SMALL SPACE PATIO GARDENING!

Since it is Earth Day, it thought I would celebrate it by spending it in my garden!

Its still early in the year, but I got the garden started up about 3 weeks ago, and it is already looking awesome! I still have a few more things I want to plant, once the weather is warmer, like my peas and more delicate lettuces. My dream is to have a large sunny back yard garden plot, with veggies, berries and fruit trees, (pretty much exactly what my grandma has) and a compost bin. Alas I live in a one bedroom, third flour apartment and I have to make use of the space I have available. What I DO have is a a south east facing balcony that’s about 80 square feet, I am really lucky to have narrow wire railings with lots of space for the sun to get though, other wise all I could grow is mushrooms (to my boyfriends delight) the only downside other then the space is the high wind we can get, so I have to be very careful to stake plants and secure hanging baskets really well. I have tried to focus on just growing food this year, other the one pot of primulas, everything else can (and will) be eaten.


 BERRIES
For berries I am growing two varieties of dwarf blueberries, having the two different kind help to pollinated each other and produce more berries. Blueberries are an awesome patio plant, the are rewarding and some varieties leaves urn a reddish gold in the fall. Blueberries require soil that drains very well, but that keeps moisture consistently. Any soil mix that is acidic and contains a lot of organic material like peat moss Is best.
Blueberries are naturally hardy, but you should protect delicate roots during the winter by wrapping the container in blankets or bubble wrap. As long as the roots are protected, they should live through the winter just fine. ( I DIDN’T do this last winter and they were fine..) I tried growing raspberries last summer, but failed  miserably, I think I got one berry.

Last year I had 5 strawberry plants that kept us in almost constant berries, this year I have 13. My plan is to be eating them every day (unless someone gets there first!)

8 of my plants this year are new, they other five I completely neglected after last summer and didn’t winterize them at all, in December I tore off al the dead leaves, and in February I started watering them, and they have miraculously come back to life! I don’t know what variety they are as I bought them at a garage sale


 HERBS
Having fresh herbs right out side of your kitchen is one of my favorites things, so my herb garden is mostly hardy perennial cooking herbs. The great thing about them is that they don’t need to much care, and if you forget about them during our BC winter, they don’t get to upset. The essential oils, that give herbs their flavor and aroma, and are produced in the largest quantity when they receive plenty of light, most herb varieties require at least 6 hours of sun per day.

Since rosemary likes it on the dry side, it wont die the moment you forget to water it. I just bought a huge pot of rosemary at the western speedway swap meet for $15 and it s just beautiful.

Oregano is a staple for a herb garden. I usually end up killing or using it all up by the end of the summer, so I got a new one this year and potted it with some fresh new potting soil.

Sage is an amazing herb for cooking poultry or fish, its is hardy and easy to grown although very slow growing and you will need to harvest lightly in the first year and it will be June the following year before you can start to fully harvest.
Thyme is delicious and easy to grow, I have a lemon variety, but there are so many kind to choose from.

Fresh parsley and cilantro are ideal if you want to make fresh salsa. Parsley is a great patio plant as it can take light frosts and remain healthy. Parsley is not overly particular about the soil it is grown in, nor does it need a lot of care. It will grow practically anywhere as long as the soil is not extremely wet. In fact, it will grow in full sun or partial shade, so as long as your spot isn't full shade, your parsley is likely to thrive. Just make sure not to over water.

VEGGIES

Sorrel is grown for its tangy, slightly-sour tasting arrow-shaped leaves. It is amazing in salads. This my first time growing it, and I just have one plant, so I let you know how it turns out!

Rainbow chard is similar to spinach but hardier and can last over several seasons with the proper care. The plant itself can grow 1 to 2 feet tall and likes a sunny spot.
Kale is great, as it grows well in not great conditions, I planed mine in march, then we had a rain, wind and hail storm two days after I planted them and now they are doing beautifully.

This year I am trying one cauliflower plant and one zucchini plant in the same container, I don’t know how much they will like being pot buddys, but I hope they get along.









Garden Markers!

Now that you have planted your garden, dont forget your plant markers! These are made from driftwood, then painted! Feel free to use stenciles or templates, or just go free form with pictures instead of words.

you will need:
Small peices of Driftwood
paint
stenciles or templates

MY WISH LIST!
I really really really want to do this….but I am not quite sure how to attach it to the outside wall of my apartment building. My other thought was to do it on the outside my railings, but I don’t think that my down stairs neighbor would like them draining on to her deck. I am going to mull it over and post something if I decide to do it!

I found these pictures on these sites.
http://greenupgrader.com/7556/diy-vertical-garden-with-reclaimed-gutters/
http://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/green-food/container-gardening-options-for-growing-in-small-spaces/