Growing your favorite plants and veggies does not have to be an experience limited to those with a yard. Whether it’s on your balcony or on the windowsill, urban gardening is a simple and sustainable way to strengthen your green thumb.
A greener lifestyle starts at home which is why we’ve come up with some steps you can take to grow and nurture a little garden to call your own. Read on to find out how you can cultivate an urban garden and give your city apartment a fresh start this year.
No Backyard, No Problem.
It is time to let go of the notion that you need a sprawling backyard or even a sunlit rooftop to grow your own garden. Not having a backyard poses no problem at all when it comes to a home garden. Simply grab some existing containers, old crates or used paint cans and upcycle them into plant pots. A container garden with portable planters means that you can easily move plants in and out of the sun as needed.
If you’re struggling to find floor space for your growing urban garden, it may be time to grow up (wards). Small urban spaces are ideal for vertical gardens. Tall plants like squash, cucumbers, beans and tomatoes not only save you some floor space but will also make for beautiful wall decor. Don’t forget to take advantage of hanging pots and trellises to maximize your space and create visual interest. Macrame plant hangers are all the rage for all the right reasons!
Plan and Plant.
Your urban garden can be anything you want it to be, so why not make it a source of fresh vegetables and herbs? Growing vegetables and herbs is a great way to increase sustainability as well as up your intake of fresh produce. So plant food you actually want to eat.
When planning your garden, keep in mind the specific vegetable, flower and herb varieties that are easy to grow in urban spaces. Shallow-rooted veggies like lettuce and radishes tend to do better in confined spaces. Sowing your favorite vegetable, watching it grow, and finally eating it is a uniquely rewarding experience that most gardeners will vouch for.
Be Soil Smart.
A common mistake urban gardeners make is not making sure their soil is top quality. While soil mixed with pesticides may offer good results, you don’t want your vegetables and herbs to grow loaded with chemicals. Using organic soil can help your garden grow healthy right from the start. Packing the soil with nutrient-rich soil amendments is a sure shot way to keep your garden growing and green. Be soil smart and use Hemp-Pak™, the only all purpose, premium, all natural soil enrichment made from hemp, to provide natural aeration to plants, decrease compaction and provide optimal water retention and natural nutrients to help plants thrive. Hemp-Pak also combats evaporation in dry conditions and keeps your plants from drying out without causing nutrient burn.
