Garden by the Square Foot

So, you are interested in growing some vegetables for your own consumption, but don't think you have any space to grow them. You live in a townhouse or a condo and only have a small patio, or you may be renting a house wherein, of course, you just can't till up the landlords yard.

Well, anything is possible. There is nothing like eating your on vegetables that you grew yourself, personally, I think they taste better home grown, not to mention they are cheaper than going to the grocery store and spending $1.67 for a tiny head of iceberg lettuce.

I happen to rent a house, and of course, the landlord wouldn't let me till up his yard, soooo, I became creative. The two pictures I attached to this hub are of a ficus tree that is in my back yard. The roots were already exposed above the ground. Hmmm, what if I took out the grass from between the roots exposing the rich soil and grew some veggies? So, for 8 hours I dug out the grass. (It was definately a labor of love) The soil was perfect and I didn't have to add any fertilizer.

I planted kidney beans, wax beans, cantalope, pumpkin and leaf lettuce in between the roots. It's not a large garden, but enough for one person to put up. I picked the kidney beans because they could be dried and put away for a cooler day so I can make chili. The wax beans bloomed 5 times which was enough for me to not only put some up in the freezer (blanching them first) but I could also share them with my neighbors. The cantalope are growing like crazy as are the pumpkins. The leaf lettuce, well, I have a fresh salad everyday.

HELPFUL HINT: When you get those pesky bugs that like to chew the leaves of your plants, sprinkle ash from your firepit or fireplace on the leaves. The bugs will leave your leaves alone. You will need to do this a couple of times a week.

Water, water and water. I water everyday even if it rains (as it does here in Florida).

HELPFUL HINT: When you are ready to harvest your beans; kidney, green or wax, make sure the plants are dry - no water on the leaves. As if you start harvesting your beans and the plants are wet you will 'rust' the plants which makes them not produce as well.

I also used the flower bed in front of my house to plant scallions and green beans amongst the flowers. I have found that by planting Marigolds around your garden, the bugs won't be as bad as Marigolds are a natural bug repellant.

Ok, so you don't rent a house with a ficus tree in your backyard; you are in a townhouse or a condo instead. Two words: Container Plant.

Get some large containers and you can plant tomatoes, scallions, leaf lettuce (in fact hanging baskets are great for planting different kinds of leaf lettuce in one basket) and they look pretty with the different colors. Water your containers everyday as they will dry out faster than regular gound planting. You can even cheat a little and use Miracle Grow soil. In no time at all you will be able to come home and pick yourself a nice summer salad right from your patio.

HELPFUL HINT: You know those 'topsy turvey' tomatoe hangers and strawberry hangers.....don't waste your money. (I'll probably get sued over that statement) Instead, take a plastic container that your morning coffee comes in, cut a slit in the bottom of the container, then punch a hole on either side of the container at the top were the lid goes and either put string through the holes or wire from a wire coathanger- place a tomatoe plant or strawberry plant trough the slit you cut, fill the container with Miracle Grow soil for veggies and fruit, water thoroughly and put the top back on. Hang your 'topsy turvey' holder from your patio ceiling....whoola.....you are saving more space and growing more veggies and fruit.

You will not only be eating healthy by organic gardening, but your friends will be amazed at your gardening abilities. With water and tender loving care you will have your patio over flowing with fresh garden vegetables.

Like fresh peas? These are best planted after the last frost in your particular area. Peas are vine plants - you can place mesh around your patio railings for the peas to grow on or grow them in a large pot with a trellis. Now you have snow peas to add to your garden. Usually, you can get 8 to 10 pickings from these vegetables listed before they stop producing. Every bloom you see on your plants is an individual vegetable so be cautious not to knock these flowers off your plants.l

Give it a try, what do you have to loose? Anyone can grow a garden. I'll cover how to make a 'cold house' garden that you can use on your patio as well so you can have fresh veggies in the winter months.

Bona Petite

Your Farmer Friend Sarra