As a first time gardener, one of the biggest challenges I face is how to start and maintain a small house with a vegetable garden. Although many people start out by growing their own vegetables in raised beds or containers, many apartment dwellers are not prepared for this type of soil and climate conditions. Soil preparation and climate adjustments are two of the biggest issues when it comes to apartment gardening. Fortunately, there are some simple tricks that apartment gardening newbies can take full advantage of to have a successful garden.
Soil preparation is perhaps the most important aspect of an apartment vegetable garden. Your soil preparation must be done in order to prepare the soil for planting. If you have a large area to work with, do a preliminary soil test to see if your soil is properly prepared. This can be done by digging a small hole, filling it with peat moss, and injecting fresh soil into the hole. If you only have a small patch to work with, use a fertilizer and apply mulch (chips, grass clippings, and leaves) to help keep the soil moist.
Once you have established a good soil preparation, the next step is to select a variety of plants that will thrive in your small house and apartment. Make sure to plant vegetables that are known for their drought tolerance to heat. Some examples of plants that you may consider are: dundale, dwarf Japanese, blue star, bushel radishes, zucchini, snapdragons, turnips, and snap pea. The list isn’t complete without the last selection, which is tomatoes.
Once you have selected the plants that you feel will do best in your small house and apartment, you’re ready to plant. Make sure to plant each plant at the correct distance from each other. This means that you want to plant taller plants towards the back of your house, while shorter ones near the front. You’ll also want to plant vegetables that like a cool climate, such as radishes and turnips, so that they can handle a bit of shade during the hot summer months.
Keep in mind that your garden should be contained to a small area, approximately the size of an outdoor window. Do not crowd the area, since this will limit the amount of light that the plants get. Also, keep in mind that your plants are going to need sunlight to grow properly, so try to place them in areas that receive plenty of morning sunshine. It is also important that you water your garden only when necessary. For example, during the height of the season, do not water your small house plants unless you plan on repotting them at that time.
In addition to the types of plants that you choose, another thing that you need to take into account is how much room your garden has. While it is possible to have a small garden in a small house, it is also very difficult to maintain it properly. If you are going to grow any larger plants, for example, you’ll need a larger backyard space.
Another important thing to consider is your personal preferences. Do you want to create a Zen garden, with everything looking like it belongs in an exotic Asian garden? Or do you prefer a garden that is less cluttered, with simple lines and structures? For example, I have a small house that was built many years ago, and it had a small deck attached to the house that overlooked the yard. My vegetable garden was in a small wooden building that sat next to the deck.
The options are endless, and they only end with your personal preferences. One thing is for sure, if you grow a small house with a vegetable garden, you’ll never have a shortage of space for plants! Enjoy planning and growing your small house with a vegetable garden! Good luck!