Apartment Gardening for Beginners
Thinking about getting into gardening in the new year? You're not alone.
It's a great mission, and while growing your own food is a great way to offset rising grocery costs and have more of a say about what goes into your body, the reality is that it can be tough to think about doing it if you're short on space.
Believe it or not, though, an apartment garden is more realistic than you might think.
Building an apartment garden on a balcony is the most ideal situation. However, if you have rooftop access and permission, a rooftop garden is also a great idea. Alternatively, you can build your garden around your windows and still have amazing results.
This article will discuss the different plants you can grow in an apartment garden. It will also cover how to start one of these gardens and what you can do if you don’t have a balcony. Read on for everything you need to know about starting your first apartment garden.
In this post, we'll tackle the following topics:
Whether it's realistic to grow a garden in an apartment
What kinds of vegetables and other foods you can grow in an apartment
How to start a garden in a small apartment (with or without a balcony)
Let's get started!
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Can You Make a Garden in an Apartment?
Making a garden in an apartment can be a very rewarding experience. To make it the most successful, follow these tips:
Don’t use regular garden soil (use potting soil)
Place your plants in a location with easy access to water
Provide extra humidity for an indoor garden
Make sure the temperature is right for the plants you are growing
Add protection for windy areas
Make sure the lighting is correct for the plants you are growing
For more information on starting a small space garden, you can watch this video:
What Vegetables Can I Grow in an Apartment?
Just because you’re growing your plants in a small space doesn’t mean you’re limited in what you can grow. With plenty of options available, you can have a beautiful apartment garden full of vegetables, herbs, and other plants.
Mint
When planting mint, it’s better to use a transplant than to start from seed. Because of the different varieties that cross-pollinate, growing from seed is not always a reliable way to get the characteristics you want from your mint plants.
You can choose from several different varieties of transplants, including options you’ll never see at the grocery store. These include chocolate mint and apple mint. When you grow your own plants, you can include unique varieties you can’t find in a store.
Chives
Chives are a member of the onion family and feature lavender flowers. Because they generally form clumps and have good cold hardiness, they’re favorites in gardens as perennials. They generally bloom in late May or June.
Parsley
Parsley is a biennial, which means it will grow through one season, then flower, seed, and die following the winter season. Because of this, it’s often treated as an annual in gardens. It’s frequently used in cooking, with different parsley plants having different flavors.
Lavender
When growing lavender in an apartment garden, you’ll want to select a dwarf variety. This plant is an excellent choice for making herbal teas and aromatic oils while filling your home with an amazing scent.
Basil
If you’re looking for an incredibly easy herb to grow from seed, you’ll want to give basil a try. Growing it in your apartment garden will give you year-round access to this popular cooking ingredient while adding its fragrant scent to your home.
Thyme
Slower to germinate from seed, thyme needs only basic attention to thrive. The stems can grow anywhere from 6 to 12 inches tall, providing you with plenty of herbs to use all year. If your garden is indoors, you’ll need to ensure your plant gets enough bright sunlight.
Cilantro
Cilantro is a staple in many favorite dishes and is beloved by many–except for those who only taste soap when they eat it. While it can be a bit finicky during the growing process, once you get the elements right, it will grow well wherever you have it.
Lettuce
Growing lettuce year-round is easy with an apartment garden. You have your choice of flavors, ranging from bitter to mild. If you provide the right growing conditions, you can have freshly grown lettuce whenever you want.
Spinach
While you can find spinach varieties that are perfect for your climate and sunlight opportunities, you must take care when growing it because of its risk for rust. In addition, overwatering can lead to problems like rot and fungal diseases.
Arugula
Arugula is generally planted as a cold-season vegetable in early spring or late summer. This fast-growing leafy green is part of the mustard family. It’s very flavorful with a tart and peppery kick and is generally added to salad mixes.
Tomatoes
To grow the best tomatoes, you must have access to strong, bright light. In addition, you’ll want to choose smaller, more compact varieties when you plan your apartment garden. If your garden is indoors, you may find providing enough light to be a challenge.
Strawberries
When you choose strawberries for your apartment garden, you’ll need to consider several factors, including taste, size, and how well they grow in containers. Choosing a compact size is ideal, especially one that produces few to no runners.
Meyer Lemons
When you plant Meyer lemons in a pot, the plant will generally stay smaller than if planted in the ground. Meyer lemons are a hybrid fruit and were brought to the United States in 1908. The tree is self-pollinating, allowing you to safely grow it indoors.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are enjoyed in cooking and eaten plain due to their lack of capsaicin, which is what gives spicy peppers their heat. They’re also a warm-weather crop when planted in a traditional garden.
Mandarin Oranges
Growing mandarin oranges in your apartment garden can be a challenge. They require good light, well-draining soil, proper temperature and humidity, consistent moisture, and the right nutrients. Missing any one of these can result in failure.
How Do You Start a Garden in a Small Apartment?
Starting your small apartment garden is an exciting experience. It’s your chance to build your garden exactly how you want it with all the amazing foods you love to eat. The entire project, from start to finish, will be highly rewarding.
You’ll need to follow a few steps to ensure your plan is well thought out. Having a plan is key to getting the most out of your small space. Follow these steps to create the best apartment garden for your specific situation.
Choosing Your Space
The first thing you’ll need to consider is where you’ll build your garden. If you have a balcony, that’s a great option. When you don’t have one, you can choose to build your garden inside or on a window sill.
You’ll have to consider factors like how much light the area gets and the average temperature of the spot. You should also consider how close to a water source you’ll be, as carrying water can get tiresome after a while.
It should also be a place that’s convenient for you. If the planters and containers are in your way, it’s not the best location. You’ll need to ensure that if you are using your balcony, you still have room for the personal use of it also. I recommend investing in a garden storage box to stash all of your tools, containers, and other implements when they're not being used - it's a big lifesaver.
Choosing Your Containers
Before you can do anything, you’ll need containers and planters to place your seeds and seedlings in. You’ll want something large enough to accommodate your plants but not so large it’s inconvenient.
Consider that with the weight of soil and water added, the container’s total weight can nearly triple. This can make it nearly impossible to move if you’ve chosen a container that’s too large.
Fiberglass containers are ideal for small apartment gardening because they’re lightweight and durable. They’ll last for years, allowing you to remain as green as possible while developing your garden.
Remember, you don’t want your containers to be too heavy if the space you have cannot accommodate a large weight. Some balconies and window sills may have weight restrictions that can easily be exceeded by a completely filled container.
Why Soil Is Important
When you choose your soil, you cannot just grab a bag of garden soil. It’s too heavy and will result in extra compacting. This will place limitations on how much air your plants get and how well the water can travel through the soil.
You’ll want to use a potting mix that is nutrient-dense. It will be light and fluffy, allowing water to easily travel through it. This will allow air to circulate efficiently to the roots.
Available Sunlight
Each plant you plan on growing will need a certain level of sunlight. Ensuring they get this is essential to their growth and development. When you live in an apartment, this can be challenging because the other buildings around you can block sunlight from entering.
Many garden vegetables will need a day of sunshine, which is best obtained on the rooftop or balcony and next to south-facing windows. If you must use your window sill, you can opt for a lower-light plant, such as herbs.
The Right Water and Air
Potted plants require much more water than those planted in the ground. The closer your garden is to the water source, the better it is for you. The more you have to walk back and forth with heavy waterers, the less likely you are to keep up with the watering.
When it comes to airflow, it’s essential not to place your plants in the path of strong winds. These can destroy your leaves or, worse, topple the planters. You also want to ensure you keep them away from cold air conditioner vents.
Always Check With Your Landlord
Before you complete any major installations, it’s best to check with your landlord to ensure you’re not violating your lease. In addition, they’ll be able to tell you if there are any weight restrictions on any of the locations you are considering.
If you don’t have a balcony and want to use the roof, it’s definitely better to ask if you’re allowed access before you take it upon yourself. You could find yourself in a world of trouble if you don’t get permission before you start.
Gardening in an Apartment Without a Balcony
When you don’t have a balcony, you can still have a nice apartment garden. You just have to think outside the box. If you have a window with ledges, that’s a great place to start.
You can fix your containers to the ledges, creating a window garden. However, you’ll want to ensure your container sits back far enough on the ledge to ensure it will not fall off and hurt or kill someone walking below.
When a window ledge is not an option, you can try to create a hanging garden mounted on a window rod. It works like a curtain rod, and many of them can accommodate up to four plants.
Alternatively, there are window shelves with suction cups that you can attach to the inside of your window. They’re not only functional but add great decoration to your apartment. The best place for these containers would be a south-facing window.
Hydroponic gardening is also an option. This system comes in many different sizes, styles, and budget options, allowing you to create the best garden for your apartment. Many of them are transportable, making them easy to relocate as needed.
Final Thoughts
Apartment gardening is a great way to make your own amazing food in your small space. Even if you don’t have a large yard to work with, you can transform a small section of your apartment to accommodate the growing process and achieve the same great results.
With so many options for plants you can grow, you can have tasty meals every night of the week once your crops are ready for harvest. Many of these options will also add amazing fragrances to your home, making it smell great and look fantastic.
The key to a successful apartment garden is choosing the right space with optimal lighting and airflow and making sure you follow the steps outlined above.
With a little bit of forethought and planning, you can grow a productive, beautiful garden in minimal space - so what are you waiting for?
Share your experiences with window gardens in the comments below - I'd love to hear from you!
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