You don’t need a bigger garden to grow more food — just a smarter plan. Discover how Dina McMahon of Port Moody, British Columbia, built a vegetable garden from scratch in her compact backyard. Her tips will help you maximize every square foot of your outdoor space.
Prioritize Sunny Spots
McMahon removed part of her lawn to install modular raised beds from Sproutbox in various sizes, arranging them “like a game of Tetris” to maximize space. At 43 centimetres tall, they save her from bending over too much while leaving plenty of room for roots. These raised beds are ideal for small spaces because they allow you to grow more in less space.
Extend the Season
A custom greenhouse from BC Greenhouse Builders fits within the garden’s limited footprint. With water and electricity, McMahon starts 90% of her crops from seed in it, including snap peas, kale, and marigolds. She shares: “I love cranking up the heat and working while it’s pouring rain outside.” The greenhouse makes it possible to start seedlings earlier in spring and extend harvests into fall.
Make Use of Shady Corners
McMahon placed a garden shed she built with a contractor friend in a shady corner. Instead of fighting the lack of light with raised beds, she grows astilbes, foxgloves, hostas, and other shade-tolerant plants along the pathway. This smart approach turns a limitation into an opportunity.
Plant Densely
Very little soil is left bare in her raised beds. Between herbs and vegetables, she tucks in cosmos and nasturtiums from seed for color and to attract beneficial insects. Nasturtiums are edible — she says: “I love adding the flowers to salads.” This dense planting technique maximizes the yield from every square foot.
Build a Compact Potting Bench
McMahon built a potting bench from affordable cedar wood, painted to match the fence. She explains: “I built this potting bench in a single day, and it’s really a great workstation.” A well-designed potting bench makes gardening more enjoyable and efficient, with storage spaces for tools, pots, and soil.
Embrace Tight Spaces
The dining table and covered grill sit just steps from the raised beds. When she and her husband host outdoor dinners, “guests wandering between the beds and peeking into the greenhouse” are a common occurrence. This integration of the vegetable garden into the outdoor living space creates a unique and convivial experience.
With a little creativity and smart planning, even the smallest garden can produce an abundance of fresh vegetables, aromatic herbs, and edible flowers. The secret is to maximize every inch and choose solutions suited to your specific space.
