November's Great Outdoors

Urban Growing   

Living in a town or city doesn't have to put a limitation on your love of gardening and you don't need acres of land to grow your own fruit and veg. All that's needed is a little creativity. Here are some helpful hints to get you started...

1. Hanging Charm...

If a traditional hanging basket doesn't appeal to you then have a go at something a little different! WT's Lucy has made two beautiful terrariums using a glass fish bowl,  rope, gravel and a selection of cacti and succulents. Make sure the plants you choose can grow in harmony, and you will have a perfect splash of leafy green goodness in your bathroom or kitchen. You can even try making mini terrariums within a used light bulb, a tea cup or even an old glass jar.

2. Pot Crops...

Some crops are easier to grow than others, but most fruit and vegetables can be grown in pots. Some, like blueberries, even prefer it. Apart from the removal of dead twigs, they require no pruning and can be left outside all winter if necessary. All you need is a pot at least 30cm in diameter, some ericaceous compost and a sunny spot. They may need a fortnightly tomato feed as summer arrives and the flowers set into fruit. But they're a beautiful and sweet addition to any urban plot.

3. Reuse & recycle...

WT's editor Lucy, found some lovely old wine crates in a charity shop and turned them into the most perfect planters for her garden. Have a go at being really resourceful and use old plastic bottles, tin cans, wooden apple crates, guttering and pipes, or anything you can get your hands on! You'd be surprised how versatile these things can be. It's also a super cheap way of ensuring your little garden or balcony looks the part, and it's good for the environment. Everyone wins!

4. Extra TLC...

Unlike their ground based counterparts, your inside and container plants are going to need extra love and care to ensure they get enough water, aeration and nutrition, they're counting on you! Be sure to change the soil every year and use an organic fertilizer that contains all the macro and micro nutrients your plants will need. There are specific types depending on what's growing. Make sure you provide good drainage for them and water them regularly.

5. Green Light...

Living in an urban environment can sometimes mean that light exposure for your plants can be an issue. But there are different varieties of certain veggies that don't necessarily need 6-8 hours of sunlight. Bush beans or peas are great. They only produce a single crop over a shorter period of time as they use less overall light energy than bean pole crops. Leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, kale and chard also require less light energy as we eat the plant itself, rather than having to wait for it to set seeds or fruit, so partial shade and reflected light would work nicely.