Gardening for Beginners: The Ultimate Guide to Start Growing in Small Spaces

Choosing the Right Garden Type for Your Space

Okay, so this is where most beginners get stuck — and honestly, I get it.

When I first started researching garden types for small spaces, I went down a rabbit hole so deep I ended up watching YouTube videos about raised beds in Tokyo apartments at 1am. Not my proudest moment.

But here’s what I learned: choosing the right garden type is less about what looks coolest on Pinterest and more about what actually works for your space and your life.

Let’s break it down. 🌿

Container Gardens: The Ultimate Beginner Move

If you’re just starting out, container gardening is honestly your best friend.

It’s flexible, affordable, and forgiving — which is exactly what you need when you’re still figuring things out.

A container garden is simply any plant grown in a pot, bucket, box, or planter instead of directly in the ground. You can grow herbs, vegetables, flowers — pretty much anything — in containers.

The best part? You can move them. If your tomatoes need more sun, you just pick up the pot and move it. Try doing that with a raised bed. 😄

Best for: Apartment dwellers, renters, beginners, and anyone who wants flexibility.

Vertical Gardens: Small Footprint, Big Impact

This one is my personal favorite — and it’s perfect for women who love that lush, editorial aesthetic.

A vertical garden grows upward instead of outward, using wall-mounted planters, trellises, hanging pockets, or stacked shelving. You can fit a lot of plants into a very small footprint.

I’ve seen vertical herb walls in tiny Dallas apartments that looked like something out of an interior design magazine. Seriously stunning.

The catch? Vertical gardens need a little more planning around watering and weight limits — especially if you’re mounting anything on a wall or balcony railing.

Best for: Small balconies, accent walls, renters who want a statement piece.

Windowsill Gardens: Tiny But Mighty

Don’t underestimate a good windowsill garden. I started with one — a single south-facing window and three small pots of herbs — and it taught me everything.

A south-facing or west-facing window gets the most sunlight indoors, usually 6+ hours a day, which is enough to grow basil, mint, chives, parsley, and even small pepper plants.

It’s the lowest-commitment garden option out there. No outdoor space needed, no special equipment, no big investment.

Best for: Apartment dwellers, total beginners, anyone in colder climates like Chicago or Minneapolis.

Balcony Gardens: Your Outdoor Oasis Awaits

If you have a balcony — even a tiny one — you are sitting on a goldmine.

A balcony garden can include container plants, vertical planters, railing boxes, and even a small raised bed if your space allows. Women in cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Seattle are doing incredible things with 50 square feet or less.

One thing to check before you go all in: your building’s weight limits. Wet soil is heavy. A few large containers can add up to several hundred pounds fast.

Ask your landlord or building manager first. Trust me on this one — learned that the hard way. 😬

Best for: Renters and homeowners with outdoor access who want a full garden experience.

Raised Beds: The Homeowner’s Sweet Spot

If you have even a small backyard or patio, a raised garden bed is one of the best investments you can make.

Raised beds give you complete control over your soil quality, drainage, and layout — which means healthier plants and bigger harvests. A standard 4×4 foot raised bed can produce a surprising amount of vegetables for a family.

They’re also gorgeous. A well-built raised bed with neat rows of vegetables and herbs is the kind of thing that makes your backyard look intentional and designed — not just thrown together.

Best for: Homeowners in cities like Washington DC, Philadelphia, or Dallas with a small yard or patio space.

How to Assess Your Space Like a Pro

Before you buy a single pot or seed, take 10 minutes to do this.

Walk through your space — indoors and outdoors — and ask yourself these questions:

How much sunlight does my space get? Count the hours of direct sun. Most vegetables need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Herbs can get by with 4.

How much square footage do I actually have? Measure it. Even a 3×3 foot balcony corner can support a vertical planter and two container pots.

Don’t guess — measure. It makes all the difference when you’re shopping for planters and supplies.

Match Your Garden to Your Lifestyle (And Your Aesthetic)

Here’s something nobody talks about enough: your garden should fit your life, not the other way around.

If you travel a lot or have a packed schedule, go with low-maintenance plants in self-watering containers. If you love spending Sunday mornings outside with coffee, a balcony garden with raised beds might be your dream setup.

And aesthetically? Think about your home decor style.

Minimalist and modern? Go for clean white ceramic pots and structured vertical planters. Boho and eclectic? Mix terracotta, macramé hangers, and trailing plants. Love that cottagecore vibe? Raised wooden beds with wildflowers and herbs are everything.

Your garden is an extension of your home — and it should feel like you.

Now that you know which garden type fits your space, it’s time for the fun part. Hit Next below and we’ll get into exactly what to plant first — the best beginner-friendly herbs, vegetables, and flowers that practically grow themselves, even if you’ve never kept a plant alive before. 🌱 You’re going to love this part. 👇