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What Is Urban Gardening?

Written by Peter Horn on .

What Is Urban Gardening? Urban gardening is growing all types of plants on a small scale in an urban environment. This means that they have to suffer city pollution, smog, and road salts. Packed in tight urban areas, most of us think that we don’t have any place to grow our green heaven. Let’s think about it the other way. Many plants require shade to grow, grow in as little as one pot, and grow in hanging pots. Even if you are living in a small home, you can grow fresh veggies indoors. Let’s see how. Types of Urban Gardening There are five types of urban gardening; indoor, container, community, guerilla, and rooftop gardening. Indoor gardening is best for people who have no balconies or yards attached to their homes. Here, plants grow in indoor sunrooms or greenhouses. Container gardening uses containers such as buckets, plastic pools, cans, and shoes to grow a garden in balconies, patios, or yards. Community gardening uses outdoor public or private places to do gardening as a source of enjoyment or to grow food. Here, people make groups and work on plants. Guerilla gardening is a technique of adding plants to outdoor gardens that do not belong to the gardener. Green Roofs are common in urban areas. They support the growth of plants and trees on top of buildings. Benefits of Growing an Urban Garden Growing an urban garden has positive impacts on human health, the environment, and its economy. Gardening is therapeutic as it enhances our physical and mental health. Not only this, but urban gardening ensures that no harmful chemicals and pests are sprayed on plants, which makes them healthier. Besides, urban community gardening helps people bond with each other and educates children about nature and food growth. Urban gardening is known to reduce soil erosion and add greenery to the harsh city environment. It adds to the local sources of high-quality food as it does not use pesticides and chemical fertilizers, which reduces chemical pollution. Its economic impacts include that it creates jobs and reduces storage, packing, and transportation. 5 Best Plants to Grow in Your Urban Garden Growing something in urban areas can be a challenging task. We have to consider growing something in that limited area and growing in a harsh urban environment. Here is a list of plants you can quickly grow in an urban garden.
  1. Zucchini:
Also known as low-carb pasta, zucchini is a plant that grows in minimum space. Plant it after two weeks of the last frost date in your area. Sunlight: at least 6 hours daily Water: 1-2 inches whenever dry.
  1. Cherry Tomatoes:
Rich in lycopene, cherry tomatoes have the potential to limit UV damage on your skin. Plant it indoors 6 weeks before you plan to plant it outside. Sunlight: 6-8 hours daily Water: 1-2 inches a week. Keep it moist for ideal growth
  1. Beans:
Beans are known to take up little space. While the pole beans save space by growing vertically, bush beans save space on raised beds. Water regularly for ideal growth. Sunlight: 8-10 hours daily Water: 1-2 inches each day
  1. Radishes:
Just like the vegetables above, radishes take up very little space while growing. Sow radish seeds three weeks before the last frost date or six weeks before the first frost date in fall. Sunlight: at least 6 hours daily Water: 1 inch each week
  1. Mint:
Mint is a vegetable that will grow vigorously, thus don’t plant it on ground; else, it will cover all the ground. Plant it in early spring or warm winter days. Sunlight: at least 6 hours daily Water: 1-2 inches a week Your plants may need more water in case of a dry climate. Do not leave the soil dry. Tips to Grow an Urban Garden Start with picking plants correctly. An easy-grow and quick-grow plant that supports your area’s climate will work best. Next, plant it where the sun is and check out where you want to grow your urban garden. If the area is small, don’t plant trees. Check out your soil by conducting soil tests! Soil should be well-draining and nutrient-rich. Besides, make drainage holes in pots and grow vertical plants as they take up less space. While selecting pots, take into notice that clay pots absorb more water, leaving plants dry. You better choose plastic pots to grow plants. Finally, use chemical-free pests and organic fertilizers. Shred and compost your kitchen trash to enhance the richness of the soil used. FAQs About Urban Gardening Are you still confused about urban gardens? The questions below will help you understand urban gardening better. What are common Urban Gardening Problems? Urban gardening comes with numerous problems, and the biggest of them is air pollution. The air quality can destroy soil bodies resulting in reduced plant yield. Also, apartments are small, and usually, you do not have a water source near your urban garden. Watering daily can become a challenge for the urban garden owner. If you plan to grow plants in community gardens or practice Guerilla gardening, it is likely that you don’t get permission to do so. What are the Examples of Urban Gardens Urban gardening has grown a lot in popularity over the last 15 years. Below are some famous examples of urban gardens.
  1. City Farmer, Columbia
City Farmer contributes to eco-friendly households. It has been running for the last 33 years, telling people how to make green roofs and grow organic plants.
  1. O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
This airport has an urban garden that aims to reduce travel stress in travelers. It is an eco-friendly and environmental place that uses one-third of the total water used in conventional farms. Besides, it provides food to many food traders.
  1. La Finca Del Sur Community Garden, NewYork
This community garden provides the community with food at affordable prices. Along with it, it promises to provide green space in between harsh urban city environments. Do you know that urban gardens are around 15 times more productive than conventional gardens? Is Urban Gardening Worth It? Yes, the urban garden can help reduce carbon footprint, soil erosion, uses 90% less water than conventional gardening, and provides you with fresh, chemical-free food. A little labor done on urban gardens is worth it. Conclusion People believe that urban gardens are either impossible to grow or not their cup of tea, but we think the opposite. Urban parks bring many health, social and economic benefits, and we cannot overlook them. With a little hard work and dedication, you can grow an urban garden in the small place you have. Go ahead, plant your very own urban garden.