Urban Gardening Guide
Transform balconies, patios, rooftops, and windowsills into productive gardens. No yard? No problem. Learn container gardening, vertical growing, and space-saving techniques.
Why Urban Gardening?
Over 80% of Americans live in urban areas, but that doesn't mean giving up fresh, homegrown produce. With the right techniques, you can grow an impressive amount of food in surprisingly small spaces - even a sunny window can produce fresh herbs year-round.
Fresh & Local
Harvest minutes before eating for maximum nutrition and flavor
Control
Know exactly what goes into growing your food - no pesticides required
Space Efficient
Even 4 square feet can yield 50+ lbs of produce per year
Urban Garden Types
Choose the approach that best fits your available space and conditions.
Grow anything in pots, planters, and containers on patios, decks, or indoors.
Best Crops:
Key Considerations
- !Containers dry out faster than ground soil
- !Need quality potting mix, not garden soil
- !Larger containers = less frequent watering
- !Must have drainage holes
Pro Tips
- Use light-colored pots to prevent overheating
- Group containers to create humidity
- Self-watering containers reduce maintenance
- Elevate pots for better drainage and air flow
Container Size Guide
| Container Size | Volume | Best Crops |
|---|---|---|
| 6-8 inch | 1-2 gal | Herbs, lettuce, radishes, green onions |
| 10-12 inch | 3-5 gal | Peppers, bush beans, beets, carrots |
| 14-18 inch | 7-15 gal | Tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, squash |
| 20+ inch | 15+ gal | Large tomatoes, potatoes, fruit trees |
When in doubt, go bigger. Larger containers retain moisture longer, require less frequent watering, and give roots more room to grow.
Best Crops for Containers
Cherry Tomatoes
5+ gallonsVarieties: Tumbling Tom, Tiny Tim, Patio Princess
Lettuce & Salad Greens
2+ gallonsVarieties: Buttercrunch, Little Gem, Mesclun mix
Herbs
1-2 gallonsVarieties: Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Mint, Thyme
Peppers
3-5 gallonsVarieties: Patio Snacker, Pot-a-Peno, Mohawk
Bush Beans
3+ gallonsVarieties: Bush Blue Lake, Mascotte
Radishes
1-2 gallonsVarieties: Cherry Belle, French Breakfast
Green Onions
1 gallonVarieties: Evergreen, Tokyo Long White
Strawberries
2+ gallonsVarieties: Alpine, Everbearing varieties
Essential Urban Gardening Tips
- Water when top 1" of soil is dry - stick your finger in to check
- Water deeply until it drains from bottom
- Morning watering reduces disease risk
- Mulch top of containers to retain moisture
- Most vegetables need 6-8 hours direct sun
- Leafy greens and herbs tolerate 4-6 hours
- Track sun patterns before choosing locations
- Use reflective surfaces to increase light
- Use potting mix, never garden soil in containers
- Feed every 2-4 weeks with liquid fertilizer
- Refresh or replace soil each growing season
- Add slow-release fertilizer at planting
- Use windbreaks on exposed balconies
- Move containers to shelter in extreme weather
- Light-colored pots prevent root overheating
- Group pots together to create humidity