Micro gardening in a micro climate

Maybe it's why I like growing cherry tomatoes... tiny fruit in a tiny space. With the largest plot in the garden only 87 square feet, the Sweet Willow Garden's got nothing on the allotment gardens in Orleans or Kilborn. This is kitchen gardening for easy to hand tomatoes, herbs and salad greens. Not for us the rows of peppers, squash or strawberries, and forget about growing enough to preserve for the winter. Here's a map of the garden, just in case you don't believe me when I tell you how small the plots are.


The one special feature that gives this garden an extra edge is the extended growing season. There are two reasons for this. First, the planter boxes are only 18 inches deep, so there's less dirt to freeze over the winter. And since they're on the roof of a heated building, the thaw comes a lot sooner for us than for in-ground gardens. Second, the heating plant has a vent that blows warm air over the garden. Even if there's a snap freeze in late spring or fall, our plants tend to be safe from frost until the end of October or longer.

So we can plant a bit earlier and harvest longer. The lettuce tends to bolt in the front plots due to the excess heat, but the small plots at the back are great for a second crop. And chard, which is hardier and better for you, grows like a weed until the end of November!