| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | You can also create your own nutrient solution by |
| Living in an urban environment or having just a patio | | | | dissolving 2 cups of a complete fertilizer such |
| or deck doesn’t mean you can’t be a | | | | as10-20-10, 12-24-23 or 8-16-8 in 1 gallon of tap |
| gardener. Container gardens can give you the same | | | | water. This is now your base solution. From this you |
| sense of accomplishment and your vine ripe | | | | can create a nutrient solution by adding 2 |
| tomatoes will taste just as good as those from a | | | | tablespoons of the base solution to 1 gallon of water. |
| backyard plot. | | | | Plants should be watered with the nutrient solution |
| Urban gardening requires planning and organization in a | | | | about once a day. While frequency of watering will |
| way backyard gardening does not. But that is part of | | | | vary slightly from one crop to the next, once a day |
| the fun. | | | | is a good starting point. In particular, watch |
| First, watch the space where your containers will go | | | | vegetables with a lot of foliage growth, they may |
| over several months. How much sun does the area | | | | require twice daily watering. Once a week use plain |
| get? Which way does the sun move? | | | | tap water instead of the nutrient solution. This will |
| If there’s plenty of consistent sun | | | | prevent mineral build ups in the soil. |
| you’re in good shape. If the sunlight is spotty | | | | Many vegetable plants adapt very nicely to container |
| or shifts dramatically during the day take this into | | | | growing. Leafy vegetables like lettuces, cauliflower |
| consideration. You may want to put your containers | | | | and broccoli will do very well. Upright plants such as |
| on wheels so they can be moved easily. Or plan to | | | | beans, peppers and tomatoes are also good |
| grow leafy vegetables like lettuces and herbs rather | | | | candidates. Radishes, onions and other root |
| than sun lovers like tomatoes and peppers. | | | | vegetables are very happy in a deep container. Avoid |
| Are there natural or architectural features you can | | | | plants with running vines. They will be difficult to |
| use? Is there a wall that will serve as a wind block? | | | | manage and are better suited to wide open growing |
| Can it be trellised for beans and vines? All these | | | | spaces. Keep the trip to the pumpkin patch on the |
| factors will help determine what and how much you | | | | calendar. Container grown herbs offer savory leaves |
| want to plant. | | | | all year long. Move them inside when the weather |
| A container garden is something of a miniature | | | | gets cold and enjoy fresh herbs all winter. Each of |
| eco-system. Problems that might be spread out over | | | | these vegetables has a unique root system, which |
| a hundred square feet in a small backyard plot can be | | | | will require a well suited container. |
| magnified when focused on just a few plants in close | | | | Containers should be chosen for utility first, |
| quarters. Soil quality is especially important. Synthetic | | | | appearance second. Know what you want to grow |
| soils are a good alternative when growing in pots. | | | | before choosing the containers. Good drainage and a |
| They are disease and weed free. Synthetic soils also | | | | wide opening are key to allowing roots access to |
| offer excellent drainage. Organic soils can become | | | | oxygen. Containers sizes should be proportionate to |
| waterlogged and drown the roots. | | | | the plants in them. Plants with shallow root systems |
| Whether you go with organic or synthetic soil | | | | need a shallow pot while deeper roots systems will |
| remember that your plants will need plenty of | | | | require more soil to explore. A variety of sizes, |
| nourishment. With such a small amount of soil, | | | | shapes and materials will give added visual interest to |
| nutrients will be depleted quickly in a container | | | | your urban garden. |
| environment. | | | | Harvesting your crops and sharing them is just one |
| The easiest way to fertilize plants in containers is by | | | | of the benefits of container gardening. By adding |
| preparing a nutrient solution that is used to water the | | | | plants to your urban landscape there is a renewed |
| plants. There are many good commercial fertilizer | | | | connection to the earth. Growing offers the same |
| mixes available to make nutrient solutions. If you use | | | | satisfaction to all gardeners, regardless of locale, crop |
| one of these simply follow the directions on the label. | | | | or container. |