5 Tips for Beginners to Grow More Food in a Small Garden

Today I share my top 5 tips to help beginning gardeners grow more food in a small garden.

Books on Intensive Planting:

Grow Bags I Use:

How You Can Support OYR without spending a penny:

Highlights:
0:16 Grow high yielding crops
2:04 Grow in beds
3:42 Plant intensively
4:47 Grow vertically
6:40 Grow in containers

OYR is all about growing a lot of food on a little land using sustainable organic methods, while keeping costs and labor at a minimum. Emphasis is placed on improving soil quality with compost and mulch. No store-bought fertilizers, soil amendments, pesticides, compost activators, etc. are used.

[kimshaneyfelt]

Another great video, Patrick. Two things came to mind since this is for beginner gardeners: 1. No matter what you do, if you don't have good soil, your yields will suffer. 2. To ensure you are capturing the highest yields, follow the recommendations for planting dates as well as varieties suitable for your area. I am originally from the Midwest, but now live in North Texas, and it is so very different here. Until I followed those two foundational rules, I was a very frustrated veggie gardener!
Thanks for all the inspiration!

[douglasanderson]

The more I think of myself as a veteran gardener the more I need to remind myself of basics. This was a great reminder, thanks!

[gratituderanch]

We used to have 4 ft wide beds, but as I often grow vertically, I often was having to reach all the was across, I will never have wider than 3 feet again. My back is much happier!

[sandrat]

you know this "intensive planting" sounds really good but you also have to consider where you are located. Here in Ireland, for example where our weather is generally cool and wet, intensive / high density planting means that fungal disease can spread super fast, but pests like aphids and caterpillars can hide easily and have good time too because it is much harder for beneficial bugs to find them in the dense foliage. This was one of my first big lessons i had to learn, that in this weather we simply must leave enough space between plants for air if we want to have anything to harvest.

[daynamason]

Wow! The leaves on that butternut squash are enormous.

[HeartwayFarms]

Heartway Farms of Plano Illinois in Kendall County. We enjoy your videos! Your simple and practical advice is much appreciated!

[aquiconfeya]

I have one third of your space, and no soil ground, it’s all cement, so my vegetables are in pots, I have 5 cucumbers planters, one jalapeño, one zucchini, 5 tomatoes planters and cilantro. Can’t wait to harvest.

[dthedad]

Love it when ppl overview their list in the end. Thank you!

[tashasteeves]

Your gardening channel is my absolute favourite! I live in a zone 5 area as well so your tips help me immensely. Thank you so much for all that you do!

[svetlanikolova]

Valuable information. Thank you! Greetings from the Balkans

[mervateskander]

We missed your posting, you should make more videos

[faroffwhistle]

Moving from zone 7b to 5a this winter and leaving my current career in order to make a serious effort towards market gardening. Will be starting out with a 5k sq.ft. plot. I’ve been reading such books as Elliot Coleman’s The New Organic Grower, and watching a lot of videos from many different gardeners. Out of all of them so far, your videos have been the most enjoyable due to your calm demeanor and no-frills explanations. I like the immersive format and how you make it feel like we’re walking through your garden with you instead of most videos which feel more like a presentation to a classroom. Also gives me a confidence boost knowing I’ll be facing some greater challenges in a colder climate, but with patience and a level head, I just might have a shot at growing a wider range of crops. Thanks for your videos!

[rosewood]

After living in my new zone for a few years I now know what grows best and which produce the most. Most of my produce will be stored all winter to feed my two dogs and one cat. Organically grown veggies are a wonderful way to keep us heathy and live longer. My dog is coming on 15 years.. I watch your videos here I also follow you on Facebook. I have learned a lot from you. Thanks..

[priayief]

I believe I've viewed all of your videos, I like this one the best for its sound, practical advice. I consider myself a veteran gardener and I'll attest to the effectiveness of your simple advice. I grow everything I can vertically even though I'm blessed with a large acreage (my Butternut squash sprawls over several sections of my yard ... I like the look). One thing about tomatoes ... even though I'm not "space-challenged", I continue to grow my indeterminate plum tomatoes in a four foot square raised bed (9 plants per bed). The tomatoes are not grown vertically but supported by cages and a rough wood frame. Many thanks for all your videos. Cheers.

[steveknight]

Always great to watch your videos Patrick

[uweabraham]

This is spot on video so many of the neighbors, as well as friends are getting into landscaping for foods and ornamental plants which are good for birds (eat bugs&pests) and add another beautiful aspect in our garden areas, Love that Oscar and his antics!😀 Please do more of these so I can tell newbies about your Y.T. posts Thanks Patrick! !BTW love looking at your garden areas always! !

[spoolsandbobbins]

Super practical! Thanks for helping us gardeners produce the best we can!!! God bless you Patrick!!

[rebeccajosteelman]

From this surpassing intermediate learned gardener's heart to yours, thanks Patrick :-)🌿🌻🍅

[PatricesProjects]

I sure miss your channel. Hope all is well with you.

[tbjdgpo]

I have been watching you (and a ton of other gardening channels) now for more than a year, and you, by far, are my favorite!!! Your content is so helpful. Thank you OYR.!