We have already started the search for finding your passion in gardening with creating a big garden in a small space. Read on for further hints, tips and ideas.

Planning or laying out the location of your plants is an important step with a small space. On paper, draw out the location of each type of plant giving each adequate space to grow. Each year you will want to rotate your vegetables to a different location in your garden as that helps reduce disease.

Purchasing only healthy plants is another step in finding your passion with gardening, but one which will get your garden off to a solid start.

Before planting any seeds or plants, I erect all of my fence panels and tomato cages according to my diagram. When I put up my fence, I will pound one steel post into the ground using my sledge hammer. Measure the appropriate distance from the first one and then pound in the second one. You want your posts to match the width of your fence so it may be fastened securely to the posts. I take two bricks and lay on the inside of each fence post on their edge, set the fence on top and fasten securely to the steel posts. I do this to raise the fence to keep it out of the dirt and to make it easy to weed underneath the fence. The last few years I used plastic baler twine to fasten the fence. It is much easier to work with than wire. When you get it tightly fastened, it will hold just as firmly - even with plants growing on the panel. It’s also a lot easier to take your fence down in the fall, a couple of slices with the utility knife and your fence is free.

For your tomato cages, I put the outside edge of two cages about 4 - 5 feet apart. I drive a steel post on the outside edge of each cage, and then set a 4 foot piece of fence panel on top of the cages, fastening all securely to the posts. Now you are set for your tomatoes to grow up to 7 feet tall – trust me, the ordinary tomato plant you buy will grow that tall. As the plant grows you will want to keep all the plant growth inside the tomato cage for added support. When the plant grows above the cage, keep weaving the ends of the vine into the fence panel. I also loosely tie the vines to the panel as they grow – avoid tying your string or cloth strips tightly against the vine itself as you will hamper the growth.

All you need is passion. If you have a passion for something, you'll create the talent. Yanni

Another trick for having a big garden in a small space is to mulch the surface of your garden. Once the seedlings are planted, or your plants are a couple inches tall, I take fresh grass clippings and spread around the plants. Keep your grass clippings about an inch from the plant as the fresh clippings will get warm and could damage or kill your new plant. I typically mulch grass clippings at a depth of 2-3 inches. As your grass clippings dry out over the next several days, they will keep the soil moist, but also provide a barrier for weeds. Once I mulch my garden, I don’t need to worry about weeding it, saving time over the summer.

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