Can you help me start a garden even if I live at an apartment complex?

Question

We have a patio with no dirt, but how can I start a garden so I can plant and harvest my own vegetables to save money? What kind of container do I need?

Answer 1

Plant some climbing french beans (2 or 3 per large container) along with 1 or 2 clumps of sweet peas in the same pot (to attract the bees).

I grow Fothergills "Blue Lake" - long, straight and stringless - tender and good.

A nice vine would provide grapes after the 1st year - you just need to find out how to train it. (plant in large container also).

You would be best with a tray under large containers - to fill up with water so that veggies and vine are never dried out and to stop compost or soil from spoiling your patio.

Answer 2

For you, it sounds like container gardening is the way to go. Any container will work as long as it has drainage holes in the bottom.

You could buy larger plastic flower pots from any big box store (Walmart, etc). Fill it with a good mix of dirt/compost and off you go!

Good luck!

Answer 3

Yes, any container will work. We plant all of our herbs in containers and put it on our deck rather than planting them in the garden. To get started, might I suggest planting a tomato plant along with some basil in a pot. I would recommend buying these as plants rather than planting from seeds since it is mid July. Also, another easy plant to have is lettuce, it grows fast and continues to grow as it is cut down.  We planted two varieties from seed in a pot and have been using it for salads and sandwiches for the last few weeks. It's so easy and convenient, not to mention organic. I think those are the easiest plants to start with if you've never gardened before. Although you can probably find some good size vegetable plants at a nursery this time of year. Just make sure to water them a lot if it's hot and put them in pots with drainage.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Place some old rug on the patio (old because it will gradually rot) and put your pots of plants on it.  Water on a regular schedule.  Use regular plant pots and a good planting mix.  Put pieces of plastic dish scrubbing pads over the holes in the pot bottoms to allow water to drain but not the soil.  I would also suggest you check your local library for books on patio/porch pot gardening.

Answer 5

It is easy, just by maybe a 1-3 gallon bin and add your dirt with some seeds.  Water and add any fertilizer. I do it all the time.  If you are using seeds from the previous times, make sure that they are not to old or they won't grow.

Answer 6

Containers sounds like the best bet but you can make a lot of that little space especially if you dig up the patio! When I first moved into my new home I was worried as I had a huge space to work in but I lacked ideas and knowledge so 6 months later I still had a big patch of weeds-this can be just the same for a small space. You need to gather lots of information and go for it!

Happy gardening!

Answer 7

First, make sure that having potted plants on the patio is okay with the house rules.  Some places don't allow it if the pots can be seen from the street.  Or they might have to be a certain color.

I live on the 32nd floor of an apartment building and have quite a garden going.  I'm using Miracle Grow Moisture Control potting mix so that I don't have to water quite as often.  Watering in containers is very important, especially if you use terra cotta or cement pots.  Plastic ones hold the water better but may heat up faster.

I have:

2 cherry tomatoes

2 steak (round) tomatoes

3 pots of 'salad mix' lettuce

6 sweet basil

4 yellow bell pepper

3 peas

4 cucumber

4 zucchini

2 watermelon

2 rosemary

2 peppermint (chocolate mint)

Check your local library for books on container gardening or look at home and garden magazines.  Another good source is HGTV's website, Paul James' show, "The Gardener Guy."

Have fun!

Edit:  I think that's what it was called on the package, "salad mix."  It's just a mix of leaf lettuce (as compared to head lettuce like iceberg).  I should have noted that I started everything but the rosemary and mint from seeds.  Lettuce is really easy to grow from seed.  You just need a big enough pot.

Edit 2: Below are links to Burpee.com.  They're a pretty popular seed brand.  One link is mesclun sweet salad mix, the other is looseleaf gourmet blend.

Answer 8

Depend on the type of veg.

I have a tiny patio so have strawberries and tomatoes growing in wall mounted hanging baskets look great.