According to the United States Census Bureau, 80% of Americans live in urban areas. There are so many great things about living in cities, but one major downside is the lack of outdoor space. Luckily, a gardening trend has come to save the day, and it's expected to be huge in 2026. This is the micro garden trend that allows people across the country to connect with nature and grow their own vegetables, flowers and fruits even though they don't have a large garden.
Micro gardening is all about making the most of the available space. It includes vertical planting, container planting and hydroponics and focuses on intensive plant cultivation. These plants can be grown on terraces, balconies and roofs. Micro gardening is a creative and eco-friendly practice in which many people use waste materials such as old car tires and wooden pallets as containers. And of course there are the delicious crops! Because this gardening trend is designed for small spaces, everyone can get in on the action, no matter the size of your home or your wallet. Micro gardening enables low-income families to grow healthy, nutritious fruits and vegetables.
How to create a micro garden
Micro gardening is all about cleverly choosing the size of your terrace, balcony or roof. Therefore, it's best to do a little planning before jumping into it. If you have a lot of height, vertical planting may be perfect for you. If there is a strong fence on your balcony, you should check what containers you can attach to it. Once you've decided on your technique, look at what containers you can recycle and reuse for your micro garden. Plastic containers, buckets and wooden boxes can be used, and plastic pallets and shoe storage systems are perfect for vertical planting. There are so many everyday household items that you can transform into beautiful planters. So take a look around and get creative! However, remember that whatever you use needs drainage holes. Therefore, add these before planting your seeds.
Another aspect to consider when planning your micro garden is location. Is your small space sunny or shady? Does it get rain or is it sheltered? Keep this in mind when choosing what to grow and choose plants that fit the environment. If there is a way to harvest rain, try incorporating it into the design of your micro garden. Plants in containers generally require more water than plants in traditional garden plots. Therefore, you want to make the most of what nature offers you.
What to Grow in a Micro Garden
Microgreens are of course a great choice for micro gardens, but there are so many other plants you can grow, including lettuce, tomatoes, and cabbage. Micro gardening isn’t just for vegetables. You can grow tons of flowers and herbs in containers to brighten up your outdoor space.
When it comes to plants that work well in a vertical garden, opt for upright or trailing plants like runner beans, tomatoes and cucumbers. Salad greens and succulents are also great for vertical gardens and look great popping out of pallets. For container micro gardens, you may want to purchase dwarf vegetable varieties such as tomatoes and cucumbers as these are grown for small space gardening. However, you can grow most vegetables in containers, so experiment with what you want to grow! Herbs are always a good choice, and there are some beautiful flowers you can grow in containers such as begonias, impatiens, geraniums and petunias.
If you choose hydroponics for your micro garden, choose lettuce, herbs and plants from the brassica family for year-round planting. In summer, you can grow a wider range of plants in a hydroponic garden, with strawberries, tomatoes and cucumbers being popular choices.