Seizing Control of the Front Porch
In a small corner of a rental property, a mini vegetable garden is blooming. Filled with kale, butter lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, basil, and tomatoes, this garden is a testament to the power of patience, knowledge, and a little bit of green thumb.
For this shade-grown garden, watering consistently but moderately is key. Leafy greens like kale and butter lettuce, as well as herbs like basil, require light, frequent watering due to their shallow roots and tolerance of shade. Root crops like radishes need slightly deeper watering, while fruiting plants such as cucumbers and tomatoes need more water, especially during their flowering and fruiting stages. However, in shade, they may need less water than in full sun.
To maintain the soil's moisture without promoting fungal issues, it's essential to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Adding organic compost or mulch can help retain moisture and stabilise soil temperature, benefiting all plants' root health and reducing the need for frequent watering.
Container gardening or raised beds are practical solutions for small spaces, and it's crucial to ensure these have drainage holes. Pots or beds filled with quality potting mix mixed with compost can provide the perfect growing environment. Shading devices like shade cloth may be necessary in hot summer months to protect plants from heat stress while optimising light exposure, especially for tomatoes and cucumbers that prefer more light.
The plants in this garden were started elsewhere and have since been moved to their current location. Radishes can be planted multiple times throughout the season, and basil was a last-minute addition, propagated from a cutting off an indoor plant. Cucumbers will be grown up a trellis along the wall, and tomatoes, originally intended for a sunnier windowsill, are now on the stoop due to a large pot size.
Each plant was planted by digging a small hole and breaking up the roots. The individual responsible for planting admitted to not knowing much about gardening but has been instructed to keep the soil damp for the plants. The mini garden is being grown on the front stoop due to a lack of space in the rental, and since it's under cover, the soil moisture needs to be checked regularly. The frequency of checking depends on the weather, with more frequent checks if it gets hot.
The motivation behind this mini vegetable garden is a desire for self-sustainability with food in a rental property. The individual is planning to make kale chips instead of salad, and the success of this garden has inspired a sense of pride and accomplishment. Despite the challenges, this mini garden is a testament to the joy and satisfaction that can be found in growing one's own food, even in the smallest of spaces.
- By maintaining evenly moist soil and using shade cloth when necessary, this mini vegetable garden is being tended sustainably, promoting healthy growth for the kale, butter lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, basil, and tomatoes.
- To complement this mini vegetable garden, the responsible individual is adopting a healthy-cooking lifestyle by planning to make kale chips instead of salad, contributing to a more sustainable food-and-drink routine.
- Container gardening or raised beds, filled with quality potting mix mixed with compost, allow for sustainable gardening practices in small home-and-garden spaces, making it possible to grow crops like radishes, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
- The success of this mini vegetable garden not only provides fresh produce for the individual's meals but also fosters a connection with nature and a sense of achievement, demonstrating that a sustainable gardening lifestyle is attainable in various living conditions, including rental properties.
