In urban areas, there is minimal space for gardening. However, despite the limitations imposed by densely populated urban centers, you can still enjoy gardening.
What Is City Gardening?
Urban gardening or City gardening is about growing in a city setting. Some lucky residents may have access to larger spaces for gardening, but most live in smaller apartments where there is no luxury of having a garden. In urban gardening, we can make the most out of the available space through different methods like container gardening, vertical gardening, rooftop gardening, etc.
Types of Urban Gardens
1. Container Gardens
Containers conserve space and provide pest protection and make it easier to keep your garden clean. You can reuse any container you have lying around—even those that once held something else. Hanging flower pots and elevated planters maximize space and add visual interest to a room. Large containers can serve as focal points.
You can grow almost any plant in a pot if you pick the right plants and pots. Lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, squashes, onions, carrots, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, peas, beans, and lemons are just a few examples of what you can grow in containers.
Here are some of the most nutritious vegetables that can be grown in containers.
2. Vertical gardens
Vertical gardens and green walls are used for everything from adding color and texture to buildings to providing privacy and cooling shade. Vertical gardening is an increasingly popular way to add greenery to urban spaces. And the living wall is becoming more common in homes and offices.
3. Rooftop gardens
Roof gardens have become popular in urban residential buildings. Huge rooftops include lawned areas, expansive edible gardens, sit-outs, and flower gardens.
4. Indoor Gardens
Whether living in an apartment or a house, you'll find plenty of opportunities to create a backyard oasis right inside your home. From hanging planters to window sill planting and potted herbs, these innovative solutions allow you to green space year-round.
5. Community Gardens
Many city dwellers, even those with garden space, choose community gardening because of its many benefits and opportunities, like social connections, healthful eating, and physical activity, for everyone. Community gardens range from small plots to sizeable urban farms.
6. Balcony Gardens
Balcony gardening is becoming very popular these days. The idea behind balcony gardening is simple: plant some seeds in pots, put them on the balcony, water them regularly, and wait for them to sprout. Once they start growing, you harvest them and enjoy the bounty.
Here is a list of fruits you can grow in Balcony
Planning a City Garden
Light, soil, adequate air circulation, water, and nutrients are essential to a city garden. Plan the garden by analyzing the site, light conditions, and the plants you want to grow.
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Set Your Garden Goals
Plan what kind of outdoor space and garden you like, whether for relaxation, recreation, growing food, or flowers.
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Design you garden
Make the best use of every inch of the space available. For example, use multipurpose furniture and vertical space.
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Know the Growing Conditions
Know about the direction your garden is facing and the light availability. Choose the plants that grow in the space you have. For example, if you have South facing garden, it gets lots of light. So choose the plants that require bright light to grow. If you have a shady garden select the plants that grow in partial shade.
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City Garden Essentials
You'll need to provide your plants with adequate light, good soil, and water, but you'll also want to add slow-release fertilizers to help them grow. If you grow vertically, you'll need support structures and frames. Start with simple garden implements, such as pruning shears, a hand rake, gardening gloves, and a watering can.
You can create your own little green abode in a concrete jungle with little planning.
Next step
Gardener services
Landscaping services
Online nursery
Organic pesticides and fertilizers
Extra reading
Container Gardening: Grow Vegetables in Pots in Your Kitchen Garden