Small Space, Big Garden

If you live in an urban complex, far away from the groomed suburban landscapes and sprawling gardens, the only connection you have to the great outdoors is probably a small porch, a balcony or just a window. And if the thought of a green alley of trees stays only in your dreams while you observe the surrounding brown siding and a fading carpet of artificial turf, you are not alone. But don’t despair, help is on the way.

Just because you don’t have an outdoor yard or live in an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t have a garden. City dwellers are now adopting a new lifestyle trend - Indoor Gardening. That’s right, horticulture is no longer considered simply a country-side endeavour. As more and more people are moving to the city following their jobs, the challenge of having a personal greenery becomes more common.

Creating Your Own Small Garden
Even if you’ve never had a garden before, don’t be afraid to start. Some people think that gardening requires too much time, effort, and space. This is further away from truth than your next harvest.

Gardening in a small space has its limits, but don’t let this discourage you. In a small garden, you, the gardener, can pay attention to detail, get to know every space and plant in your small garden and nurture it with better care. This will keep you on top of maintenance as you can easily notice every plant that is out of place or not thriving and give it appropriate treatment before it’s too late.

Hard work aside, you will also find time to sit and enjoy the awakening look of greens. Many small space gardens are designed around entertaining and sitting areas to make the guests feel more comfortable. One of the reasons is that the beauty and scents of plats distract the eyes of visitors and take their mind on a little journey away from daily worries – what a wonderful place to travel!

Wherever you decide to plant, success of creating your own small garden starts with the right choice of containers, a good soil mix and an fine selection of the plants you want to see every time you come home.

Pots and Containers
Designing a container garden is an art in itself but a simple and rewarding one. Offering design flexibility, containers splash your house with color and can turn your life-less apartment or house into a bright living unique place with its style and cozy look. Anything that can hold soil and provide drainage can be used to grow plants - regular pots of clay, ceramic, terracotta, cement, plastic, wood, hanging basket, planter box, copper pots, even a kettle or soup cup.

The container can be formal, contemporary or unique, but remember, best displays are the ones which complement your home or landscape style. The most important requirement is that the containers you choose have good drainage holes along the side of the container, about 1 cm from the bottom. Adding some coarse gravel in the bottom of the container will improve drainage.

The size and number of plants to be grown will determine the size of the container used. Small pots restrict the root area and dry out very quickly. Pots from 15 to 25 cm in size are satisfactory for small flowers and herbs. For most bulb-rooted plants, vegetable crops such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, you will find 5-gallon containers are the most suitable size. They are fairly easy to handle and provide adequate space for root growth.

Terracotta looks classy, and the evaporation from the clay pot keeps the roots cool and the atmosphere around the plants moist. However the pots can dry out very quickly in summer and should be watered often. If you tend to forget to water your plants, an alternative may be self-watering plastic terracotta look-alike pots.

Glazed pots keep moisture in more effectively. On the other hand, these don’t drain as well as unglazed pots. Watch hydration status of your plants, but try not to over-water them and keep an eye on moisture-loving fungus and bacteria inside and around the pot.

Hanging baskets with coconut fibre, bark, or moss liners add levels to your garden with a wonderful nature-like look. These are exposed to the air throughout and don’t have the solid structure of pots to keep the moisture in, so may dry out very quickly. Frequent watering is a must.

Wooden containers are susceptible to rot, so your best choices are redwood and cedar. Try to stay away from wood treated with creosote, penta or other toxic compounds since the vapors can damage the plants.

Soil
The soil mix should retain moisture and nutrients after watering, be light and airy and quick to drain. Try to use the same mix throughout the pot – this will help reduce root rot problems. Good quality prepared potting mixes are developed through the research of science and provide your plants with the utmost environment to thrive.

Fertilizers, particularly slow-releasing types, are very beneficial. Commercial mixes for containers are convenient (Look for the Australian Standards logo on the pack), but you may also make your own mix, Another option is to make your own mix.

Use:
• one part potting soil
• one part compost and
• one part sharp sand or vermiculite.

For hanging baskets, use a lightweight mix with equal parts of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite.

Fill the container to within about 4 inches of the rim with moist potting mix, then arrange the plants to your liking and fill in with more soil. Look at the N-P-K numbers of the fertilizer and use the one with higher N (nitrogen) for greener plants, higher P (phosphorus) for more flowering, fruit and seed production, and higher K (Potassium) for healthier root, stem and disease resistance.

Light
Observe how much light the garden gets on average. the presence of tall buildings may leave the plants in shadows for much of the day. If it looks bright in the morning, the sun may disappear behind tall buildings in the early afternoon. The amount of light you have available dictates what you can grow.

Nearly all vegetable plants will grow better in full sunlight than in shade. However, leafy crops such as lettuce, cabbage, greens, spinach and parsley need less than root crops such as radishes, beets, turnips and onions. Fruit-bearing plants which ask for sunshine include cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. One advantage to container gardening is mobility since you can position the vegetables in areas where they can receive the best possible growing conditions. Take advantage of this feature with care and thought and your garden will thank you for that.

Choosing Plants
Just like friendly partners or a roommates that get along well, the grouped plants need to be happy living together. All the plants in the same container will be sharing the same soil, water, fertilizers, and available light, so check that every green living thing has the same demands for healthy survival, growth and sprouting. Even if you adore the most natural color green, try to create an eye-pleasing contrast using a variety of colors and textures. Don’t be afraid to mix vegetable, herbs, plants and decorative flowers.

Design can be easier when you look at the entire picture at once. Plant one tall special plant as focal point, put some cascading plant around, then cover the soil with colored stones, pebbles or mulch to keep the plants moist and neat – and masterpiece voila!

The list of plants that can be grown in pots is endless. It includes elegant topiary specimens, dwarf fruit trees, a huge range of perennials, annuals such as petunias, primulas and pansies, bonsai, cacti, orchids, palms, ferns, creepers, bulbs, water plants, strawberries, herbs and, of course, a whole range of wonderful vegetables that have been specifically developed for growing in pots. Experiment with colors and textures by lining an edge of your flower beds with bush beans, lettuce, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower. Sprinkle some red by tomato plants, or even blue potato flowers. Create your own rainbow at home and bring out the nature’s best.

Maintenance
Keeping your plants properly hydrated is essential, but give every green living thing just as much water as it needs – not less or more. Depending on the time size of the plant, time of the day, month and year, type of the container that houses the roots, and texture of the soil all effect the moisture levels. Remember that wind, not sun, is the major drying agent.

Plants in containers need frequent watering, up to several times a day. Pot plants don’t ask for nearly as much water as the outdoor ones, so try not to go overboard. Doing so can lead to rapid and gradual defoliation (where the lower leaves on the plant yellow and fall), wilting or drooping, stunted plants, spotted foliage, and gray fuzzy mould around the stem, leaves and flowers of the plant. Carefully observe and record how frequently you water your greens and checking the plant’s roots, as rotten roots are a strong indication of over watering.