I love gardens. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment with a small patio, and I am out of town for work for the greater part of my summers, but I dream of the day when I will have a yard and will be able to have a garden of my own. What will I put in it? Will it be ornamental? Or full of delicious herbs and vegetables?
I have been realizing lately that, when that day comes, I may not have to decide between the two. After hearing about Julie Bass in Oak Park, Michigan facing jail time for planting a vegetable garden in her front yard (after the city forced her to rip up her lawn, no less), I began to look into how to make edible gardens aesthetically appealing as well. Read her blog on the experience here.
I came across the book Edible Landscaping by Rosalind Creasy. The images I have seen are so beautiful - to think you can eat (almost) everything in the garden! I immediately bought the book; it will be waiting for me when I get back home. I can't decide if this is great planning, or just teasing myself...
I also was directed to this wonderful page at the Dave Wilson Nursery all about growing orchards in your yard. What a wonderful way to enjoy delicious fruit and a beautiful tree!
You can grow many things on patios in containers: strawberries, various greens, many dwarf fruit trees (you may need to bring those inside during the winter), and so on.
ReplyDeleteBut it's very fun :)
It's true, and I wish I were in town more to grow a decent garden on my little patio, but it faces south and the building is dark, so anything on our patio needs LOTS of water, which they sadly don't get while I'm away. I have some luck with bulbs that bloom while I'm still in town - I have pots of daffodils, tulips, hyacinth and crocuses. I also have a pot of mint that partially survived last summer. Let's see if it can survive one more...
ReplyDeleteIf you're not away for more than a week at a time, the self-watering pot systems can be really useful and not terribly expensive ... painting the pots white or a light color (pale yellow, light pink, pale blue) can help a lot in keeping the soil cool.
ReplyDeleteShade cloth is another way to keep plants alive where you have to ration water for whatever reason, and can be bought at any garden center.
Or if you really need to, bring the pots with you to where you're staying in town. Most can fit on a landing or beside stairs.
Good luck! :)
Thanks for the travel garden tips! Unfortunately, I spend over a month at a time out of town in remote places. I'm currently in a camp on Baffin Island. I have tried patio gardening in the past, and it just doesn't work for my schedule, as much as I dream of it...
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love your website! What a great resource!
Thank you!
ReplyDelete