Townhouse gardening - Knowledgebase Question

Livingston, Ne
Avatar for jxun
Question by jxun
August 19, 2009
Hello
I just moved into a townhouse and would like to have some advice for creating a garden for vegetables and fruits.

We don't have a backyard, do have a balcony and porch. So no natual soil available per se. Is there anyway I can build out a small space for plants on balcony? Can the fruit trees survive in large containers?

Thanks!
Jenny


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Answer from NGA
August 19, 2009
Your in luck! Most annual and perennial flowers adapt to growing in containers, and some veggies will grow in containers, as well. When choosing containers, make sure they have adequate drainage holes in the bottoms, and use potting mix rather than garden soil. Potting mixes contain organic material, sand and perlite or vermiculite, which makes them light, fast-draining and moisture retentive. The annuals you choose should be specific to the environment. If it's a mostly shady spot, you can grow pansies and lettuce together. Or, grow impatiens, lobelia, campanula, or helleborus. The choice of annuals is almost limitless. If it's a sunny spot, choose sun loving petunias, coneflowers, sunflowers, etc. For some specific ideas, consult "Container Gardening for Dummies", published by IDG, ISBN# 0-7645-5057-8. The book is full of plant lists for specific situations, discusses the basics of watering and fertilizing, and provides lots of ideas for turning your deck or balcony into a colorful garden site. You can successfully grow dwarf fruit trees in containers, providing you have a sunny site. Enjoy your new garden!

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