Gardening in Small Spaces
In a world of frequent moves and small apartments, planting a garden isn’t always practical; but that doesn’t mean you have to give up all hope of having lush flowers or fresh vegetables. All it takes is some simple containers placed in the right spot, a few well chosen seeds, and some know how.
Almost any container (including an old boot!) can be used as a planter as long as it has adequate drainage. Think about the size and needs of your plants. Also consider that you may want or need to move your container so you might not want anything too heavy. Stands and hanging baskets are also quite appropriate and decorative for some spaces.
Most plants that do well in a small garden in the yard can do well in a container. Choose from herbs, flowers, vegetables, or even mini fruit trees (although these tend to require more work), but start small and don’t overwhelm yourself. Some plants can be combined in the same container for added benefits, such as parsley with carrots to repel carrot flies. Helpful lists of flowers and vegetables which are ideal for container gardens can be found at Garden Guides.
Treat your plants with tender loving care. Place your container where they will get the right amount of sunlight. A plant in a container can’t grow its roots deeper to get nutrients or grow tall to reach sunlight. Start with a good soil blend and fertilize well according to the package directions or mix a nutrient solution. Allow about one day a week to give your plants plain water to leach the soil of unused fertilizer. Don’t over water and make sure the container is draining properly. Plant disease can happen to any plant, but having a container garden makes it easier to treat only the affected plant.
Finally, for more info on container gardening, check out these websites:
