Urban Gardening - The Ultimate Guide to Making the Most out of Your Space

gardeningurban

The Ultimate Guide to Making the Most out of Your Space

By: Dr. Neggo-Shane Powell

Modern society has given us many things, but it hasn’t given many of us sprawling, rural homesteads. In the last 30 years, we’ve witnessed rapid urbanisation due to several factors, including the need to satisfy the demand for housing and to create modern communities of choice for families to work, live, and do business. For those of us who want to cultivate our own vegetation, it almost feels impossible - or so we think.

This is where urban gardening comes in. This movement has established a path to boost food production and encompasses the cultivation of edible plants, non-edible/decorative plants, medicinal plants for use in home remedies, and plants for aromatherapy. It’s a global trend and, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation, approximately 800 million people worldwide engage in this practice.

It is a great alternative to the traditional thinking that the cultivation of crops can only be done in rural areas.

What are the advantages of urban gardening?

Not only does urban gardening provide food security, but it also provides ecological, health, psychological, financial, educational, and transgenerational benefits. It improves air quality; increases animal and plant diversity in city spaces and facilitates pollination and plant propagation.

Urban gardening generates income for families, communities, cities and corporations. It’s an educational tool for children and adults as it promotes appreciation for agricultural processes in all age groups. In doing so, it limits food wastage and provides activities to bridge generational gaps. Urban gardens directly improve psychosocial wellbeing by beautification, aromatherapy and nutrition.

Urban farming may be used for self-sustenance or for commercial purposes. It can be classified by the type of spaces in which the gardening takes place.

Types of Urban Gardens

It’s important to note that methods of planting differ based on available resources and the gardener's preferences. They include planting directly in soil, or in specialised structures using water, instead of soil.

This method of planting is called hydroponic gardening and requires expertise for plants to get the nutritional support they need. Hydroponics or aquaponics are reliable and drought resistant methods of gardening. Aquaponics involves adding fishes to a hydroponic system to make it sustainable for plant growth and development. Plants can be gardened using conventional farming techniques, i.e., use of synthetic fertilisers or using organic gardening methods, use of plant/animal based fertilisers only.

1. Residential Gardening

Backyard gardening is gardening directly in the ground at home. This is common in homes where yard space is available.

2. Container gardening

This involves using planter boxes, pots, pans, tyres or recycled receptacles that can hold soil. This is suitable for any setting but is common for indoor planting for those with limited spaces (apartment/balconies) and for renters. Container planting provides the luxury of moving plants, as people change their locations to alternative living solutions.

3. Rooftop Gardens and Wall Gardening

This involves gardens on the roofs or sides of buildings and may involve a container. The containers may be portable or be constructed as a part of the building.

So, what are you waiting for? There’s no time like the present to get started on your urban garden.

4. Community Plots

These are gardening spaces established in a community setting. The space can be divided and allocated to members of the community at a cost. This type of farming can be cooperative or individual. In previous world wars, countries established community plots called Allotment Gardens to facilitate urban farming to improve food security during war time.

5. Tactical Gardening and Roadway Landscaping

This is gardening in areas where plants are not usually found, for example, along roadways/island dividers. Plants may be edible or be for beautification purposes.

How can you start your own Urban Garden?

1. Select your location

You can create your urban garden practically anywhere - from your balcony window, to your bookshelf or even your countertop. You don’t need a large surface area.

2. Assess your access to sunlight

This is important and determines what and where you can plant. For example, if you intend to grow tomatoes, you will need about 8 hours of direct sunlight. Therefore, if you only have access to 3 hours of sunlight, you'll have to grow plants that will thrive with only 3 hours of sunlight.

3. Decide on what you want to grow

Ask yourself the following questions when considering what to grow: • What do I eat most?

• What makes the most financial sense? • What are the best plants to grow in pots, if you don't have access to a patch of soil?

4. Get started on your garden

You can either choose seeds or transplant from an already growing plant. Ensure you select the right container and you should be good to go. You can also visit your local home & garden store or purchase your instant urban garden with plants already growing from Plantsmart JA.

Dr. Neggo-Shane Powell is the owner of Plantsmart JA. For more information on how you can start your own urban garden you can contact him via email plantsmartja@gmail.com