Once your Urban Container Garden has gotten into full swing you may need to rearrange things to make sure all of your plants are getting the proper amount of sunlight.
Vine plants can be trellised so the vegetables are growing upward. This will keep them off the ground and prevent rot and mold. Trellising your vines also gives your plants better air circulation for a healthier plant. Once the vines have started up the trellis you will want to move these plants further back in the arrangement of your garden.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Container Vine Plants
Friday, April 10, 2009
Your Compost Pile or Bin
When setting up your compost pile or tumbler keep in mind that while it is working it generates a fair amount of heat. Because of this heat you will want to place your pile or bin away from any structure, the heat produced can combust (ignite).
Once you have chosen the site for your compost you'll want to layer the foliage and waste in layers. You'll put down a layer of brown foliage (dry leaves and plant refuse) then a layer of green foliage (grass and table scraps - no protein products). Continue this layering process until you have a pile at least 3 foot by 3 foot or until your purchased tumbler is 85% full. Turning the compost will speed up the cooking process. For your purchased tumbler you can turn it once or twice a day fairly easy, however; your 3 foot by 3 foot pile will take a bit of physical effort. Utilizing a garden fork take from the top of the pile and start piling the compost in a new pile next to the old. This will flip the pile upside down and you'll want to flip this pile 2 or 3 times a week.
Though composting may take a bit of time and effort the benefits are well worth it!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Urban Garden Setup
When setting up your container garden you want to keep these two things in mind. 1) is there sufficient sunlight, 2)where is my water source.
Your container garden will require about 5 hours of sunlight and protected from strong winds. A spot that isn't protected from wind exposure can cause your garden to dry out more quickly. Compost should be worked into your soil for healthier plants (Compost Tea works well here, it is Compost in Liquid form) and covering the tops with a mulch will help with moisture retention. Set the larger pots in the back with successively smaller toward the front and place trays or lids under the containers to collect excess water. Be sure to check your containers daily for moisture and water appropriately.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Natural Fertilizer
Most gardners know that Compost is the best nutritional and beneficial fertilizer you can give to your gardens. Many Master Gardeners recommend the application of compost as well.
Not all of us know how to compost. The simplest way is to pile your plant refuse in a back corner of the yard and let it sit until next April. The bottom 2/3rds of the pile will be completed compost and you can place the top 3rd on the bottom for next years pile.
For those who would like compost more quickly you will need to have your plant refuse in atleast a 3 foot by 3 foot pile. Flip this pile 2 or 3 times a week adding moisture when necessary. You can purchase a tumbler but remember you need to have enough refuse to generate heat. If your compost pile doesn't generate heat it isn't cooking down and your compost could contain negative pathogens.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Urban Vegetable Gardening
Rural populations can supplement their grocery bill with small garden plots; however, Urban dwellers don’t have this luxury. Vegetable gardens for Urban dwellers is still a possibility. Almost any vegetable can be grown in a container: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes, beans, lettuce, carrots, and radishes. Vine crops like squash and cucumbers also do well in containers. Containers can be old washtubs, wooden boxes or crates, gallon sized coffee cans even five gallon buckets. Living in the city does’nt mean you can’t have your own vegetable garden.
Depending on the crops you select the size of the container will vary. Most plants require containers that allow at least 6 to 8 inches of soil for adequate rooting. Smaller sized containers, like coffee cans, are generally ideal for crops like carrots, radishes and herbs. Use medium sized containers like 5 gallon buckets for tomatoes or peppers. Vine crops like beans and potatoes will need something larger such as a washtub. Soil depth and spacing requirements are listed on the seed packets and once your seeds have sprouted you can thin the crop suitable for the container.
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