There's a wonderful feeling you get when you grow and care for a garden, but what can you do when you have limited space? Whether you have a small apartment in NYC or a tiny home in the Bay Area, limited space doesn’t have to keep you from gardening.
Wanting to live frugally can be challenging in itself and there are many people now looking for an apartment, condo or townhouse to call home. But a smaller space shouldn't stop you from growing your own vegetables, herbs and even beautiful flowers to enjoy!
The most common spaces that are used for urban gardening are windows, balconies, patios and even fire escapes. If you can get good sunshine in these areas, then you've already won half of the battle.
If possible, set up the plants to face south on your fire escape or balcony. West-facing planters will still allow your plants to receive enough sunlight in the early to mid-afternoon. East-facing planters will be more difficult to produce plants that need mostly sun and heat to grow, however, there are plenty of herbs and greens that will grow just fine this way.
Plant-based chef Patricia Parks of Atlanta-based All Purpose Vegan, recommends, “To thrive in these environments, focus on using vertical space efficiently through wall-mounted planters or trellises. Vertical gardens have many benefits that include: improved air quality, space-saving, healthier plants, better ear circulation, water conservation, way less destructive bugs, aesthetic appeal, and lends to a calm space.”
The space you have available will dictate what types of containers you may use. There are simple plastic containers that can be set out on a balcony, making it easy for multiple types of flowers and vegetables.
Erin Riley from Your Hope Garden offers the following tips for gardening in small spaces. “Plants in containers are more manageable and have fewer issues with pests, disease, and weeds. Here are some things to remember.
Use bagged potting soil in containers and never soil from the ground. Container plants need fertilizer since they can’t access nutrients from the ground. Add perlite, vermiculite, coir, pumice, and compost to both lighten soil, hold water, and aid in drainage. I don’t like to add sand or gravel to the bottom of my containers but you can add clay pebbles or “leca balls” to absorb extra water. All kinds of containers have their advantages and disadvantages, but I really like a fabric grow bag as it is inexpensive, lightweight, easy to store, and fabulous for your plants.”
Shireen Shakouri from Friends of Noyes Park recommends to readers, “Consider unconventional potting systems: a 5-10 gallon hardware store bucket can hold a thriving tomato plant. Just be sure to plant it fairly deep so the roots can thrive, and drill or poke a drainage hole in the bottom.”
The best container is a self-watering one. Living higher up in an apartment complex or condo makes for windier and drier conditions, which causes plants to dry out quicker and needing more water.
There are vertical containers that can be used, as well, allowing for a variety of plants without taking up much space. For those limited to window space, a windowsill container may be the right solution. There are many varieties out there that sit on your windowsill or attach to the window frame and drape over.
You can grow many healthy foods on an apartment or condo balcony, like cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, beans, greens, such as lettuce and kale, and even carrots. This may provide you with a peace of mind that your vegetables are definitively organically grown with no abrasive insecticides and you're saving money serving yourself nutrition-rich vegetables.
You can also grow herbs like oregano, parsley, mint, rosemary, basil and thyme. And don't forget about our friend the aloe vera plant. This plant has an abundance of helpful properties. There are also mushroom starter sets you can buy to grow your own mushrooms indoors.
Shireen Shakouri from Friends of Noyes Park suggests asking yourself, “Which plants will get tall and crowd out the sunlight for others? What can be trained to climb a trellis or cage?”
Some unexpected plants, like strawberries, can grow very well vertically, while others like melon, cucumber, and squash are more frequently grown alongside fixed structures because their vines suit upward mobility.”
It's important to follow the growing and plant care guidelines for each type of plant in your home. Take into account soil conditions, sunlight and shade. There are plants that need more water than others and some may need a little less sunlight than others.
Gio from Canadian Veggies suggests, “To create a thriving urban garden despite space constraints, choose plants suited to your environment. Regular watering, proper drainage in the containers, and natural organic pest control methods like cinnamon, will ensure your plants stay healthy. Lastly, If space is still a constraint outdoors, bring the gardening indoors in any area that gets great natural sunlight, and your vegetables with still thrive!”
Take, for example, the care of cucumbers. These plants are known for being a climbing plant, meaning it will need something to climb. If it's not properly set up, the cucumber plant will fall over as it bears fruit. If you're on a balcony, then you can let the plant climb up the railing. If you have this on a patio, you can use a trellis in a bigger container.
With cucumbers, you'll be harvesting not just once but up to three times. The harvesting time is dependent on what you're considering doing with the cucumbers. The cucumber plant needs water but don't overwater it because it will die.
“The trick to urban gardening is holistically equipping plants to flourish in a compact space,” says the experts at Coco and Coir, a provider of coco-coir-based composts and garden accessories. “Combine traditional techniques like companion planting with the latest technologies, such as automatic water systems and plant health monitors, to maximize results. In addition, you should use organic composts and added nutrients to maintain soil texture and quality. Don't overcomplicate gardening; follow simple routines and start with low-maintenance plants to relish creating your own oasis.”
Research the specific plants you plan to grow beforehand so that you know how to properly care for each. Herbs, just like other plants, have guidelines for watering, care, and harvesting.
Having healthy, home-grown vegetables and herbs is the first benefit of having your own garden. There are many vitamins, minerals and proteins that are essential to our well-being found in the plants you're caring for.
The herbs you're growing have medicinal properties, as well as livening up a meal. Another benefit is that it's a great hobby that you can share with children to help them learn the importance of the right kinds of food to eat and it's an enjoyable time to be together.
The feeling of being able to share your harvest, if the yield allows, is also nice, and contributing to a local co-op is a great way to build community.
As Joel Grant from the Garden Tower Project says, “Living in a compact urban space shouldn’t mean sacrificing your gardening dreams.” By, “opting for vertical gardening solutions like stacked container gardens or wall-mounted systems that make the most of your space and can be easily moved is a great choice to fit into tight spaces. By looking for systems with a large soil volume to retain more water and provide ample root space; avoiding compartmentalized stacking planters with small individual pots or trays, you can have a flowering garden from your own small garden.”
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