Merely because you live in an urban setting doesn’t mean that you don’t have a very real interest in having a garden. There are strategies that you can employ to create and cultivate a marvelous urban garden. By following these suggestions, you will be able to set up an urban garden that will provide you with a lovely harvest at the end of the growing season — and even during it!
Photo by hardworkinghippy
Selecting a Space
The first step you need to take in creating an urban garden is selecting a space. More often than not, the selection of the space for your urban garden can prove to be the most challenging aspect of the whole process.
Two key considerations that you must focus on when selecting a space for your urban garden is light and access to water. You must make certain that whatever space is available to you for your urban garden, whatever space you end up selecting, provides appropriate light suitable for the plants that you intend to grow. You also want to make sure that there is water available fairly close by, and once you determine that there is, you can shop hoses here.
Some urban dwellers are lucky enough to have a patch of ground in which they can plant a petite garden. Others are not so fortunate — in fact, most are not. Most urban gardeners need to get creative by using boxes and containers of different types to create their urban garden.
For most urban gardeners, selecting containers is both a challenge and a joy. The reality is that you can be tremendously innovative when it comes to selecting containers for your urban garden.
Something as simple as mason jars can be ideal for an urban garden. You can use hanging baskets to cultivate your urban garden. Cinderblocks can be helpful resources if you lack a patch of ground, but nonetheless have a bit more space to cultivate your urban garden. Some creative urban gardeners have taken to using shoe cubbies for their plants.
Naturally, there are tried and true options. These include traditional pots and flower boxes, being utilized to host your urban garden plants.
Selecting Plants
Once you get the actual space for your urban garden plotted, you are in the position to pick the plants that you will grow. The selection of plants is contingent upon the space you have available for your urban garden. For example, if you are like most urban gardeners, you will not have the space necessary to grow pumpkins.
The types of vegetables typically grown in an urban garden include tomatoes, various salad greens, garlic, mint, basil, scallions, strawberries, radishes, cilantro, and rosemary. Of course there are other options available to you as well. The items noted are set forth to give you an idea of the size and nature of plants that are nicely suited to an urban garden.
Keep Organized
You need to make certain that you keep your urban garden organized. You need to make sure that you identify the specific locations, the specific pots or containers, in which you have planted your bounty. Of course, as your plants grow, you can tell visually what is growing. However, during the early stages, identifying what is being grown where is crucial to ensure that you properly tend to each plant being grown. For example, different plants can have varying water and nutrient needs.
Network with Fellow Urban Gardeners
An important step you need to take when planning your urban garden is to reach out and network with others who are involved in the same pursuit. You can learn a great deal by networking with fellow urban gardeners. In addition, your fellow travelers can assist you in finding resources to have the best, brightest urban garden possible.
Depending on where you reside, you may be able to become part of a group of fellow urban gardeners. For example, there may be an urban garden Meetup in your area. Local institutions of higher learning may have continuing education or similar programs to support individuals interested in urban gardening.
Use Local Resources
Whenever possible, utilize local resources for your urban garden. You very well may be able to find local resources for everything from seeds to compost (unless you make your own, which can be difficult in an urban setting). Accessing local resources also plays into the need to network with other people involved in urban gardening.
Read
Finally, take some time to read about urban gardening. There are some useful books as well as resources on the internet that provide a wealth of information about urban gardening practices and strategies. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to urban gardening. You can follow the strategies that have worked well for others.