Gardening is a creative science. In one sense, it is imaginative by producing unique combinations of plants, and in another it is innovative by finding unique ways to display what you grow.
For anyone living in an apartment, a townhouse, or any other location with a small outdoor area, usable space may not be available to have a large garden. It does not mean that you cannot plant and grow a small garden. Being ingenious is part of the key. With planting season upon us, now is the time to be motivated to try something new.
Although you may want to grow corn, doing so in a planter may not be feasible for your porch, but growing a tomato plant in a large planter using a tomato cage for support or hanging it upside down in a 5-gallon bucket (www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/growing-tomatoes-upside-down.htm) is possible.
Some of the ideas you will read here have been posted sites where people share ideas - Pinterest and Facebook. Others have come from my favorite websites or were discovered while researching the topic for this blog.
Search the web for Small Space Gardening to find many unique ideas. In the results will be some that are inexpensive and may use common items, while others will require some money and will involve the use of some tools to construct. Performing an image search to see photos is a great way to speed up your search process.
Just a few of the unique planting results found included:
One overall site on vertical gardening is www.vertical-gardener.com. Imagine growing a watermelon on a patio in netting. Check it out on their site by scrolling down for a picture.
Plant a garden for a purpose, to make a salad or a specialty like gazpacho - www.sunset.com/garden/fruits-veggies/container-vegetable-gardening-00418000067113
Try a salad bowl in a recycled wooden pallet. Versions are available vertically or horizontally - www.hilaryhodge.com/tag/vertical-lettuce-garden and couponconnections.com/how-to-turn-a-recycled-pallet-into-a-salad-garden
If using wood, is it pressure treated? If so, read this to learn more about items like pallets and railroad ties that are treated, as it may not be safe for growing edibles. www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/pallet-gardening-101-creating-a-pallet-garden
More pallet ideas with herbs and plants in clay pots - woodenpalletfurniture.com/garden/pallet-vertical-planter
Vegetables in a pot - www.sunset.com/garden/fruits-veggies/how-to-grow-veggies-in-pots-00400000012149
It's great to be a square. This could be adapted into a rectangle too - squarefootgardening.org/square-foot-gardening-method
The use of PVC plumbing pipes creates unique vertical and horizontal garden planters - diply.com/different-solutions/diy-hydroponic-garden-tower-using-pvc-pipes/22181
The ideas are endless and depend upon your imagination and available space. Try using window box planters, colorful sand buckets, wire storage racks, or anything that may be adapted to hold dirt even using cocoa shell liners or moss to maintain the soil while accentuating your design. Enjoy the beauty and fruits of your labor!
