Urban Gardening for City Dwellers

Urban gardening is an activity that is growing in influence. You don’t have to live out in the country in order to have a garden. You can plant a garden even if you live in the confined space of an apartment and look out over a landscape of brick and steel.

Container Gardening

As mentioned, you don’t have to live on an acre of land to garden. Container gardening is a way to grow flowers or vegetables if you live in an apartment and have a small balcony or patio. Plus, you can use a number of containers in which to grow your plants, such as kiddie pools, watering cans or even burlap feed sacks. Basically, container gardening can include any type of container with drainage that can accommodate roots from about 9 to 12 inches in length. Most vegetables adapt well to containers. Therefore, select from leafy greens and beans, such as kale, collard greens, spinach, chard, lettuce, snap beans or limas. Tomatoes, broccoli and carrots are good container plants too.

Raised Garden Beds

Another way to garden in the city is by using raised beds, which provide a way for city dwellers to grow a lot of vegetables. The structures are practical for small spaces, such as concrete patios or yards which have less-than-quality soil. Raised beds are typically constructed of concrete or wood in sizes of about 3 feet by 8 feet and are about a couple feet high. They are more convenient than small, conventional garden plots as they warm the soil, need less upkeep and supply better drainage. You’ll have an endless supply of good “country” eating too.  Include such vegetables as lima beans, beets, soy beans, cabbage, tomatoes, leafy greens and hardy asparagus.

Taking Your Garden Inside to the Window Box

You can also plant a small herb garden inside an apartment. Plant herbs, such as basil, parsley, oregano, cilantro, chives, peppermint and rosemary in a window box at your kitchen window. Maintain a ready supply of seasonings for your meals throughout the year.

Community Gardening

If you have no viable space in which to grow plants or vegetables, you may see if your community has a garden program. Many cites will allow residents to lease a garden plot for a small fee or for free. While some communities offer programs where the land is divided, others invite members of the community to share in gardening on a communal basis.

Vertical Gardening

Vertical gardens are excellent for making the most of the space you have. For instance, you can use a chain link fence for climbing plants, or provide vertical shelving for container plants inside your apartment. Not only that, training certain plants to grow vertically provides better air circulation and keeps the plants off the ground and therefore pest-free. If you plant vegetables outside, you may want to use a wooden trellis or hanging baskets. Include the supports when you plant the seeds of the plants for your vertical garden. Good vegetables to include in such a garden are peas, lima beans, green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, onions, eggplant and potatoes.