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How to Garden When You Live in a Tiny Home

Have you heard about the tiny home movement? It’s extremely widespread in the United States at the moment. People are moving out of their large homes into tiny homes that are less than 1,000 square feet.

Moving into a tiny home can be a huge decision. You have to decide if you’re going to build your own tiny home or buy an existing one, if you want to travel with your tiny home or leave it stationary, how you’re going to downsize from your existing home, and more.

How to Garden When You Live in a Tiny Home


If you love gardening, moving into a tiny home and traveling around to different areas might not seem like your cup of tea. After all, if you’re constantly moving around, how are you supposed to have a beautiful garden for all your flowers, fruits, and veggies?

The good news is that even if you’re moving around frequently or if you’re parked on a small plot of land, you can still garden in and around your tiny home. It might not be a huge garden, but it is still a way for you to cultivate your green thumb.

Keep it small

If you’ve managed to find a small plot of land from your tiny home and you’re looking to stay long term, then go ahead and start planning that outdoor garden! Your only constraint is how much land you have available.

If you only have so much land around your home, think about what your favorite vegetables, fruits, or flowers are. While you might not have room for a spacious garden, you can probably figure out a way to add some plants.

Consider constructing some raised beds for veggies or add some flower beds around the perimeter of your house. You might be able to expand upon your garden if you realize that you have enough room.

Use portable containers

Portable containers allow you to pack your garden up and take it with you when you move

Source: Amazon

If you have outside space, but you’re not sure how long you’ll be staying, consider using portable containers to grow your garden in. If you don’t have land around your tiny house, they can be placed on your porch or steps. They can also be placed inside by a sunny window if absolutely necessary.

Portable containers allow you to pack your garden up and take it with you when you move. Many flowers and shrubs will do just fine in portable containers. Some veggies, such as tomatoes or radishes, also do well.

If you do use portable containers, make sure that they have good drainage to help prevent your plants from dying. You’ll also want to use fertilizer to help provide your plants with extra nutrition.

Utilize your vertical space

How to utilize vertical space for gardening

Source: Amazon

If you’re limited in outdoor space and have to move your plants indoors, utilize your vertical space instead. You can use a trellis system or find some sort of shelving unit.

You can grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables this way. You just need to make sure your plants have access to ample light.

Trellises are great for pole vegetables, such as peas and green beans. With encouragement, these plants will easily latch onto the trellis and begin to grow upwards. Climbing flowers, such as morning glories, also do well on a trellis.

If you’re using a shelving unit, you’ll likely need to find plants that can grow in shallow pots. Flowers and herbs can easily grow in shallow pots, as well as some vegetables such as radishes.

Grow plants hydroponically

Hydroponics involves growing plants in a nutrient-rich liquid solution instead of soil

Source: Amazon

Hydroponics involves growing plants in a nutrient-rich liquid solution instead of soil. There are smaller hydroponic racks that can be placed indoors and larger hydroponic towers that can be placed inside.

Not only are these systems less messy than soil, but they can also be easily emptied. So if you’re only staying in an area for a season, you can use your tower to grow your veggies and then empty the tower at the end of the season and easily pack it up.

All sorts of vegetables and herbs can be grown using this method. Even if you have limited space, growing hydroponically guarantees a harvest. If you’ve never grown hydroponically before, start with the basics.

Try growing leafy greens, radishes, or carrots.

Add window boxes

Window boxes for small gardens

Source: Amazon

If you’re staying in one spot for a while and you’re limited on outside space, window boxes could be an option. Window boxes can easily be added under your windows to provide a place for you to plant flowers.

Flowers in a window box can add some color to your tiny home. Perennials are a good choice. Depending on the size of your box, you’ll be able to get 3 to 8 plants in it.

There are also some fruits and vegetables that can successfully grow in window boxes. These include strawberries, radishes, spinach, and most herbs.

You can find window boxes at most home and garden stores. You can also build your own custom ones that match the exterior of your home.

Find support from a community

One of the best things you can do when starting a garden in your tiny home is to read what others are doing. Sites such as Houzz or Tiny house huge ideas can give you inspiration for ideas on how to garden. In addition to websites, consider joining a social media group. Facebook is a great way to meet other people living in tiny homes.

Once you find a community, ask to see if others are gardening in their tiny home. If they are, ask them what works for them. Most people will be happy to share their tips.

If you’re new to tiny house life, an online community can give you other tips. For example, if you’re struggling to condense your belongings, they can help you figure out what isn’t essential.

Final thoughts

As you can see, it is completely possible to have a garden while living in a tiny house. Ideally, you’ll have enough land so that you can plant some of your favorites. But even if you don’t have outside space, portable containers or window boxes can help make your gardening dreams a reality.

About the Author Ann Katelyn


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