Creative Ways to Garden in Small Spaces
Now
that school is out and spring here, it is the perfect time to think about
gardening. Gardening can be fun as well as relaxing for both you and your
children. With rising prices at the grocery store, it can also be a great way
to save money. Growing your own vegetables and herbs can help you put money
back into your budget. Gardening is also a great way to teach your kids about responsibility
and self-reliance.
If
you are thinking about planting a vegetable or herb garden, you’ll need the
space to do it. If you want to grow herbs and vegetables but you only have a
limited amount of space in which you can use, here are some creative ways to
start a garden with your kids in a small space this summer.
Flower
Pots or Planters
Flower pots don’t have to just be for flowers. They can also be used to grow vegetables and herbs as well. If you crunched for space, these pots could make the ideal home for single plants like lettuce, onions, beets, and carrots. Just be sure to check to make sure that you are planting these items in season. Late April and May the perfect times for planting the vegetables mentioned above. Tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, chives, mint, and basil are all great plants and herbs to plant during June.
You
may want to plant a variety of vegetables and herbs, so be sure to check with
your local extension agency or farm bureau to find out when is the right time to
each plant.
Planters
are no laughing matter. Many of them come in a variety of designs that can make
your home or small garden space look great.
One
of the best things about using flower pots to grow your plants in is that you
can keep your plants indoors or outdoors. Of course, you will want to check to
see how much sunlight each plant will require to ensure that they thrive. Again,
I suggest checking with your local farming agency or other resource.
I’ve
used flower pots myself to grow herbs and tomatoes in, and I was pleased with
the flexibility this method of planting offered me. I didn’t have to worry about
going outside to check on plants. They were safely inside of my own home.
Flower
pots are not the same as having a full-blown garden. However, they worked just
as good for single plants.
Who
said you have to throw those used boxes away? Make those old boxes do double
duty by turning them into a mini garden. Depending on the size of the box, you could
probably plant more than one vegetable inside. Line the bottom of your box to
prevent water and soil from leaking onto your floors. Be sure to choose the
correct soil in which to plant your plants in.
Check to make sure that you have added enough
soil to your plants especially if they will be outside. You also want to make
sure that water has a way to drain so that it doesn’t get stuck inside the box
and harm your plants.
Sunlight
is also important. Plants have to receive the correct amount of sunlight in
order to flourish. This calls for research on your part. A quick online search
can usually tell you how much sunlight you will need to expose your plants to.
Again,
these “box gardens” can be kept inside or outside. Best of all, these boxes
won’t take up a lot of space.
Raised
Gardens
Raised
gardens are also a wonderful way to grow plants in small spaces. You and your
kids can construct one of your own with material from your local Lowes or other
hardware store, or you can easily purchase one in a store or online.
A
raised garden doesn’t take up a lot of space, and it can provide you and your
kids with a way to have fresh herbs and vegetables when you don’t have much
space to work with. You do have to make sure that you use the correct mix of
soil. A good rule of thumb is not to use the dirt from outside. You will need
to purchase the correct mix to begin your gardening adventure.
Another
plus to using a raised garden is that you can also utilize the bottom of the garden.
The bottom portion can be used to hold small flower pots and other planters.
This will help you to make the most of the small space in which you have.
Raised
Planter
Similar
to a raised garden is a raised planter. The raised planter provides the same
easy maintenance as raised garden but with an added bonus. It eliminates the
problem of having to bend over to tend to the plants. This is wonderful news
for people who have bad backs and want to still grow a small garden. Also, weeds
and other fuzzy creatures are keep away from your vegetables and herbs when you
chose to use a raised planter or a raised garden.
Planters
can even be tiered. This tiered system enables you to plant several small rows at
one time. They are ideal for growing plants or herbs vertically on balconies,
decks, patios, or inside your home.
Raised
planters can also be constructed or purchased from one of the local stores that
carry gardening and hardware supplies. You can also opt to purchase one from an
online store.
Portable
Greenhouse
A
portable greenhouse can be just the thing to help get your garden started. Of
course, a mini greenhouse is not for long term use, but it is ideal for getting
your plants started when you are confined to a small space.
Portable
greenhouses then to come with shelves that are adjustable so that you can
accommodate your plants as they grow. They also come
with special made plastic covering that works to keep the warmth from the
sunlight inside of the mini greenhouse.
Walls, Ceilings, and Windows
Another place to plant vegetable and herbs are in plants that attach to
the sides of the wall. They are several ways to do this.
You can purchase bracket and hanger, and then you can use them to
create a way to secure your potted or hanging plants to your home's walls.
These can be used inside or outside.
Trellis can also be used as a station for potted
plants. They can be staked to the ground, hung on your wall, or stand they can alone
in your garden area. This will provide you a simple area on which to hang several
plants in pots.
Don’t forget to look up. You and your kids can hang plants from your ceiling
or other area where you can attach a hanging basket. You can plant
single plants or herbs inside these baskets.
Do you lack the space for a full-blown garden? Do you still want to grow
some vegetables and herbs? Then, get creative and utilize your flower pots,
planters, large boxes, and mini green houses to grow your own tiny garden.
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