Vegetable gardens
The vegetable gardens for the summer of 2025 will open on May 1. Reykjavík residents can get a vegetable garden for their own use. Applications will open on March 15, 2025.
What are the gardens?
Reykjavík leases out about 600 vegetable gardens, 200 of which are in Skammadalur.
See the locations of vegetable gardens in Reykjavík below. You can click on the links to see which gardens are available.
- Vesturbær by Þorragata
- Fossvogur at the end of Bjarmaland
- Laugardalur at the end of Holtavegur
- Árbær at Rafstöðvarvegur
- Grafarvogur at Logafold
- Kjalarnes at Fólkvangur
The Icelandic Gardeners Association is responsible for the operation of vegetable gardens in Stekkjarbakki and Grafarvogur north of Strandvegur, as agreed with the City of Reykjavík. Resident associations in Grafarholt also have vegetable gardens on city land.
Skammadalur in Mosfellsbær
The City of Reykjavík also offers gardens in Skammadalur in Mosfellsbær, and they will have been ploughed when handed to users.
Seljagarður
Reykjavík will not operate gardens in Breiðholt at Jaðarsel this summer. The association Seljagarður has taken over the operation of those gardens and people can apply for a garden on the Seljagarður website.
How much does it cost to rent a vegetable garden?
The lease fees for 2025 are 7,500 kr. for garden land in the Skammadalur (about 100 m2) and 6,200 kr. for a garden (about 20 m2). Planters in Grafarvogur, Árbær, Fossvogur and Kjalarnes will cost 5,000 kr each (8 square meters). The allocation of gardens will be reversed if payment has not been received when due.
When is access given to the gardens?
Access is given to the gardens on May 1, but if the weather allows, gardeners can start earlier.
Free education
The Reykjavík Botanic Garden in Laugardalur offers various educational activities, such as lunchtime walks every Friday in June, July and August. They take half an hour and are 12.00 noon in Icelandic and 12.40pm in English. They also present a perfect opportunity to ask the garden staff about vegetable gardening.
Children and their families are invited to the display greenhouse at the Botanic Garden to learn how to sow summer flowers and vegetables on Wednesday, April 9, from 5-6pm. This is part of the Children's Culture Festival. Children (and adults too) will learn how to transplant or prick out seedlings. Participants will be able to take their plants home at the end of the event.
A workshop on tool sharpening and maintenance will be held on Wednesday, May 7, from 5-6pm. You are welcome to bring your own tools and receive hands-on instruction from our staff. Botanic Garden staff will demonstrate techniques for sharpening pruners, edgers, shovels and other gardening tools. They will also cover proper tool storage methods to maximize longevity.
Both events are free and open to the public.
Good advice and facilities in the gardens
Gardeners can get good, green advice on growing herbs from our staff.
- Send an email to matjurtagardar@reykjavik.is
- Or call 411 1111
The gardens will be marked. Water is accessible in all areas. Garden tools, plants, and seed are not included with the gardens.