There is a common misconception that it is not possible to have a garden when you do not have access to a yard. Container gardening can occur in the tiniest apartment, as long as there is some access to sunlight. Even without sunlight, you could always create a system of glow lights that would mimic the impact of the sun, but if you choose to do that, you should be aware that it can be expensive. It is helpful, but creating a garden in that way should be seen as more of a long-term investment than a first attempt at gardening.
Container gardening can use almost any size container to start, but you might need to remember that as your plants or foods grow, you may need to change them into larger containers. Research into the specific needs of the items you are growing is going to be very important as well, because over-watering can be as harmful to a tender young plant as forgetting to water could be.
If you don’t have a small container to start with, that is still okay. You can save money using a larger container, but covering up the bottom part with old plastic bottles, then covering it with plastic sheets. This not only allows you to use whatever size container you like or that is available to you, but reduces the amount of potting soil that will be needed to fill the container. Just make sure that you do not forget to allow some space for the future roots to go, so don’t use too many plastic bottles and don’t use something that is solid, like a plastic cutting board as the base.
Don’t Forget to Choose the Right Fertilizer
People do not always tell you that even the most expensive potting mix probably does not have enough minerals in it to support healthy growth of anything. If you do not use a fertilizer, or do not use the right one, you will be setting yourself up for failure and sentencing the little seedlings to death.
There are so many different kinds of fertilizer today that choosing one can be challenging. If you are confused or undecided, you may want to consult the packaging for the seeds you will be using. If that is not an option, you can also consult the people who work at a local nursery.
Although virtually every item that can be grown is likely to benefit from fertilizer, certain plants will need different kinds of minerals in order to grow well and be healthy. It is often suggested to start each plant, especially if they are growing in a container, with a slow release fertilizer and to then supplement them with the fertilizer of your choice every two weeks or so after that.
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