daft question ...

[nick the grief]

A few years ago most of the seed catalogues used to have a section that showed varieties of veg that were ideal for the smaller gardens, but these seemed to have disappered these days. The only ones I know of that are still good for close spacing are Iglloo Cauliflower and Tom Thumb/little gem Lettuces ... anyone else grow any?

[Nicos]

Are you meaning dwarf varieties?
Alternatively….
I used to get around the spacing of larger varieties by following a domino spacing pattern.
Also choosing vertical plants such as climbing french beans , climbing courgette etc to make the most horizontal space.

[nick the grief]

Are you meaning dwarf varieties?
Alternatively….
I used to get around the spacing of larger varieties by following a domino spacing pattern.
Also choosing vertical plants such as climbing french beans , climbing courgette etc to make the most horizontal space.

sort of Nicos, like Little Gem lettuce are naturally small but I grow a variety of Cauli (Igloo) which if you plant at normal spacing would make a normal sized cauli, but you can plant them closer and they'll make a smaller head - ideal for me and Mrs G. THere used to be loads of them but they don't seem to list them these days.

[Jungle Jane]

There’s a list of mini veg here,incl the igloo cauliflower
Baby-head brocolli & Calabrese: Planted 20cm (8in) apart, calabrese produces small, tight spears. ‘Kabuki’ is especially suitable.
Baby beetroots: Try any good F1 hybrid such as ‘Solo’. Being monogerm (one seedlings per seed), there should be no need to thin the seedling-clusters if you sow sparingly. However, still ensure there is 10cm (4in) between each beetroot seedling.
Dwarf Kales: Kales, such as ‘Redbor’, make attractive little plants with an abundance of coloured leaves, which are ideal for stir frying. Plant about 30cm (1ft) apart.
Finger carrots: Round carrots (Paris-market types) can be used. But long carrots, including Amsterdam cultivars (such as ‘Amsterdam Forcing 3’) and F1-hybrid Nantes-types (such as ‘Nelson’), produce better-sized small carrots. Plant in rows 15cm (6in) apart and 2.5cm (1in) between plants.
Kohl Rabi: Sow these at 8in (20cm) apart and gather the swollen stems when they are golf-ball size. Purple cultivars, such as ‘Kolibri’, look especially attractive.
Mini-cauliflowers: ‘Igloo’ is usually recommended, although most summer cauliflowers can be planted at 15cm (6in) spacing to give mini heads.
Radishes: All radishes are mini, but ‘Short Top Forcing’ is ideal for making small, easy-to-gather roots. Allow 15cm (6in) between rows and 2.5cm (1in) between plants.
Turnips: Sow these at 20cm (8in) apart: ‘Atlantic’ has small leaves and is particularly pretty
https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/ch...ini-vegetables

[nick the grief]

There’s a list of mini veg here,incl the igloo cauliflower
Baby-head brocolli & Calabrese: Planted 20cm (8in) apart, calabrese produces small, tight spears. ‘Kabuki’ is especially suitable.
Baby beetroots: Try any good F1 hybrid such as ‘Solo’. Being monogerm (one seedlings per seed), there should be no need to thin the seedling-clusters if you sow sparingly. However, still ensure there is 10cm (4in) between each beetroot seedling.
Dwarf Kales: Kales, such as ‘Redbor’, make attractive little plants with an abundance of coloured leaves, which are ideal for stir frying. Plant about 30cm (1ft) apart.
Finger carrots: Round carrots (Paris-market types) can be used. But long carrots, including Amsterdam cultivars (such as ‘Amsterdam Forcing 3’) and F1-hybrid Nantes-types (such as ‘Nelson’), produce better-sized small carrots. Plant in rows 15cm (6in) apart and 2.5cm (1in) between plants.
Kohl Rabi: Sow these at 8in (20cm) apart and gather the swollen stems when they are golf-ball size. Purple cultivars, such as ‘Kolibri’, look especially attractive.
Mini-cauliflowers: ‘Igloo’ is usually recommended, although most summer cauliflowers can be planted at 15cm (6in) spacing to give mini heads.
Radishes: All radishes are mini, but ‘Short Top Forcing’ is ideal for making small, easy-to-gather roots. Allow 15cm (6in) between rows and 2.5cm (1in) between plants.
Turnips: Sow these at 20cm (8in) apart: ‘Atlantic’ has small leaves and is particularly pretty
https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/ch...ini-vegetables

never thought of looking on the RHS site . Thanks JJ carrots aren't an issue as I grow them in pots (soon to be sand boxes) and Parsnips will be the same. Beetroot I tend to grow multi sown any way. Don't eat a lot of radish or Kohl rabi. in facct we only eat a limited number of types of veg anyway although nore these days I have to say. but Mrs G doesn't eat many Carrots or Any Parsnips so I don't need a lot of those as they're all mine

[Penellype]

A few to add for very small spaces (expect a small crop):
Pea Half pint - only grows about a foot high and can be grown on a windowsill.
Lettuce Warpath - very small iceberg lettuce
Tomato Balconi (red or yellow) - small plants about 2ft high produce a lot of cherry sized fruit
Onions - if you grow them very close together you will get small bulbs. They also produce smaller bulbs if grown in the shade.