The Guide To Urban Gardening

Your gardening desires shouldn’t have to be confined if you live in the city. Gardening on a small scale can still be as fulfilling and enjoyable as having a large garden outside if done the right way. Urban gardening is the practice of growing plants in an urban environment and is most commonly known for garden designs around containers. Urban gardening allows you to plant and grow almost anything and easily switch out your plants according to your city’s season or weather. 

Do you live in a smaller space and enjoy gardening? This blog post will help guide your urban gardening experience and provide valuable information that will help lead to a successful garden.

This versatile gardening has many benefits like positively impacting the environment, the economy, and food security. It also adds to the nuance of your space and allows you to take advantage of the produce from your nearby garden. As cities and towns grow, urban gardening offers city residents a way to enjoy a beneficial hobby while providing resources to the community and gardeners. 

Urban gardening is unique in that it allows you to have some control over your garden’s growing conditions. Keeping common garden pests away may become easier depending on your garden location. If you lack outdoor space, urban gardening has the added benefit of using grow lights to grow your desired plants and produce indoors! You also can control the quality of soil you grow in by using potting soil, which can reduce the possibility of contaminated soil. 

Just because you reside in a smaller space or maybe one that lacks a yard doesn’t mean you have to give up on your gardening dream. The first step to becoming a successful urban gardener is to select the proper space for your plants. Maybe you have a great balcony or window. Or perhaps you have access to an outdoor patio or rooftop space? Wherever you decide, ensure you will comply with any local rules, community guidelines, or HOA rules. Once you determine the best place to begin your gardening adventure, you can stock up on the proper supplies. 

There are many options for selecting the best vessel for your garden. Flower pots, hanging baskets, and planters are all great options! 

Flower pot growing – Flower pots come in various shapes and sizes and allow you to grow a variety of items. Understand that growing pants and veggies in a smaller could mean you will need to transplant them as they get larger. If you don’t take care to move plants into larger pots as they grow, you could risk them dying from their roots not having enough space. 

Hanging basket growing – Hanging baskets are well-known for planting and growing flowers. However, hanging baskets make great homes for all kinds of vegetation. If you purchase hanging baskets with adequate drainage, you can prevent roots from rotting and take advantage of more space in your home by going vertical! 

Planter growing – Planters come in a variety of sizes and can even allow you to expand your vegetable and herb urban garden by creating optimal raised beds, which make an excellent home for the plants of your choice. 

Once you have selected your space and reviewed your options for planters, it’s time to research what you want to grow and which plants may be the most successful in your garden. You can visit websites and local nurseries to help select the best plants for your space. 

Since urban gardening can occur indoors and outdoors, some plants require more light exposure than others. Experts suggest snake plants, bamboo plants, aloe vera, and succulents for indoor gardens. For outdoor urban gardens, you can explore growing fresh herbs and vegetables. 

Vegetables that grow quickly in containers and pots include Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, green onions, beans, lettuce, squash, radishes, and parsley. Pole beans and cucumbers also do well in a potted garden, but they can require considerably more space because of their vining. Visit this and other container gardening websites for more suggestions on what does well in a container garden. 

There are plenty of plant options that you can successfully grow indoors on a sunny windowsill. Those plants include Begonias, Fuchsia, Geraniums, Abutilon, Coleus, Hibiscus, Hot peppers, and various herbs. It’s vital to research proper care, lighting, and water to grow these plants indoors successfully.   

Urban gardening is growing in popularity for its versatility and often budget-friendliness. However, there are some common issues to be aware of. 

Permits – It’s essential to know the laws and regulations where your garden is located. You may be limited from tearing up the grass, building structures like raised beds, and other issues you may not even be aware of. So it’s essential to do your research before proceeding with any planting. 

Humans– If you are adding your garden to a shared space, you must speak with your neighbors before making any final planting arrangements. You may find out they aren’t willing to share the space that way. Or you may come to an agreement that allows an even more extensive shared garden. 

Sun and water – Having a space that doesn’t get enough light or too much sunlight can be an issue for plant health. In addition, ensuring your urban garden is close to a water supply for proper watering is essential. Your garden won’t succeed if water is too far away or you rely solely on rainwater. 

There are so many fantastic Urban gardens in the Raleigh-Durham area. You can visit many of these shared garden spaces and get inspiration for your garden. 

The Well Fed Community Garden – This garden strives for urban agriculture through community-based practices that cultivate the authentic urban gardening experience. You are encouraged to volunteer, attend gardening classes, enjoy a farm dinner, paint, practice yoga, and so much more. They also welcome volunteers weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays to help with the garden’s maintenance. The address to this urban garden is 1321 Athens Drive in Raleigh.

Camden Street Learning Garden – Located in the middle of downtown Raleigh, Camden Street Learning Garden is a one-stop shop for individuals to connect and grow fruits and vegetables together. This garden is centered on one acre of land with a food forest, a green home, a compositing facility, a kitchen classroom, and so much more. Camden Street Learning Garden is open Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm. 

Bull City Gardens – Achieve all of your gardening goals at the Bull City Gardens in Durham, NC. The staff has unique design abilities and has built garden beds, urban gardens, raised beds, and vegetable gardens. They also offer the opportunity to volunteer for special projects and initiatives for other gardens in the area. Contact them today if you are interested in starting your own urban garden and are seeking professional assistance. 

Raleigh City Farm – This non-profit urban gardening farm turned a vacant lot into flourishing farmland that brings beauty to the city. They invite the community to join their farm through volunteering, attending workshops, hosting a special event, and touring the gardens. They offer virtual and in-person tours scheduled through appointment only. Their website has more information if you are interested in visiting. 

Urban gardening can be a great hobby and addition to your home regardless of the size space you occupy! It can not only provide your space with beautiful greenery but can also be a local source of food for you to enjoy. If you are an expert in Urban gardening or just learning, let us know some of your best-found tips and tricks! 

The Jim Allen Group provides access to information on this blog/website as a public service for educational purposes only. Although reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all of the information made available is current, accurate, and complete…[read more]