Urban Gardening Using Pots, Hanging Baskets and More

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“The Heirloom Life Gardener” by Jere and Emilee Gettle is an invaluable resource of planting, growing, harvesting and preparation tips for 50 amazing heirloom varieties, plus a primer on the centuries-old practice of seed saving.
“The Heirloom Life Gardener” by Jere and Emilee Gettle is an invaluable resource of planting, growing, harvesting and preparation tips for 50 amazing heirloom varieties, plus a primer on the centuries-old practice of seed saving.
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There’s a dizzying array of different kinds of window boxes to choose from. They range in size from two to six feet long, and they’re often pre-drilled so that you can mount them on a wall, add brackets to hang them from a rail, or suspend them directly from a fire escape.
There’s a dizzying array of different kinds of window boxes to choose from. They range in size from two to six feet long, and they’re often pre-drilled so that you can mount them on a wall, add brackets to hang them from a rail, or suspend them directly from a fire escape.

Tired of genetically modified food? Every day, Americans are moving more toward eating natural, locally grown food that is free of pesticides and preservatives — and there is no better way to ensure this than to grow it yourself. In The Heirloom Life Gardener (Hyperion, 2011), Jere and Emilee Gettle, cofounders of the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, offer a wealth of knowledge to every kind of gardener — experienced pros and novices alike. In this excerpt about urban gardening from Chapter 7, “City Farmer,” learn why living in a city doesn’t have to mean living without homegrown food.

Though I’m a country boy at heart, I can’t deny that there is something magical about big cities. I love being in a skyscraper and looking out at the rooftop and backyard gardens dotting the cityscape. People get so creative with small spaces! In the Ozarks, there’s no shortage of arable land to work with. But not everyone lives in a place with so much space. If you live in a gardenless apartment, or you have just a tiny little yard, it is still possible to harvest delicious vegetables and herbs. Through urban gardening, if you have a patio, balcony, sunny windowsill, or even access to a rooftop, you can make your own little garden patch.

Gardening in Pots

Planting vegetables in pots or other containers is a fun way to start a garden in a small space. Most plants like full sun, so place your pots accordingly. If lack of sunlight is an issue on a small patio or in a yard, a dedicated gardener can move the pots once or twice per day, as the sun moves across the sky.

The size of the container is important, and you should choose according to how big the crop will grow.

  • Published on Jun 12, 2012
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