Not everyone has access to in-ground gardening opportunities. Renters can’t dig up lawns, apartment-dwelling folks can only use their patios/balconies, or at times the actual ground is not worth spending thousands improving if a property has horrendous soil. The illusion that the only way to grow one’s own food is through an old fashioned garden bed prevents many people from even attempting; however, many ways exist to grow one’s own fresh vegetables and herbs without ever digging a spade in the ground.
These are not inferior substitutes for traditional gardening beds; often, these solutions prove more effective with easier maintenance, higher yields per square meter, better pest prevention and water conservation. It’s just a matter of finding the appropriate solutions for the appropriate spaces and situations instead of cramming old world gardening into a space without that option.
The Most Versatile Solution: Container Growing
Container growing works in virtually any space that gets a few hours of sun per day, whether that’s a patio, driveway, balcony or rooftop. Containers are portable, meaning that renters can take them if they move. They come in various sizes from small clay pots for herbs to large planter boxes that can grow tomatoes, peppers and even dwarf varieties of fruit trees.
More importantly, the soil inside containers can be perfect right from the start as opposed to trying to improve ground soil over years of effort. Drainage holes can be punched in as necessary. It can be raised for easier harvesting. Plants that aren’t doing well can be set aside from other plants or moved elsewhere.
The only downside is volume. Containers will dry out faster than gardens, especially in 100-degree weather, meaning more frequent watering. Less soil volume means less nutrients available, meaning plants will need feeding more often (although this is a pro for multiple empty containers available). But for those people who don’t have ground access, this is an acceptable compromise.
Note the sizes: Herbs and lettuce do well in pots ranging 20-30cm while tomatoes, eggplants and peppers need at least 40-50cm depth and diameter. Root vegetables desire deeper containers – at least 30cm high for carrots and radishes.
Vertical Tower Systems
Tower systems take vertical gardening positions into account. Instead of one square meter of growing surface, a tower system multiplies it into several square meters of growing area. Tower systems often use hydroponics or aeroponics so plants don’t ever actually see soil; rather, water and nutrients are facilitated through temperature and pressure generated systems on a schedule.
Space efficiency is highly important; instead of taking up ground space that a pot would utilize, a tower can grow 20-30 plants in a single vertical space on a balcony or small patio where ground space may otherwise be limited.
Water conservation is more effective for these systems as well. Soil-gardening requires 70-90% less water than gardening in actual soil as there’s no draining or evaporation from the top of the soil. For people living where water conservations are often at the forefront of monthly bills and practical thoughts in times of drought, this is an added perk.
The best tower garden systems combine organic solutions with automated watering so daily maintenance isn’t needed – but natural methods still are. This means it’s suitable for travellers or those with uneven schedules.
The startup costs can be higher than initially container gardening – typically $300-$800 based on size and features – but ongoing costs remain low.
Raised Beds and Planter Boxes
Raised beds (and planter boxes) are not portable solutions but at least are appreciated by those who cannot dig into ground soil due to contamination, poor drainage or impervious hardscapes. Raised beds allow gardeners to build on top of existing obstacles and create an ideal growing environment without any prep.
Wicking beds take this one step further by creating a reservoir beneath the level of the soil where minimal watering needs to occur. Instead of watering soil every day, fill the reservoir once weekly and the plants will pull moisture up as they need it.
Costs vary on construction from $100-$300 for simple timber plans (depending on size) or $300+ for aluminium raised beds; metal last longer but cost more. Furthermore, the cost of filling with actual soil is where things get tricky. A large raised bed might require $200-$400 worth of good growing mix.
Hydroponic Systems
Instead of planting in soil (or containers), hydroponics allow plants to grow in water-based nutrient solutions. From kratky systems (the jars on windowsills) to complicated designs with pumps, timers and multiple growing channels, hydroponics serve various sized needs.
These work best for leafy greens (lettuce) and herbs (basil) because hydroponics has a quicker turnover time than in soil. Lettuce matures in 4-5 weeks instead of 7-8 weeks in soil; hydroponics allows for succession planting since space is minimal/vertical and multiple plantings can occur simultaneously.
The downside comes with learning pH levels, nutrient mix concentrations and solutions; managing these better than inside soil that functions as a buffer is difficult at first but once understood better than no weeds or pests (and stability).
A simple deep water culture setup costs $50-$150 for small installations while bigger ones with grow lights add up quickly ($300-$1000+).
Grow Bags and Fabric Pots
Finally, fabric growing bags combine the best elements of pots with benefits for root health via air pruning (roots that reach the edge of the fabric bag are pruned naturally via air instead of circling inside solid containers). This gives roots additional airflow and healthiness.
They’re cheaper than solid containers ($5-$20 depending on size), they fold up when they’re not in use for easy storing. They’re good for renters who need a portable garden but don’t want heavy ceramic or plastic containers when they’re moving.
However, they’re also faster drying options as well; fabric bags allow moisture loss from both the top and sides whereas solid containers only allow loss from the top. Therefore more frequent watering needs to occur (in hot temps it could require daily or every other day watering).
Choosing What is Best
Ultimately, it’s not about what is the best method; it’s about what is best depending upon specific circumstances and considerations.
If people have physical concerns limiting their ability to garden naturally/everyday, raised beds with higher placements or vertical systems are easier to manage than bending over all day.
Budget matters as well; containers are cheap entry points ($5+) as are fabric bags ($5-$20). Towers and raised beds are a larger investment but over time make sense.
Regardless of which solution is determined best to start with, starting small makes sense; a few pots or one small raised bed teaches people how to manage without overwhelming them with investment expenditures first. Once confidence builds from simple systems in easy success is had, people may want to attempt bigger and better things!
