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There is nothing nicer than eating freshly harvested vegetables from your garden. Most people in the city have come to terms with the fact that they cannot enjoy the fruits of their own garden, but that may not be the case. If you live in the city and want to grow your own vegetables, it is no problem if you have a balcony or a small yard, and in this article we will show you how to grow vegetables in the city.
Vegetables requires a lot of sun so only those locations that are without shade, are considered for making a garden. You can grow plants in the ground or in pots, or large raised bed. The soil should be enriched with humus and loose enough. Occasionally add organic fertilizer to help your plants grow quickly and yield more.
Your will, love for gardening, and a good idea are enough. With a little effort, you can enjoy the fruits of your little garden in many ways. In addition to the vegetable growers, all you need is a window, balcony, terrace, or place of your choice that receives six or more hours of sunshine a day.
How to Grow Vegetables in the City?
We are bringing you different ways how you can grow your vegetables even if you are living somewhere in a building in the center of a city. So check them out below.
Growing vegetables in pots
You can use terracotta or plastic planting pots to grow vegetables. Also, if you have a little more space in your yard, you can use old pots, bowls, an old bathtub you thought you would throw out, or an old, pierced tire from a car. Regardless of what type of pot you choose for growing vegetables, it is important that you make holes in the bottom of the pot if they are not already available, which will allow smooth flow of water through the pot.
Quite simply, with the help of a drill, you can make holes. If you do not own a drill, use a hammer and nail and drill a few holes in the bottom of the pan. The number of holes you need to make, of course, depends on the size of the pan. If using smaller vessels, leave a few inches between the holes. However, if you are going to use large pots in your garden, leave four inches of space between the holes. To keep your garden clean, prevent mud from spilling through the holes for the flow of water by placing pebbles at the bottom of the pots that will allow the water to flow but will keep the soil in place.
Holes at the bottom of your pots are important because water must flow through the pots to prevent excess water from accumulating. Stagnant water stored over a long period of time in pots can cause the roots to rot. After a while, you will notice that the plants lose their green color and start yellowing, which leads to wilting.
Also, after the first rain, the soil in the pots without holes will be soaked which will cause mold and odor. Another thing you can do to keep the soil moist is to move the pots slightly off the ground. You can do this by placing a couple of bricks or boards under the pan.
Unlike soil in the fields, the soil in the pots will quickly lose the moisture that is important to the plants for growth. We have already mentioned that it is not good for water to be held in large quantities in pots, but it is also important that the soil is not dry. Of course, maintaining soil moisture is achieved by regularly watering the vegetables, and it depends on the type of plant itself.
The best vegetables to grow in pots
It is theoretically possible to grow all groups of vegetables in pots, but that does not mean that they will succeed in their growth and bear fruit. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the containers that will best fit the type of vegetables you want to grow.
For growing root vegetables (carrots, onions, leeks, radishes) in the city, it is best to choose deep pots. You must give them enough space to grow the root of these types of vegetables.
Plant tomatoes, beans, legumes, peppers, and potatoes in containers of 5 to 7 gallons because of their large root system. Secure the same types of vegetables with a stick (preferably a wooden one) that will be able to lean and grow in height, so as not to cause the plant to lay itself.
Vegetables with a shallow root system that do not need an overly deep bowl are broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, and cauliflower.
Zucchini and cucumbers can be grown in large containers, but it is not recommended. Because these are plants that develop large leaves, long stems, and the fruit itself is large in size.
Salad, arugula, and kale are interesting types of vegetables because once harvested, they will continue to grow and you will be able to enjoy the fruits of these species repeatedly even if you are located in the city.
It is interesting that you can plant lettuce, arugula, and spinach at any time of the year because these plants are frost resistant.
Make sure you leave enough space between the seeds when planting. It is important that plants have sufficient space to grow above and below the soil surface. If you plant the vegetables densely it will become a competition with each other. There will be a fight for nutrients, water, and light, and there will be less growth of plants.
Planting vegetables and maintaining vegetables
Apart from onions and potatoes, most vegetables are planted from seed. In addition to the seeds, you also need pots and soil to fill them.
You can buy the seed and the land at agricultural stores or at any grocery chain. It comes in small packages. Instructions on the depth of planting the seed, the amount of water required and the light required for each species can be found on the seed packet itself.
During growth, vegetables draw on the soil by extracting nutrients from it that are necessary for the plant to grow. In order to provide nutrients for vegetables, you need to use liquid fertilizer for the garden. It can also be purchased at agricultural stores and large retail chains. You apply it by adding it to the water with which you water the plants.
If you are going to use land that you have used before, you need to add some form of fertilizer to that land. This will, at each watering, fertilize the soil and provide nutrients to the plant over a long period of time.
With a little effort, everyone can have a garden in the city and even on a small balcony. All you need to do is plan the planting well, take care of watering the plants, harvest the fruits when they are ripe, and enjoy their freshness and your gardening skills. Take a break and make your own little garden in your apartment or backyard in a city.
If you would like to know more about it, you can read our Everything you need to know about Urban (CIty) Farming guide.