Urban gardens: May 2008 Archives
Mothers and fathers are becoming aware that food is part of their impact on the world...and their own health. More young adults are getting worried about the politics of food -- how far it travels, how safe it is, how pesticides affect the environment.
On top of these social concerns, the young professionals are beginning to realize how much they are spending on organic produce. Driven by these growing food costs, concerns about global food shortages, and a new environmental consciousness, concerned consumers like are beginning to look at old fashioned 'victory gardens" to produce food on their own plots of land and urban balconies.
Some Tips for first Time Gardeners Find a USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Study it so you will know which plants grow well in your area.
You might like to start with some transplants from a quality local nursery. These are expensive, but they get you started learning how to care for plants, and they start your garden-to-table habit while you are highly enthused! It takes patience, discipline and staying power to plant seeds and wait 60 to 90 days for the harvest!
Start Easy, Start Small There are plants for food and plants that are just for looks. And some easy plants to grow are foods that you just might not like to eat! Some of the easiest "organic", "local", and highly nutritious foods to produce by first time gardeners include:
- Salad fixins: leaf lettuce, radishes, carrots, green onions, cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Herbs: thyme, sage, mint,
- Squash
- Peppers
Vegetable Container Gardens Just Make Good Cents!
While it makes just makes sense that you can container garden with herbs and flowers, it makes real cents to add a small vegetable container garden as well. Here's a short overview of a very ambitious gardener! You might not want to plant all these plants...but this video shows you what seedlings look like!
Radish, carrots, tomatoes and small vegetables are a perfect choice.
How to Start a Fruit and Vegetable Garden
Container Vegetable Gardens and Vegetable Plants Suitable for Containers
And ... add a few plants for your local, native wildlife. They need food from gardens, too! Wildlife need local, native plants. Check with your local native plant nursery or native plant society for suggestions. You'll enjoy having butterflies, birds and native bees come visit your garden. AND they are pollinators for your plants, helping increase your harvest of many flowering plants.
