Learn how to bring nature into your small living space with the wonderful world of container gardens with one of our favorite sustainable life hacks. Grow non-GMO, organic food easily and productively in any small space.
Are you looking for ways to bring some nature into your small living space? Think that because you live in a small apartment, you can't grow your own food? Well, think again! Today, we want to introduce you to the wonderful world of container gardening.
So, let's debunk a common myth right now: you don't need a big outdoor space to grow your own non-GMO, organic food. If you have a porch, a balcony, or even just a window sill, you can create your own little garden oasis!
Container planting is especially great if you are short on both time and space since they are located where you live your daily life, on the balcony where you have your breakfast, or by the windowsill where you sip your morning coffee. Their close proximity makes them more convenient to maintain than a typical outdoor kitchen garden.
And don't let small container gardens deceive you. Small container gardens can be extremely productive with just minimal effort. Did you know that a single tomato plant can give you up to 20 pounds of juicy tomatoes in one summer?
Now, if you're feeling inspired to create your own eco-friendly container garden, we're here to tell you it's easier than you might think. With these resources and tips, you can create a beautiful, thriving garden in any small space.
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What is a Container Garden?
A container garden is a garden grown in pots, planters, or other vessels rather than directly in the ground. This makes container gardening ideal for small spaces like apartments, balconies, and patios.
The Benefits of Starting A Container Garden
There are many benefits to growing a container garden:
- Reduces Waste - Upcycling and repurposing containers reduces waste and the use of single-use items. Composting scraps enriches soil. Collecting rainwater conserves resources.
- Reduces Food Waste - Grow what you need, harvest when ready, and utilize all edible parts. Less spoilage means less waste.
- Saves Money - Homegrown produce delivered straight from your windowsill eliminates expensive grocery bills. Starting from seed is practically free.
- Reduces Your Carbon Footprint - Eliminate single-use plastics and transportation emissions associated with store-bought food.
- Improves Health & Wellbeing - Fresh air, sunshine, nutritious food, and being connected to nature enhances wellness
Now that you know the basics, let's dig into how to create your own thriving container garden!
How to Grow Food in Small Spaces
1) Location is Everything: Finding the Best Spot for Your Garden
When it comes to container gardening, location is everything. First things first, you'll want to find areas in your home that receive the best natural sunlight.
Determine Your Directions
If you're living in the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing spaces will receive the most direct sunlight.
Now, if you're like us and struggle with directions, don't worry! You can use the compass app on your phone to determine which direction your preferred spaces are facing.
If you don't have a south-facing window, don't fret! East-facing or west-facing spaces are also great options.
Seed packages will generally indicate how much sun a particular plant will need each day as well as the intensity or amount of sun it requires to reach its full potential.
How To Determine The Intensity of Natural Light
If you need to determine the intensity of sunlight in your chosen space, you can place your hand about a foot above where your plant will sit and spread your fingers wide around mid-day.
Check out the shadow cast by your hand. A well-defined shadow means your light is strong, while fuzzier and fainter shadows indicate you may need a grow light.
2) From Seed to Plate: Choosing the Perfect Plants for Your Container Garden
Once you’ve determined the amount of space and the lighting, you’ll want to pick plants that will do well in the conditions that you have.
We recommend selecting organic seeds for your garden. Non-organic seeds are harvested from non-organic plants that are grown with synthetic fertilizers and harsh pesticides. Because of this, non-organic seeds will only grow with the help of those same synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Organic seeds, on the other hand, come from plants that were grown using natural fertilizers and pest control methods. Because farmers need to keep their organic plants healthy all the way through seed maturity, organic seeds are from the healthiest and strongest plants and won’t need synthetic chemicals to keep them going.
If you’re a beginner to container gardening, here are some great options to get you started and boost your confidence:
3) Choose The Right Container For Organic Gardening
When selecting containers for your garden, you’ll want to consider not just the size and shape but also what they're made from. Try to avoid containers made from materials that will leach harmful chemicals into the soil, like treated wood or PVC.
Containers made from terracotta or recycled plastic bags (which help to cut down on plastic pollution), as well as planters made from stone, metal, and untreated natural wood like cedar, redwood, or teak, are your best bet.
To maximize your space, think vertically. Hanging baskets and hooked pots that hang from walls or railings are great options when space is limited. Trellises can also be helpful if you need space to hang containers.
Windowsills are another great space-saving place to plant a small garden, especially if you want to grow your own herbs like basil, chives, sorrel, oregano, and French tarragon.
4) Get Your Hands Dirty: Choosing the Right Soil Mix for Your Organic Container Garden
The primary goal is to choose the right type of soil mix that will meet the specific needs of the plants you are planning to grow. Here are some tips:
Go organic! Look for high-quality soil mixes that don't have any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Peat-free options are even better because peat moss is often harvested in a not-so-eco-friendly way and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Compost is your friend! Make sure your soil mix has some compost added in. This helps with water retention, gives your plants the nutrients they need, and adds to biodiversity.
Soil types matter! If you're planting seeds, look for a seed-starting blend. If you're transplanting starter plants, a compost blend is your best bet.
Drainage is key! Container gardening soil should have the right balance of drainage and moisture retention.
Check the pH! Different plants like different pH levels, so make sure your soil matches your plants' needs. You can test the pH easily with a kit.
We really like Organic Mechanics Container Blend Potting Soil. The soil drains well, so there is less risk of root rot, but it holds moisture well, so you're not constantly having to water. This soil works well for any size container, whether large or small.
5) How to Nourish Your Organic Container Garden
Beyond water and light, plants require primary nutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium for successful growth. Regularly adding organic matter like compost and aged manure will keep your soil healthy and your plants productive.
One of the most effective methods for creating nutrient-rich soil is composting. It's also the most sustainable choice for feeding your garden and will save you money.
There are so many awesome countertop composting systems to choose from these days! If you’re using a countertop composter, you’ll want to be mindful of using a balanced mix of “green” and “brown” materials to create compost that you can actually use in your garden.
If composting at home is more than you're ready to take on, another option for feeding your container garden is to use a natural plant food like Arber Organic Plant Food.
Be diligent in order to avoid over-fertilizing your plants. Over-fertilization can lead to nutrient burn and damage to the roots. Always follow the instructions on the package and use organic fertilizers sparingly.
Companion planting is another easy, low-maintenance way to ensure your plants are receiving the nutrients they need. Certain plants, like legumes, can fix nitrogen in the soil and benefit nearby plants that require nitrogen to grow.
Sustainable Life Hacks for Your Container Garden
Growing a flourishing container garden starts with embracing sustainability. With some clever life hacks, you can reduce your environmental impact while nurturing happy, healthy plants.
Compost Food Waste
Compost adds nutrients to soil while reducing methane emissions from rotting food. Set up a compost bin, toss in fruit and veggie scraps, let it decompose, and voila! You’ve created an organic superfood for your plants.
Collect Rain Water
Place buckets and barrels under downspouts during storms. This free natural way to conserve resources plus rain water doesn't contain chlorine or fluoride, making it ideal for gardens. This sustainability hack will also help cut down on your water bill and keep extra cash in your pocket.
Natural Pest Control
Attract beneficial insects by planting pollinator-friendly flowers like marigolds and lavender. As an added bonus, they’ll help control pests naturally. Avoid using chemical pesticides and herbicides, which can contaminate soil and threaten delicate ecosystems.
How A Container Garden Can Help You Save Money
Planting a container garden might seem insignificant, but those tiny seeds can sprout some serious savings. Growing more food at your house eliminates pricey grocery bills. With a bit of planning, you can slash what you spend while enjoying nature's bounty.
Start Plants From Seeds
Starting plants from seed is great for saving money compared to buying seedlings. A packet of seeds costs just pennies and contains enough to yield pounds of produce. Have fun playing plant parent, nurturing your seeds into seedlings.
Make Your Own Compost
Creating your own compost also reduces costs and keeps food waste out of the trash. Recycle scraps from fruits, veggies, and coffee grounds into nutritious fertilizer. Compost boosts soil health and enriches plants with nutrients for robust growth.
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint with a Container Garden
When cultivating a container garden, you’re embracing sustainability from the ground up. To help reduce your carbon footprint and reduce carbon emissions, start by selecting native plants adapted to your region's climate and soil. Local species thrive with minimal intervention, conserving water and your energy costs.
Stick to organic gardening techniques to avoid toxic pesticides and fertilizers that can contribute to climate change. The production of these agricultural chemicals takes a lot of energy consumption and emits carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change.
Handpick pests, use natural repellents like neem oil and white vinegar or introduce beneficial predators. Boost soil health by composting plant waste and food scraps right in your kitchen.
By working in harmony with nature, you'll cultivate thriving plants while protecting the planet we all share.
Reducing Food Waste with a Container Garden
Growing your own food is a sustainable choice and one of the most effective ways to reduce your household food waste. A container garden keeps fresh produce within arm's reach so you can harvest as needed. No more fretting over wilted greens or fuzzy berries.
When you shop for a whole week at once, it's tricky to predict how much your family will actually eat. Despite good intentions, a third of food at home ends up in landfills. With a container garden, you eliminate waste by picking just what you need for a meal.
Don't toss those carrot tops; reserve them for homemade pesto! Strawberry tops can be transformed into refreshing infused water. Fan leaves from vegetables make nutritious stir-fry greens. Every edible part finds a purpose.
Compost what's left - those wilted herbs or corn cobs feed your soil, continuing the cycle of life. A container garden utilizes nature's bounty with reverence and gratitude while reducing waste.
Baking Soda: A Sustainable Gardening Superhero
Take a look under your kitchen sink, and you’ll find an all-natural hero for eco-friendly gardening - baking soda! This pantry staple has many applications for greening your container garden.
Mix baking soda with water to create a gentle pesticide and fungicide, ridding plants of aphids, mites, and mildew without harsh chemicals. For a quick clean, dip dirty trowels and pruners into a baking soda solution to remove caked-on mud.
To accelerate your compost’s decomposition, sprinkle some baking soda into the bin. This adjustment in pH helps beneficial microbes thrive and break down organic matter faster.
Check your soil’s pH regularly. If it’s too acidic, baking soda comes to the rescue again. Mix a small amount into the soil to neutralize acid and create an ideal environment for plants to absorb nutrients.
This blog post was all about sustainable life hacks for container gardening.
Container gardening allows anyone, even those with limited space, to reap the many benefits of growing their own food. This sustainable method reduces waste, lowers food costs, shrinks your carbon footprint, and enhances health and wellbeing. Every day can be Earth Day!
In this post, we covered the basics of container gardening, from choosing the right containers and soil to finding the optimal sunlight location. We shared tips for selecting the best plants for small spaces and nourishing your garden organically with compost and small changes like smart companion planting. We also provided eco-friendly tips to save money, like collecting rainwater, repurposing household items as planters, and attracting beneficial insects.
Container gardening empowers anyone to become more self-sufficient while being kind to the planet. If you're feeling inspired to green your thumb, start small with a sunny windowsill or balcony box. Before you know it, you'll be harvesting homegrown goodness and living more sustainably.
What sustainable hack are you most excited to try in your container garden? Share your experiences in the comments below!
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