You can grow potatoes in small garden areas, even on patios, balconies or in cities. With planning the backyard oasis will be a perfect place for a crop of potatoes.

One of the easiest ways to grow potatoes in a small area is in  a garden basket or wire cage, Using this method you actually grow the potato above ground.

This you tube will give you ideas on how to plant potatoes using this method.

One advantage of growing potatoes or other ground crops using a method like this it that harvesting is much easier. And for a more festive look add vines near the container or flowers and create a mini garden area.

There are many root crops that can be grown in baskets or wire cages. And depending on how the growing area is set up you can extend your growing season or even move the crop indoors.

Just because you live in a city or don’t own a lot of land does not mean you can not have a successful garden. You will have to learn how to plant in small spaces and make the most of the soil you have.

Technorati Tags: gardening, growing potatoes, growing potatoes in small spaces, small space gardening, vegetables

More people are returning to gardening and urban gardens are popping up anywhere a small unused space with adequate lighting can be found. Many suburbs and apartments have limited land or space, but urban gardens can be successfully planted using creative gardening techniques.
photo credit: briannaorg

First determine what plants you want to grow. Many flowers are edible and herbs also have culinary uses and add beauty to a garden. In small space gardening, a fundamental idea in urban gardening, it’s best to choose plants with multiple uses.

Herbs add color to the home but also have medicinal, crafting and culinary uses. And many flowers are edible.

Next decide on whether you will plants seeds or transplants. Seeds germinate quickly, will be a cheaper alternative in the long run and offer you a larger selection of varieties. Transplants will get your garden area going quicker and add a lush garden look to your living space instantly. And if you live in a shorter growing climate transplants will help you achieve a crop of produce quicker. But transplants are more expensive.

After selecting your crops you want to grow its time to tackle the urban gardeners biggest problem, space. Hanging planters, window boxes, container gardening and vertical gardening ideas will help with limited space issues. These topics should help with limited growing space.

Small Garden Design

Container Gardens and Hanging Baskets

A Very Berry Theme Garden
Vegetables can easily be grown in the urban garden. Tomato plants grow well in hanging baskets, as do strawberries. When selecting seeds or transplants for vegetables look for the small vegetable varieties, Mini pumpkins, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes are a few ideas.

And vining plants grown up a trellis will add more vegetables, flowers and privacy to your small urban garden setting. I like to mix vegetables and vining flowers on the same trellis for color and use. For example the scarlet runner bean has a beautiful flower and an excellent taste.

Fruits such as raspberries, blueberries, vine peach, miniature melons and even potted fruit trees will also grow in containers. A small space fruit garden will add an oasis feel to your home.

One other consideration for the urban gardener is adequate light or shade. Research your plant and garden selections to determine the light they need.

Plants that need more shade may do well on a porch area or balcony. Containers gardens have the option of being moved if the plants are receiving too much light and can be moved on a porch or behind a trellis or screen.

For plants that need abundant light, like tomatoes and peppers, locations with 8 hours of light are a look choice; porches, sun rooms and window boxes will also work well.

Urban gardens that get the right amount of light, proper soil and water will produce large crops and add color and fragrance to you small space garden area. You will also get a feel of more space with the lush rich look these plants will add to your home.

Technorati Tags: small space gardening, Urban gardening

Boxed gardens are neat, clean and easy to handle.  Depending on where you placer them and how wide they are will depend if you can easily walk around them or reach across them.
photo credit: MoToMo

You can have one or two box gardens and place them side-by-side or scatter them around the backyard or even place them on the patio or a balcony. Wherever you place them, just remember to have an easy access to water and adequate sunshine.

A boxed garden is really a frame. To make one, all you have to do is look around your yard, chose a location with six to eight hours of sunlight, prepare the soil, and then frame the space with standard 2-by-4 sections of wood board. I like to make my boxes gardens two to three foot wide.  Any wider and I have trouble reaching the center for garden maintenance.  The length depends on my gardening needs. Nail the corners together for support.

Many gardeners using the boxed gardens use a four foot by four foot size. It’s the size that most square foot gardens use and this method is perfect for square foot gardening

The advantages of these boxed gardens are that they are fast and easy to set up and can be sued in areas that have poor soil. Just add compost and soil or use a lasagna gardening method for building soil.

You can also build a section of the garden one at a time when you need it instead of rushing to put a garden in a few days.

The boxed garden method of gardening is great for small backyard designs, patios and balcony gardens. It is so versatile that it can fit any garden space or family style

Technorati Tags: backyard design, backyard oasis, backyard projects, lasagna gardening, small backyard design, small space gardening, small space gardens

With the increased interest in gardening, gardening space has become an issue. You may have a large backyard but other areas also need space or you may have a balcony and only a few feet of gardening space available. But with small backyard designs and creativity you can make the best use out the space you have.
photo credit: ginnerobot

Another issue with gardening and backyard maintenance is time. Everyone wants a lush backyard with shrubs, trees, fruit and vegetables and room for family activities but backyard gardening can take time so setting up a small garden or Postage stamp garden as they are often referred to makes sense.

A postage stamp garden is considered a small area that can produce abundant herbs, flowers and vegetables. It can also be an ornamental garden of annuals, perennials and shrubs planted in the ground or in containers making full use of a very small space. How is a postage stamp garden possible? With careful planning, using intensive gardening practices and careful selection of the plants you grow.

In the last few years’ small growing shrubs and fruit trees have been developed. Fruit tree can also be espaliers and grown on a wall. Grapes and other fruit can be trained for arbors and trellises.

Many vegetables are available in a mini size that will be perfect for the small garden and saving space. And even with larger plants if you grow them vertically you will save an amazing amount of space and I find it helps with insect control too. There are fewer places for the insects to hide. My one word of advice with vertical growing is to make sure your trellised, posts or way you fix for the produce to grow on a wall is firm. Theses plants can get heavy when laden with produce so take extra care to ensure they are sturdy.

There are flowers that also stay compact and if you chose carefully many flowers are edible and serve two purposes, beauty and use. And don’t forget potted shrubs, which can be placed outdoors in the summer months and if the right shrub is chosen brought indoors in the colder months for more enjoyment. Shrubs left outdoors may need to be winterized depending on your climate.

Container gardening and vertical growing are two perfect solutions for the balcony gardener or apartment renter with very limited space. Between hanging baskets and containers you should be able to grow flower and produce and create a nice secret garden oasis. And by trying to combine the style of the indoor space with outdoor space you can create a large feel of space in both areas.

If you feel you don’t have a lot of space for a garden look into postage stamp gardening and intensive gardening for ideas on how to grow in a smaller space and how to save time working in your garden area.

Technorati Tags: backyard oasis, backyard oasis paradise, small backyard design, small backyard design ideas, small backyard designs, small space gardening

With the gardening season almost here, but not quite, I am in a creating mood. I found a few you tubes that have wonderful ideas for you backyard. The first is a Terrestrial Water Bowl.  It’s perfect for that small space backyard, patio or balcony. They say its a 5 minute project.

The next you tube video is all about planting in planters or containers and making the best use out of small space. This is perfect for apartment dwellers and balconies. The ideas they have for planters and containers are quite creative. Use of window boxes, driveways space and other overlooked areas are discussed.

It’s amazing how bowls, containers and planters will make use of those small spaces and unused areas in your backyard or on the patio. The addition of flowers and herbs, trees and vegetables will help create your own oasis for relaxing and enjoying friends and family.

Technorati Tags: backyard design, backyard oasis, backyard projects, small space gardening