Just because you’re living in an apartment or other small space doesn’t mean you should stop growing. In fact, with a little creativity and planning, even a small room or sunny windowsill can be transformed into a thriving garden full of vegetables, herbs and flowers.
In this guide, gardening professionals share some of their favorite apartment gardening tips that you can use to save space and grow all the plants you want.
meet the expert
- amy pennington is the author of Apartment Gardening, Tiny Space Gardening, And Other gardening books.
- ivone vazquez Bas is the owner of Rouge Farm & Forge, located in Orono, Maine.
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start small
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It’s easy to get started with your first garden and buy a bunch of seeds and start a nursery. But if you’re working with a small space, limit yourself to the plants you love and the herbs and vegetables you use most in your kitchen.
“Start small and build on your success,” says Yvonne Vazquez, owner of Bas Rouge Farm & Forge.
You can always add more plants later, and being selective about your choices will give you more room for the plants you really want to grow.
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choose the right plants
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Gardening writer and author Amy Pennington says, “Growing food in an apartment requires a change in perspective compared to traditional gardening. Although many plants can grow in pots, their growth is limited by the size of their growing container. ”
When gardening in an apartment, Pennington recommends choosing plants that are suitable for growing in containers, such as lemon balm, green onions and arugula. However, many other herbs, flowers and dwarf or bush-type vegetables can also be grown in pots.
Try firm tomatoes, bush-type cucumbers and beans, or compact flowers like pansies to start.
choose the right vessel
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While outdoor growers may plant plants directly in the soil, apartment gardeners typically grow their plants in pots, buckets, or window boxes. However, it is important to choose the right growing containers if you want your plants to grow well.
“Choose pots at least six inches deep and equally wide to provide plenty of room for the plant’s roots,” Pennington advises. “Small pots may be attractive, but they inhibit root growth and limit the plant’s ability to thrive.”
If you’re growing root crops or larger vegetables like tomatoes or potatoes, try using fabric grow bags instead of pots. These spacious containers come in a variety of sizes and drain well. However, they should always be kept in plastic trays or tubs to avoid leakage and water spills.
think vertically
The Spruce / Al Smith
Many gardeners never consider vertical gardening, but growing vertically can help you fit a lot more plants into a limited space and it allows more light to reach each leaf.
“Using unusual items like crates, etagaras, or antique plant stands will allow you to easily create vertical growing spaces,” says Vazquez.
You can also grow plants in grow towers, hanging baskets, or carefully placed shelving units near a sunny window.
provide proper care
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Of course, if you want your indoor garden to be successful, always research the plants you want to have before bringing them into your home. Most vegetables and herbs grow best in full sun; However, many of these plants can thrive on a sunny windowsill that receives at least six to eight hours of bright light per day.
If there is not enough natural light in your apartment, Invest in an LED Grow Light Or, as Vazquez recommends, grow plants that tolerate lower light levels — like leafy greens, beets, radishes, kohlrabi, dill, cilantro, or turmeric.
In addition to light, most plants also require regular watering and fertilization at least monthly during the growing season. To Avoid excessive wateringAlways touch the soil before watering, and do not water if the soil still feels wet.
harvest often
“Don’t underestimate the importance of regular harvesting for a bountiful harvest,” says Pennington.
Regularly harvesting plants such as lettuce, beans, peas, peppers, tomatoes and even some cut flowers encourages the plants to branch out and produce more flowers and fruit. The harvesting schedule will vary depending on the type of plants you are keeping, but many high-yielding edibles need to be harvested every day or two during the growing season.
If you harvest more than you need, freeze or freeze your extra crop or share your harvest with friends and neighbors.
