10 Tips for a Successful Vegetable Garden - Urban Programs Travis County (2024)

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10 Tips for a Successful Vegetable Garden - Urban Programs Travis County? ›

Tips for starting an urban garden

Find a place where the plant has access to at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. Plants can be grown on the roof (with permission of course). They can also be grown in window boxes, patios, as well as on balconies in hanging baskets. Soil depth is key.

Tips for starting an urban garden

Find a place where the plant has access to at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. Plants can be grown on the roof (with permission of course). They can also be grown in window boxes, patios, as well as on balconies in hanging baskets. Soil depth is key.

Chard, lettuce, cherry and bush tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, summer squash, Asian greens, and bush beans are all excellent options for a container garden, depending on the size of your container. And don't forget herbs—basil, chives, thyme and more.

As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.

Urban gardens are often surrounded by high walls and buildings. Make the most of the backdrops and conditions these provide by growing climbers and shade-loving plants. Painting or rendering walls and using light-coloured paving can help brighten dark areas, as can glossy-leaved and variegated plants.

In addition, urban gardens contribute to the health and well-being of city residents through stress reduction (Marsh et al., 2021), community cohesion (Clarke et al., 2023) and fresh fruit and vegetable production (Alaimo et al., 2008) that improves physical health (Kunpeuk et al., 2020).

Urban agriculture can include community gardens; larger scale urban farms or orchards; growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices for market; raising chickens or livestock and keeping bees. It also may include growing flowers and non-food crops for landscaping and other uses.

Which plants are best for city gardens? ›

Snake plants, bamboo plants, types of pothos and spider plants can all thrive in indirect light. For sunnier spots, try options like aloe vera, jade plants, succulents and types of cacti. Many of these plants are also low-maintenance when it comes to watering.

Urban growth eliminates waste from commercial farms.

Sixty million tons of produce are thrown away every year in the United States. Through avoiding mishaps in packing and paying more attention to individual plants, we can save food.

The ideal garden area gets full or nearly full sunlight and has deep, well-drained, fertile soil. The garden should be near a water outlet but not close to competing shrubs or trees. However, if you modify certain cultural practices and select the right crops, almost any site can become a highly productive garden.

Plant closely

That loose, rich soil will let you space plants slightly closer than the packs say. More importantly, plant in blocks instead of rows. Raised beds don't waste space on rows since you'll be picking, working, and walking around the perimeter – especially when you keep the bed widths to four feet wide.

Work a two to three inch layer of compost into the soil with a rototiller or shovel at least a month prior to planting. Smooth the surface so that you are ready to plant when the weather is appropriate. Also, consider having the soil in your garden nutrient tested through a certified lab before planting.