Grow Your Veggies in Containers
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Many people now live in apartments and condos, but this does not mean that they cannot grow their own vegetables. It is not necessary to have large, sprawling piece of land or any land, for that matter, to enjoy gardening. Hike in fuel prices, Crop damage due to post-monsoon rains, increase in transportation costs etc are some of the reasons for rising vegetable prices. When you grow your own vegetables on a terrace it not only gives some space back to agriculture but also helps you to get chemical-free fresh vegetables. Vegetable gardens in containers can also be extremely attractive and serve the dual purpose of style and function around your patio.
Grow Vegetables in Containers
A container vegetable garden is the answer to those who want to plant a vegetable garden but are unable to do so because of the unavailability of land. You can use containers either to grow one vegetable or a variety of vegetables depending upon their properties and requirements. Radish, carrots, tomatoes and small vegetables are a perfect choice. Some fruit bearing plants and lettuce can also be grown as they do not require too much of space.
You can use nearly any type of containers, from terra cotta pots to plain old plastic plant containers. The larger the plants you decide to grow, the bigger and deeper your containers should be. Drainage is crucial so be sure your containers or pots have several small drainage holes in the bottom and place them in drip trays to help hold in moisture. You will want to use good commercial potting soil instead of plain garden soil for best results.
The set-up costs of terrace gardening depend on whether you want to start step-by-step or all at once. You can either start your vegetables from seeds or use transplants. There have been many varieties of vegetables that have been bred to grow in containers. Vegetables grown in containers will do better if they are started as seedlings and then planted in their final positions. If your roof is weak or leaking, you can’t use your terrace gardening. You can grow chrysanthemums and marigold to protect your vegetable garden from pests.
Community garden
Community garden are for those who live in apartment building without a balcony or access to green space, locations completely shaded by large trees, or the soil in the yard is not hospitable to growing edible plants. It is recommended to organize a meeting of interested people in your neighborhood, apartment complex or friends, family, gardening and horticultural societies etc. to start a community garden for an apartment complex. Community garden helps beginners to meet experts and learn more about gardening by working with gardening experts. When you grow your own vegetables on a terrace it not only gives some space back to agriculture, but it also helps the grower to get chemical-free fresh vegetables. In case, you end up with too many vegetables, you can give the surplus to friends and family or be a nice neighbor and share your bounty. In Community garden, apartment owners association can also sell surplus vegetable and earn good income for running association.
Vegetables for Containers Garden
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There are varieties of vegetables that can be grown in a container. Fresh vegetables have a whole different taste than canned especially when you have grown them yourself. It is always advisable to choose container vegetable seeds and peat based synthetic mixes which are specially created for container vegetable gardens to get the most out of the container garden. Even in a tiny space like a balcony or a patio, you can still grow your own vegetables using Containers. The following is a list of veggies that are easy to grow.
- Cucumbers – Burpless, Liberty, Early Pik, Crispy, Salty, Salad Bush Hybrid, Spacemaster, Bush Pickle
- Tomatoes – Patio, Pixie, Tiny Tim, Saladette, Toy Boy, Spring Giant, Tumbling Tom, Small Fry
- Peppers – Yolo Wonder, Keystone Resistant Giant, Canape, (Hot) Red Cherry, Jalapeno
- Eggplant – Florida Market, Black Beauty, Long Tom
- Squash – Dixie, Gold Neck, Early Prolific Straightneck, (Green) Zucco, Diplomat, Senator
- Green Beans – Topcrop, Greencrop, Contender, (Pole) Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder
- Radishes – Cherry Belle, Scarlet Globe, (White) Icicle
- Green Onions – Beltsville Bunching, Crysal Wax, Evergreen Bunching
- Leaf Lettuce – Buttercrunch, Salad Bowl, Romaine, Dark Green Boston, Ruby, Bibb
- Parsley – Evergreen, Moss Curled
It is always advisable to choose container vegetable seeds and peat based synthetic mixes which are specially created for container vegetable gardens. How well your vegetables produce depends on the room you give them to grow. Before getting started, it is necessary to first learn about the plant you are interested in growing and what conditions must be met. If you are unsure how many plants to place in each container, it is advised to refer to the back of the seed packet or a popular gardening guide for the proper plant to pot ratios. The key to easy vegetable growing for apartment living is ensuring that you do not start big. You are bound to be successful if you have a small container garden with just one or two vegetables to start with.
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