Miniature vegetable are one of the latest trends in specialty vegetable gardening . Miniatures are — you guessed it — very small versions of full - sized vegetables like squash racquets , cucumbers , pumpkins and pea plant . You ’ll regain them in high - end restaurants , tossed in salads and used as garnishes , and at strong suit bon vivant shops , where they can be quite expensive . It ’s cheap and fun to grow these in your own home garden and the result can be quite witching and yummy .
They are idealistic for the small garden . It ’s clear that small varieties provide you to plant more in a small space or container garden . But , another circumstance in a small garden is sunlight . Large variety , even if enough space to embed , can shade out other vegetable plant life . opt small salmagundi veg and miniatures and heedful garden planning are two great tips to plant a small garden .
Here are some great selections for develop toy and small vegetable motley :
CC flickr photo by Bex Walton
Miniature and Small Variety Basil
An endearing variety of miniature basil calledWindowboxwill have you dreaming of miniature trains and lollipops . It grows into a 10 - inch umbrella - influence plant with tiny bright green leaves , perfect for a miniature geartrain or candy - themed garden . works seed 1 inch aside after temps stabilize at 50 degree . After seedlings are well establish , thin them to 8 in apart to allow plentifulness of room to age . Keep flower bud pinched back and feed regularly to go harvesting .
Miniature and Small Variety Corn
Many people assume the miniature corn in supermarket salad or pickle in arse is the resultant role of nanus maize . This is not necessarily the case . Most of what you come across is just immature ears of received - sizing corn that ’s been harvest from the stalk just after the silk emerges , before fertilization . Most varieties can be raise this agency .
If you have a small garden without much place , there are dwarf varieties such asBlue Jade , Lady FingerandChires Baby . These arise 3 - 4 human foot high and produce multiple lilliputian ears of maize — sometimes as much as 20 ears per works . A admonition about gnome miscellany : They can take as retentive as 140 day to grow , so they ask to be started very early indoors in inhuman clime .
Miniature and Small Variety Eggplant
Miniature eggplants are get it on for their succulent leaf , beautiful gloss and great flavor . Listada de GandiaorStriped Guadaloupe Eggplantis a stunning purple and white stripy variety that measure 8 column inch circular , borne on a small flora standing just 18 inches eminent . The plants need to be punt , as they can barely hold the eggplant , and you need a very lovesome mood , as these same heating plant . For cold climate , tryLi’l Darling , a mini garden egg about the size of it of a walnut on an attractive plant standing just a foot tall . It matures quickly , in about 45 day .
Miniature and Small Variety Tomatoes
TheMicro Tomtakes the proud title of being the Earth ’s tiniest tomato plant life , grow only 8 inches high and producing fruit that is only 1 inch in diam . develop at the University of Florida , Micro Tomis a genetically neuter determinate tomato plant that take 85 days to grow from seed . They are a trinket in small gardens and workplace very well along the delimitation . Seed can be quite expensive — $ 3.99 for just 15 !
Other micro tomato varieties admit theMicro Tina , with yield the size of a cherry red , andMicro Gemma , with a yellowish micro fruit . midget Timis another miniature form recommended for indoor growing that yield little braids of 3/4 - column inch fruit .
Miniature and Small Variety Sweet Peppers
Not all small peppers are hot . In fact , there are many miniature sweet pepper . Mini Red Bell , Mini Yellow BellandMini Brown Bellare all good choices in a modest garden . They endure 2 animal foot high and develop peppers that are about 1 inch in diameter . Flesh is sweet , boneheaded and firm . They take 60 to 70 days to reap and need about 18 inches of spacing for idealistic growth .
Miniature and Small Variety Squash
Like corn , miniature squash is produced when you reap the squash rackets at an early stage of ontogeny . However , there are midget varieties , such asHoney Bear , Dwarf Yellow Crookneck , Buckingham Patio , and most patty pan case change , that will produce small vegetables . Plants stand about 18 inches tall and acquire vegetable that are optimally harvest at about 6 inch long . Some diversity may have a light tracking vine , but there is more often than not no need for post with the miniature plants .
Miniature and Small Variety Watermelon
Miniature watermelons are such a delight because they are so contrary to the larger ones . Melothria Scabra , orMexican Miniature Watermelon , produces watermelon - looking fruit that are only 1 - 2 inch in diameter . The yield taste and rind are more like a cucumber vine , though . Other true mini watermelon kind includeBush Sugar BabyandGolden Midget .
Miniature and Small Variety Cantaloupe
Miniature cantaloupe , or melon , grow to about the sizing of a softball , making them the unadulterated size for a individual service of process . There ’s no more cantaloupe going to waste because you ca n’t complete it ! safe option for the minor garden areLi’l Sweet , Tasty Bites , Hales BestandHearts of Gold . As with most cantaloupe vine , they are grown on a shack vine and must be set in the soil after all peril of rime has fall .
Miniature and Small Variety Okra
Okra is a spicy season crop that likes quick soil temperature of 70 to 90 degrees to germinate . So , be sure to plant your Abelmoschus esculentus when soil is sufficiently warmed . Good dwarf varieties suitable for the small garden includeLong Green Pod , with pod reaching 7 - 8 inches long;Penta Dragon , with modest deeply fluted pods ; andLittle Lucy , with beautiful foliation and Bourgogne lady’s-finger of about 4 inches long . Dwarf plant reach out a height of 24 inches and must be spaced accordingly .
Miniature and Small Variety Peas
Tiny pea plant pods are a delight in refreshed salad and vegetable bag . There are a number of nanus variety that are well-situated to originate and do n’t command any staking in the small-scale garden . Tom Thumbproduces a honorable crop of sweetened and tasty tiny pea pods of no long than 2 in and shows respectable resistance to frost . Charmetteis a “ petit pois ” case of pea that produces huge numbers of tiny legal tender cod , which must be picked unseasoned . Hatif d’Annonayis another pop variety from France with dainty dark light-green seedcase maturate on pocket-sized President Bush .
Miniature and Small Variety Pumpkins
Miniature pumpkin vine are a pet among schoolchildren and those who love to decorate . Mini pumpkin have heavyset pubic hair - type vine , unlike their much prominent cousins which grow on sprawl vines that take up much room in the garden . Mini autumn pumpkin typically measure 3 - 4 inches wide-eyed with rich grooves and vivid color . dear variety : Crunchkin , Munchkin Farmore , Hooligan , Baby Boo(White),Lil Pump - Ke - Mon(orange and greenish stripes ) andWee - Be - Little(smooth ) .
Miniature and Small Variety Cucumbers
One of the big benefits of miniature cucumbers , especially for the small garden , is that they do n’t take up too much elbow room as they grow . Plants are broadly speaking very compact , are very insubordinate to disease , and require no , or minimal , impale . Harvested cukes appraise about 4 inches long . proficient variety to hear areSpacemaster 80,West Indian Gherkin , Fanfare , Patio KingandMiniature White .
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CC flickr photo by Bex Walton
