Growing food in an apartment.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jolita Brilliant on May 17, 2012 at 5:00pm

I was thinking about this too haha, but dont think itll work out

Permalink Reply by Trevor Gates on May 17, 2012 at 5:03pm

wheat grass and sprouts. Maybe strawberries. Move to Hawaii you monkeys niece!

Permalink Reply by Sunny on June 8, 2012 at 1:49pm

Container gardening is the best way I have found to grow organic veggies in sandy Florida so that means any other state as well for whatever you have.

I started out in 92-93 with earth boxes and they are still going.

Now though I make my own. It is a little labor intensive but then the boxes last in the hot summers down here 4-6 years.

We cut up Sterilite 18 gallon totes and convert them into self contained little gardens. It is important to look for the number 5 recycling symbol. BTW Rubbermaid didn't last a year without tearing up.  Lambert's organic potting MIX NOT SOIL as it is lighter and more conducive to container growing is being used this year though most of my containers have JungleGrow organic potting MIX. I use fish emulsion from Alaksa,(but since the contaminated waters I probably won't use this in the future) worm tea and castings and my own organic compost to supplement the soil.The soil micro-organisms are better than fertilizer. We water and fertilize through a tube that goes to the bottom of the container. I cut the middle section of the lid out and fill it with holes to hold a slotted sewer pipe cut to 6 inches (I use four of them tied to the lid with cable ties) I make a lot of other holes for aeration. This piece goes to the bottom which is now 6 inches high. On the bin 4 inches from the bottom on one side only I put a 1 inch drain hole so I don't over water. Paint and number each container especially the lid ring left over from cutting the middle out. Use it to hold a trash bag or or other cloth as a mulch to keep the weeds out and moisture in. The paint will block out some of the sun's rays and the numbers to keep track of what was planted in each bin for crop rotation. Also record the year the supplements used and any dis-eases or bug infestations for easy reference.

This year is my biggest crop yet. We are growing onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, eggplants (Ichibon and white as black beauty is on the suspect GMO list), yellow squash, crook neck squash, summer squash, zucchini, green peas but they died when we used the compost and not potting mix, green beans bush type, watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew melon, musk melon, okra, red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, kale, collards,

In other 3, 5  and 7 gallon containers we are growing blueberries, sweet potatoes, lemon, limes, mangoes, avocado, pomegranate ( would rather have persimmon got confused when looking at the twig grin) in a 15 gallon container a grapefruit tree.

Herbs: lemongrass, basil cilantro culantro lots of basil varieties, lots of mints, rosemary, dill, parsley, and more.

We have a small backyard and I am renting. The septic tank is in the best sunny area so we couldn't plant in the ground. I went to a local carpet store and asked to raid their dumpster for old carpet to make a walkway and to cut down on weeds though they grow through the carpet anyway. It also helps to slide the containers on as I move them if there is too  much or too little sun.

We are planting some planters that are for the insects to eat and leave my other bins alone. So far it is doing a fairly good job though sometimes they need reminding which bin is theirs.

Mocking birds would come within a foot of me while watering and eat the ripest blueberries they know where the best produce in the neighborhood is. The plastic hawk means nothing to them.

See the attached pics.

Attachments:

• Solaras earth box garden Spring Summer 09.pdf, 664 KB
• IMG_0763.JPG, 3.6 MB
• IMG_0938.JPG, 2.6 MB

Permalink Reply by Sunny on June 8, 2012 at 2:39pm

the PDF from previous reply was from 09 and shows the bin pretty well, the other two May 2012

We also have figs, red Swiss chard, cabbage,

Attachments:

• drill holes.JPG, 2.1 MB
• Trace lid to fit sides.JPG, 2.2 MB
• sewer pipe slotted.JPG, 2 MB

Permalink Reply by Sunny on June 8, 2012 at 2:44pm

Cabbage, Collards and Celery in 18 gallon tote bins

Attachments:

• Cabbage 3-29-12.JPG, 2.2 MB
• Celery 3-29-12.JPG, 3.4 MB
• collards 3-29-23.JPG, 2.1 MB

Permalink Reply by Cassie K on June 26, 2012 at 3:23am

Everything! Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, kale, collards, strawberries, herbs, peas, the list goes on. Check out this dude on youtube that used to garden in containers (he lived in New York so his space was limited too): http://www.youtube.com/user/CanarsieBK

I also have a post on my blog about how you can grow plants in a limited amount of space: Three Ways to Grow Food & Other Plants for Apartment Dwellers (.... Ultimately, think vertically when planting ;)