January in the Garden Part 2

Let's say you don't have a space for a garden. You live in an apartment and don't have dirt.

I have a few ideas for you. There are so many options.

When I lived in an apartment, I found that the city I lived in has a community Garden. For $20 a year...yes, that's right, I had a plot that was 16 ft X 16 ft. I still have a plot there. I started with just digging rows 16 ft long and planting whatever was in season. It was pretty successful. I then went to the Raised Bed method and was even more successful.

Many communities have them and they are a good way to meet like minded people, make new friends and share gardening tips.

Another option, if your apartment has some sun on the balcony, is to use several planter boxes. You can grow so much in container gardens....anything from herbs to tomatoes. They can be the wooden box planters or the plastic hanging baskets, or the ones you attach to your balcony railing. Get some good organic garden compost and plant away. I suggest checking out online how to do each veggie in that they all need a little different care. You can even plant potatoes in containers. I have mine planted in wire baskets out in the garden. They seem to produce more that way.

Check out those upside down planters. They work well, too

If you have limited space, you can get herb planters with grow lights for in your kitchen, living room...where ever. There are kits you can buy, or make your own.

If you do plant on a balcony or in your kitchen, you have a larger selection to start with in January. Grow lettuce and spinach, chard and kale on your porch. Plant from seed and they will spring up in no time. They like cold weather. You can put some onions into a larger planter. As they grow tall, thin them out and eat the scallions. They are easy and grow fast.

Inside, plant a tomato in your upside down planter. You will have fruit to eat by March. Herbs plants are available in many nurseries now. Get the ones you will use, like basil, oregano, thyme and chives. There are thousands of ideas for small space planting. This is one of my favorites.

The best food is the food you grow yourself. There isn't a greater thrill than eating that home grown tomato right off the vine.

SO go for it!