You don’t have to have a massive amount of space to produce a good amount of fresh veg, and with as little as a 1 x 1 metre bed you can have a productive patch, sunlight permitting.
Firstly, remember that a pot or small bed (or any garden bed) is not just a container, more it is an entire world in which every bit of space matters, and as such the most important task is to look after that ecosystem and make sure the soil is stimulating the microbial activity so desired by the plants. Keeping the balance is an ongoing task as the soil does breakdown and loses balance, especially in pots, so feeding and layering it up as the level drops (straw / compost, manurers / good potting mix) is as important (probably more important) than planting.
Firstly, remember that a pot or small bed (or any garden bed) is not just a container, more it is an entire world in which every bit of space matters, and as such the most important task is to look after that ecosystem and make sure the soil is stimulating the microbial activity so desired by the plants. Keeping the balance is an ongoing task as the soil does breakdown and loses balance, especially in pots, so feeding and layering it up as the level drops (straw / compost, manurers / good potting mix) is as important (probably more important) than planting.
Obviously with that space the sky is not the limit, and you want to avoid the big brutes like cabbages, pumpkins and zucchinis, but if you choose your vegetables wisely you can easily provide plenty of options for your table. Carrots, some tomatoes, basil, kale, spinach, capsicum, coriander, radish, cucumbers growing up a support at the side of the bed, lettuce combined with spring onions and some marigolds around the edges, herbs planted around the tomatoes or chilies, and everything grown seasonally. All this will work well in a small space.
The thing to bear in mind is that it is not about planting and harvesting everything in one go together, time them to ensure that some things will be ready before others, then as you harvest, plant something else in the space left (after refreshing the soil) to keep the continuous harvesting rolling along.
In that space you can get about 25 – 30 plants, so in a small courtyard or on a balcony you can still experience the great joy of growing and harvesting your own produce to enhance your dining experience.
A small review today, for a small space!
Enjoy
Peter