Words by: Molly
Art by: Pipi Joannou

From the infamous alleyways to the cosy cafes and bars we love, Melbourne is known for its small places.

For some of us, our homes are the same. So, when it comes to brightening up our balconies, tiny backyards, or wanting to make the switch to sustainable living, gardens are the way to go.

But, as all Melbournians know, the lack of space can be quite a challenge. Considering that each home faces different issues, from full sun to the complete lack thereof, maintaining a garden can be an easy thing to give up. 

The following tips and tricks harvested from common gardening questions will give you the confidence to get your hands dirty. In a month or so, you’ll be able to impress your friends when you sprinkle basil from your own damn garden into their plates of spaghetti. 

1.     What if I don’t have the space for a vegetable garden? 

Never let the space deter you from your dream vegetable garden! If your home gets around six hours of full sun daily, you’ve already got the most important foundation. Pots are a great way to make the most of no room. Most leafy plants like arugula, tomatoes, and herbs are fantastic for pots. These ingredients alone make the most refreshing salad. Just add some vinaigrette and mozzarella, and you’re good to go. Do keep an eye out for the size of the pots, most leaf plants require a pot at least thirty centimetres in diameter, whilst your tomato plants will most definitely need a stake to cling to as they grow nice and tall. Just make sure to water them regularly. 

2.   This damn sun, there’s too much, or too little, what can I do? 

The position of your plants is crucial, so they don’t die a slow and tragic death, leaving your guests hungry. For those battling the full sun, you’ll need to create a sunshade for your plants (tan lines don’t look good on veggies). Most sunshades can be made from garden stakes and some shade cloth. If you’re on the other side of the fence and have no sun, I will only say this once. Do. Not. Over Water. Your. Plants. Every one to two weeks is fine during the summer, and only every three weeks in the winter. If you have gone over the top with watering, you might encounter my best mate, gnat. A pesky bug that I’m sure won’t go down well during dinner. I’ve found that some indoor potting mix, particularly the Osmocote brand (not sponsored, I swear,) is a great way to reduce the risk. 

3.      I want to make my garden more sustainable, so what can I really grow? 

Herbs are a fantastic place to start; all they need is regular sun and water, so if you stick to the two former steps, you’ll be fine! The versatility of your basic herbs like basil, chives, parsley, lemon balm, cress and mint makes for great kitchen additions. Basil is one of my personal favourites, as I can use it for everything. My go-to is a quick and simple pesto:  Simply add olive oil, parmesan, and crisp up some pine nuts in the oven and blend together. An easy fix that you can add to pasta dishes or delicious toasties. Perilla and Chervil are great herbs to add new flavours. I’ve found some great Korean recipes online for perilla, whilst Chervil can be added to anything from cocktails to salads. For those craving a sweet treat, strawberries are a hardy plant that even the freshest green thumbs will have trouble killing! As a bonus, cat grass will keep your feline friends happy. 

4.     What if my garden is a little vertically challenged? 

If you’re on a balcony like me, the biggest killer is wind. As it can dehydrate your foliage, and if your pots aren’t secured properly, they may topple over. Self-watering pots are a fantastic solution for this as they ensure the soil doesn’t get dried out and add extra weight, so they don’t fall over! 

Just remember that the journey to a certified green thumb takes time, and everyone’s garden is different! So, get out there, feel free to experiment and impress your friends for tea time.