make every inch count, and don’t be afraid to go vertical. Whether you’re growing on a balcony, patio, or tiny backyard, a small-space garden can feed your family and feed your soul.

Happy planting

Linnea