When I first started gardening in containers, I thought all I needed was a bag of potting soil, a few pretty pots, and some sunshine. And for a little while, that worked. But by a few weeks into that first season, my tomatoes looked tired, and the soil? It felt as lifeless as my dying basil.

That’s when I learned what gardeners have known for generations: The secret isn’t just in the seeds. It’s in the soil. And for small-space gardeners like me, composting can be the difference between limp leaves and a thriving patio jungle.

I currently have space to grow my garden in the ground, but it’s a strip between the sidewalk and the house, long but very confining. I need to cut my food bills down, so this space has to work.

Greens in one of our past gardens.

A Small-Space Garden’s Best Friend

If you’re growing your garden on a balcony, porch, or windowsill, you might think composting is out of reach. But here’s the truth: you don’t need a backyard, big pile, or big container. You just need to think small, steady, and intentional.

Compost is, at its heart, broken-down bits of life — kitchen scraps, crushed egg shells, dried leaves, coffee grounds — all transformed into something rich and alive. It smells earthy, crumbles easily, and gives back to your plants in a way that potting mix just can’t.

Basil with a soil/compost mix that is heavy on crushed eggshell and coffee grounds.

What Goes In: The Everyday Magic

My compost bin gets its daily dose of coffee grounds (I use a French press but occasionally use paper filters), eggshells, tea (loose leaf or with compostable filters) apple cores, and dying veggies from the fridge. When I’m trimming herbs or peeling carrots, I keep a small bowl on the counter. It fills up quickly.

Here’s a simple guide:

Good stuff to compost:

  • Fruit and veggie scraps
  • Coffee grounds and tea leaves
  • Crushed eggshells
  • Shredded paper (not glossy), cardboard, dry leaves

What to leave out (especially in small spaces):

  • Meat, dairy, greasy foods, pet waste

The balance matters: think of it like baking. Too many wet scraps (called “greens”) can get smelly. Too many dry ones (“browns”) slow things down. A rough rule: two parts brown to one part green. Stir every so often. Trust the process.

How I Compost Without a Yard

I tried a few methods before finding what worked for me and you can, too.

Each place I have lived has had different plant needs. For instance, I live in a place where I can garden almost year round. Different plants need different nutrients. Last year, I lived in a place with one growing season. If you move, try something different with your compost to see if you can get better results at your new place. Write what works and does down so you have a record.

1. Worm Composting

This one took a little getting used to. Worms in the house? They are quiet, clean, and efficient. The castings they leave behind (yes, worm poop) are like superfood for plants.

If you can’t handle worms in the house, a worm casting vendor may be at your local farmers market or nearby. You can also buy castings in bags from garden stores.

2. DIY Bin on the Balcony

Drill a few holes in a lidded plastic tub, added layers of food scraps and dry leaves, and tucked it behind a chair on the porch. No smell, no pests. Just slow, steady transformation.

3. Local mulch or compost

Sometimes, towns collect compostable items or tree limbs and make their own mulch or compost. When it’s ready, they sell some of it to the public. The sale may offer more than you need, but if you get some gardening friends together, you can spread the love. Community gardens may also make this available.

Using Compost in Pots

When my compost is ready, I mix a handful or two into each pot, especially when I’m planting something new. You can also use it as a top dressing or make a “tea” by soaking a scoop of compost in water and using it to water your plants.

You can get a spray bottle and stuff some peelings or banana peels into the container. Fill with water and cover. Let the mixture sit for a week or so and then strain out the peels. Use the vitamin-rich water to get a fertilizing spray.

I like to think of compost as a quiet partner in the garden. It works beneath the surface, slowly releasing nutrients, improving the soil’s texture, and helping it hold just the right amount of moisture. The plants notice. And if you’re paying attention, you will too.

One Last Thought

There’s something hopeful about composting. It reminds me that nothing has to go to waste. Even a wilted spinach leaf or yesterday’s coffee can be part of something living.

Container gardens may be small, but with compost, they can be mighty. And whether you’re growing tomatoes in a bucket or herbs in a windowsill box, good soil makes all the difference.