As more and more people are trying to grow their own food, mainly because they’re concerned about the quality of food they and their families are consuming, new methods and tips keep emerging. Even those with no experience in gardening are becoming increasingly confident to take up this hobby and, what is most interesting, a great number of them are living in densely populated urban areas. This means they need to be creative and use that little space they have to grow organic produce.

Still, the effort can be rewarded with healthy and tasty produce you yourself have grown and you’re bound to enjoy the process of growing food, since it is known to have positive relaxing effects on those whose daily activities are stressful. So, let’s look at what you need to have and know if you’ve decided to enter the world of urban organic gardening.

Space

Obviously, you need some space that you can turn into your little garden. Whether it’s your balcony or rooftop doesn’t make much difference, since the most important thing is that it’s close to your home, which means you don’t lose time getting there. Another benefit is that you can keep all the tools at home.

Choosing what to grow

There is one limiting factor in terms of selecting suitable plants and that is lack of space. Hence, you should probably focus on plants that grow upwards (did anyone say roses?) instead of spreading on the ground. Depending on the cultures you opt for, you may need to grow them in a seed tray before planting them in the ground.

You should definitely check what others have said about growing various plants in urban environment or consult a friend with more experience in gardening. The best part of the whole process is that, in time, you’ll start experimenting with various methods and procedures, so you’ll be the one to offer advice to inexperienced enthusiasts.

Companion planting

The idea is that some plants grow best when in presence of another plant, based on the nutrients taken from and released into the soil. Also, tall plants provide shade to those that need it (e.g. tomatoes). Finally, herbs and flowers are great at repelling insects, so you might consider that option as well. Again, just ask around and you’ll find out what combinations function the best.

Soil and fertilizers

No matter how difficult it may seem, choosing the right combination of soil and fertilizer is not an obstacle that should deter you from getting your hands dirty. All the information is available either online or from any person working in your local store offering organic seeds.

A lot of it comes down to common sense. For example, you need to make sure you water your plants enough, but not to drown them in water. When it comes to fertilizing, feel free to use any leftovers from fruit and vegetables for your compost, along with bark and pine needles. What is interesting here is that you can also employ certain chemistry tips not only to feed you plants, but also to determine pH of soil and treat black spots on leaves.

Tools you need

Depending on the size of your garden, i.e. pots, you might need various garden tools for digging, weeding out unwanted elements, pruning and snipping or any other activity. Hand trowels, spades and shovels should be accompanied by gloves and at least one of the durable water cartage tanks, which can be used for storing both water organic fertilizers.

Hoes, hand pruners and a wheelbarrow may be optional, but garden clothes are crucial, since you don’t want to get your regular clothes dirty. Unless you have an organic garden on the rooftop you probably don’t have enough space for a composter, but if there’s any way you can use it, you need to utilize it.

Pest control

Nettle is known for its ability to keep pests at bay; if it’s well-soaked around the base of the plants, this will also act as a fertilizer. Another option is to have copper wire around the bases to prevent the pests physically from coming in contact with the plant.

As for dealing with various types of weed, it’s good to know that there are different easy homemade weed remedies you could use that are fast acting and more than affordable.

As you can see, it’s not so difficult to start growing your own plants organically, even in urban areas. What you do need, though, is some space, willpower and patience and you can rightfully expect your efforts to be rewarded. Happy gardening!

Author Bio: If one thing is true about Lillian Connors, her mind is utterly curious. That’s why she can’t resist the urge to embark on a myriad of green living/home improvement projects and spread the word about them. She cherishes the notion that sustainable housing and gardening will not only make us far less dependent on others regarding the dwellings we inhabit, but also contribute to our planet being a better place to live on. You can check her out on LinkedIn.

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