How to Start Your Own Urban Garden

The Root: If you've ever entertained the quaint idea of an urban kitchen garden, now is absolutely the time to get to it. The most economical and fun way to start your garden is of course, with seeds. With soaring food costs and the creepiness of so much genetically modified produce on market shelves, why not just do it? If you have a shorter summer like we do here in New York City, Zone 7, it's wise to start warmer weather crops earlier indoors. The ideal time to do that depends on the seed, and usually starts around February...but you still have some time. Certain seeds can be sown directly into the ground as soon as the ground is workable; they have a shorter growing season and even like cooler temperatures. But the rest can be started indoors to extend their growng season. Don't think that you need a lot of space, a basement or a greenhouse to start seeds intended for a garden. If you don't have a modest yard space, maybe you have an accessible roof-top or even a sunny room that gets ample southern light exposure, a fire escape where pots can be carefully and legally hung. Maybe you don't have any of these things, just a dark city-closet to live in–hey, I've been there– but you still want the thrill and the challenge of starting your own summer crops from seed. If nothing else, chances are you have a community garden on your block that will welcome you and your seedlings with open arms. Look around. For the full how to, go to www.urbanhomefreerange.com

Blip | April 2, 2008

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