High-rise living doesn't have to mean forsaking your green thumb. Crunchy veggies, savoury herbs and colourful flowers can find a home in even the smallest condo or townhome. It just requires a little bit of sunshine and creative thinking.
Just ask Paul Zammit, director of horticulture for the Toronto Botanical Gardens. He confesses that he's run out of space in every garden he's ever planted. It's taught him to look for different solutions and to maximize every square inch -- patios, rooftops, balconies.
Don't ignore the vertical dimension -- grow up. With trellises and obelisks, small-space gardeners can cultivate climbers like pole beans, peas and select forms of cucumbers, as well as pretty ornamentals like nasturtiums, morning glories and thunbergias. Hanging baskets brimming with flowers or herbs also inject a multi-level appeal.
Attractive pots enhance your outdoor space, sitting pretty even in cooler months, and low-cost solutions abound. Zammit planted old-style recycling boxes chock-full of veggies at the recent Green Living Show. Most people still have the old heavy-duty ones around, so recycle them; they have great soil volume, handles and built-in drainage holes.
Mix it up
Gardening is attracting new devotees, thanks to the trend to fresh, organic foods, garden-to-table eating and locally grown produce. While green thumbs with plenty of real estate often segregate ornamentals, vegetables and herbs, small-space gardeners don't have the same luxury -- they need to think "outside the container."
"Do your homework. A lot of the seed packages are specifically labelled 'Suitable for containers,' says Zammit. "If you've grown petunias or geraniums in a container, why not tuck in sage or rosemary or thyme? You can harvest from the herbs and get the aesthetics from the flowers."
While it's still on the cool side, plant radishes, beets, chard, mesclun mix, all the different lettuces -- they're all very cold-tolerant. If you're growing beans in containers, choose a bush variety unless you have plenty of vertical space.
As spring advances, start in with the warmer crops. All you need is one cherry tomato -- they're very prolific. Herbs add a sensory bonus and often sport attractive foliage that complements other plantings. Zammit especially likes a new cultivar of basil called Perpetual Pesto.
Try high
Canadian gardening expert Mark Cullen suggests that high-rise dwellers try high-density or square-foot gardening to increase their harvest and reduce their maintenance. Planting intensely gives a lush look.
The closely spaced plants harbour moisture around their roots, shading out weeds with their foliage before the weeds can germinate and establish themselves.
"The need for sun is intensified by the fact that you're planting intensely; you need to choose what you plant wisely. Fast crops work best -- beans, radishes, lettuce; big, long-season crops, like cabbage and broccoli don't do as well."
Square-foot gardening means a lot less work for the gardener, he notes. Like all container planting, it requires excellent drainage. The planting bed won't dry out as readily, and air circulation and sun penetration is lessened, thereby increasing the danger of disease or mould.
"You just want to make absolutely sure that the water's draining away quickly," says Cullen. "Add lots of sharp sand to your planting mix."
He also recommends interplanting vegetables with onions or garlic to prevent and discourage insect pests, and staking tomatoes to keep them high and dry and off the ground.
Easy care
Plants in containers depend on you for their water, and also for their nutrients. Water regularly and feed weekly with a slow-release or organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion. Never double up feedings or exceed the recommended amount.
Other than watering and feeding, containers require little maintenance. Remove yellowing or decaying leaves and "deadhead" (remove faded blossoms) flowering plants to encourage more blooms. Rejuvenate mesclun mix with a good cutting back. With tomatoes, pinch out the suckers or the side shoots to create strong stems.
"A garden, even if it's on a balcony, is an extension of [your] living space. As long as you get some level of sunlight you can still have a garden through the use of containers," Zammit says. "But be realistic. Are you a diligent gardener? A faithful gardener? A relaxed gardener? Buy plant material that suits your life to avoid disappointment and frustration. If you won't remember to water faithfully, select drought-tolerant plants like the succulents that can take the abuse and neglect.
"And remember: the plants we grow produce the air we breathe -- the more green we get going, the better."
Safety first
* On balconies, check with your superintendent and respect rules about weight capacity -- hanging baskets and planters can get heavy.
* Secure hanging baskets and planters well. Weight down grounded pots with bricks or gravel to prevent tipping and toppling.
* Avoid railing planters entirely -- they can be dangerous if they fall.
* Be considerate of your neighbours -- use a saucer to catch the drips.
