Use raised beds in your garden, they can be any shape which pleases you but importantly make sure that you can reach to all parts of the bed from either side.. This is also great for our elderly and provides beneficial access for mobility impaired family who want to enjoy growing food.

A courtyard garden with shade during the day will benefit from plants with larger leaves, they will grow better in the dim light. You can also take advantage of the low light levels by planting lettuce, rocket and some onions which would normally bolt to seed if given direct sunlight in the warmer months.

To make your garden appear larger and add some brightness consider painting your walls a light color. You may also place a mirror at one end of the garden to give the illusion of a much grander courtyard.

Growing fruit trees could be a hit or miss affair with the limited space and plants fighting for sunlight. A solution is to grow them trained against a wall, such as Espalier trained trees which take minimal space yet give good cropping. Think dwarf stock which can be more manageable within the confines of your yard.

Almost all fruits can be trained to grow vertically, The vigorous growth of berries can be tamed by using the Hybrid varieties. Contain their root system within a pot to prevent excess suckering and enjoy the delicious berries as they ripen.

Vegetables that can be utilised would be varieties which can be grown vertically or as a vine, good choices are runner beans, french beans, old-fashioned tall pea varieties, climbing squash and the all time favorite tomato.

Take note of the light and shade of your urban yard throughout the day. The plants which require more sunlight for longer periods shall be positioned to take advantage of the best possible location. Don't forget that summer and winter will have the sun in differing parts of the sky casting a different shadow during these times.

When planning your food forest in an urban yard think volume rather than area. With ingenious thinking plants can be grown in all types of positions. They don't all have to stay at ground level. We have a wonderful article on food towers which can give you some food for thought.

Grow potatoes in old tires stacked in a corner, as the potatoes fill the first level slide another tire over the top and gradually increase the soil height. The fantastic benefit of this is very easy to remove your spuds.

When choosing your plants to grow think alternative, because of your limited space it is not much point in growing fruit and vegetables which are readily available at the local farmers market. Go exotic and savour the delicious flavors which we do not always have access.

Author Brad Hamilton
http://projecturbanfoodforest.com