Vegetable Gardening in Compact Spaces

This Garden was on our apartment terrace.
In the poll we had Brussel sprouts an many other vegetables. 

You can grow lots of vegetables in a apartment. All it takes is some ingenuity and imagination. Garden Centers and Seed Catalogs now have many fruits and vegetables geared to patios and small spaces where you can grow anything from Citrus and fruit trees to patio tomatoes and much more. Got a sunny window? Put a pot in it and plant some herbs. I have added some ideas that I used when I loved in an apartment for you. Even if you don't have access to land or that you live on land but can't plant anything on it you can use these ideas.

I had a patio that faced the southern sky. I bought me a child's wading pool and filled it with garden soil and planted all kinds of things in it. I had things like Tomatoes, Lettuce, Peppers, and even some Brussels Sprouts. Believe me if you get one the is deeper than 12 inches you can grow root crops like carrots, spring onions and things like that. If you don't have lots of sun get some Grow Lights and put them in all your lamps and light fixtures. It will make a difference. You can get them at any garden center. They are a bit expensive but they last long. Use your imagination.

LOL, My husband called our apartment "The Jungle" because I had plants all over the place.

What To Plant In Containers

Some plants don't need a lot of room to grow. Here is a list of vegetables and what they can be grown in:

These vegetables can be planted in 1 gallon or less pots:

1 Pint: Beets, Carrots, Mustard Greens, Radishes, and Spinach

1 Gallon: Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce, Onions and Standard Tomatoes.

These can be planted in 2 - 4 gallon containers:

Chives, The come back every year.

2 Gallon: Bush Beans, New Zealand Spinach. and Peppers

3 1/2 gallon: Swiss Chard

4 Gallon: Pole Beans

These can be planted in 5 gallon containers:

Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Kale, Summer Squash and Zucchini, Tomatoes (dwarf and Patio) and Turnips

These need 10 gallon containers:

Corn

Use things like old bath tubs,
sinks or anything with drainage

A large tub that you can get at any hardware store filled with dirt and a shelving board inserted into the middle of it and wire mesh put around the board will grow a salad garden. A large bag of garden soil will hold plants as well. All you need to do it cut crosses where you plant your plants. No need to empty it into anything. I use my Kitty Litter buckets (they don't sell them now) to grow my tomatoes and peppers in now.

What To Grow Where

Old Wheelbarrows can be good containers
for tomatoes or any vine type vegetables

Windowsills: Carrots, Cress, Lettuce, Mustard, Radishes, Spinach, Tomatoes and Zucchini

Balconies, Rooftops, or Window Boxes: Any of the above plus: Beans, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Corn, Cucumbers, Peppers, Potatoes, Squash, Tomatoes, Turnips and other root vegetables.

Indoor under Grow and or Fluorescent Lights: Beets, Carrots, Chinese Cabbage, Cucumbers, Endive, Onions, Radishes and Watercress.

Strawberry Jars are very pretty and can grow more than just strawberries in them. Us it for an herb garden in a sunny spot in your living room or kitchen.

There is absolutely no excuse why you can't have your own fresh grown vegetables in an apartment.

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