If you’re living in independent living in New Braunfels, TX, you might not have much space to work with. But that doesn’t mean you can’t grow your food and flowers! Here are five tips for growing a garden in a small space:
-
Look for an Apartment with a Patio or Balcony
Even if you don’t have a balcony or patio, you can still get into gardening. Consider growing your plants if your senior living apartment has a window with sunlight. If it doesn’t, try to find an apartment with an outdoor space.
Your community may allow you to grow vegetables on the ground outside your building or in a nearby community garden! If not, don’t worry—you can still grow a garden. Look for a community garden near your apartment building if possible. Otherwise, plant flowers in pots on the ground floor if necessary.
-
Use a Container Garden
Container gardens are easy, economical, and can be moved easily. Consider growing plants in containers if you need more space or have mobility issues.
When choosing a container for your garden, consider the size of the plant and how much water it will need to thrive. A good rule of thumb is that a 10-inch pot holds one gallon of soil, while a 5-gallon bucket has about 3 cubic feet of soil. Select an attractive container with drainage holes at the bottom and avoid using black plastic pots as they trap heat inside and encourage fungus growth on roots.
Place your container near an outdoor outlet, so you can keep it watered quickly without dragging hoses around or carrying heavy watering cans full of water! Positioning plants close together helps them retain moisture by naturally releasing humidity into the air through leaves as they transpire.
-
Plant Easy-to-Grow Vegetables or Fruits
Perhaps you’re looking for something that will require minimal effort and won’t take up too much space. Consider planting some veggies and fruits that are easy to grow in containers.
Everyone loves fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, but they can be finicky in pots. Instead, try bell peppers and eggplants. These veggies take up less space than tomatoes and cucumbers but still pack a flavorful punch when it comes to taste!
If you want something sweet instead of spicy, try strawberries. They’re super easy to grow, even in small spaces. (And don’t forget about blueberries!)
-
Go Vertical with Your Planting
Surprisingly, you can find a lot of gardening space in your backyard. And if you have room for only one plant, go vertical. Planting vertically is a great way to use space that would otherwise go unused and create an attractive addition to the landscape.
You can do this with trellises, fences, or walls. Alternatively, you can also try planting small food patches in containers like herbs and veggies on your deck or patio.
-
Water Regularly
Watering your plants regularly will keep them healthy and allow them to grow. However, you should check the soil before watering. If it’s dry, water the plant. Use a moisture meter if you don’t know if the plant needs water. These devices take only a few seconds to give readings on how much moisture is in the soil of your plants.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a way to enjoy gardening and eat healthier, why not try some tips? Start small and see what works best for you. You can grow your food in a limited space or at least get started on growing it there!