Saving Money with an Urban Garden

Having a garden is a great way to save on grocery costs, especially if it is used to grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Rather than spending $4-5 on herbs for grandma's sauce, or substituting simple salt and pepper, can have your sauce and eat it too. People who live in urban areas often believe they lack the luxury of space needed to grow a garden. While this may be true in the more traditional sense of gardening, you can still grow most of the plants you want to regardless of whether you live in the country, in the city, or in the suburbs. The following steps can help ensure your success at growing an herb garden.

 

 

If you’re renting an apartment, as most people who live in urban areas are, then you should ask your landlord if it’s alright for you to put potted plants in and around your apartment. While some landlords will be fine with the ideas, others may not want you to have a bunch of potted plants outside of your door and windows. 

 

 

You want to make sure that the area you are planting in has enough sunlight and wind to allow your plants to thrive. You also want to make sure that you’re aware of your geographical limits as some of your plants will need to go outside. For example, in the Midwest the planting season is generally at the end of May and the harvesting season begins in the beginning of October. However, in a warm climate like Florida where plants can grow year-round, you generally don’t have to worry about harvesting your plants before the frost.

 

You also want to make sure that there are no animals around that will destroy your plants. Some cats and dogs have a tendency to eat certain plants or even lay on them. Most one-to-two bedroom apartment dwellers can successfully grow up to ten medium-sized plants. If you plan on using windowsills to hold some of your plants, make sure that the windowsills are large enough to accommodate whatever plants you decide to put there. 

 

 

Knowing where you want to plant is half the battle. Now you must determine what you want to grow. Since apartment spaces can be rather limited, most urban growers choose small fruit plants like strawberries or tomatoes or a variety of herbs. Certain plants need certain climates so it’s important to know what plants will grow best in your environment. For example, strawberries grow well in warm climates such as a Florida and tend to enjoy a significant amount of sunlight. Certain herbs, on the other hand, require cool, dark, moist places in order to thrive. 

 

 

Certain supplies are necessary for gardening while others can be considered optional. You’ll need the following items to get started.

• Pots – The size of the pots you decide to use are dependent upon the amount of space that you have. 

• Small Shovel 

• Soil – Make sure that you purchase soil that has fertilizer mixed in.

• Seeds for Planting

• Gardening gloves (optional)

• Watering container

Of course you may find that you might need more than the aforementioned items. However, these are just basic items to get your garden started. 

 

 

When it comes to urban growing, the arrangement of the plants is essential. Arranging plants serves two purposes. The first purpose is to make sure that the plants receive adequate oxygen and sunlight and the third is to help emphasize the beauty of your residence. As every home is different, find an arrangement that works well for you.