Travelling is a great opportunity to discover exceptional natural environments. In the mountains, by the sea, in national parks, gardens or even nature reserves, walks among the local flora are always an activity in their own right, a time to disconnect and recharge your batteries. So much so that when we return home to the city, it is often difficult to tell ourselves that we will have to wait many weeks before we can enjoy the pleasure of being in nature again. However, whether you live in a house with a small garden or in an apartment with a terrace or balcony, it is quite possible to create your own small urban garden and thus enjoy the vegetation on a daily basis. Japanese garden, succulents to have the feeling of being in the tropics, a small vegetable garden that smells good in the countryside, everyone can travel from home according to their affinities. On this subject, Mon Petit Coin Vert offers gardening boxes including certified organic vegetable, flower and herb seeds, a booklet full of good advice and gardening accessories. You subscribe and receive your box every month! Are you interested in creating a green space, and thus travel daily from your home in the city? Here are 5 tips for a successful urban garden.
Choose the right place
Before planting the seeds or putting the plants in the containers, it is essential to find the right place. One of the most important elements for plants to flourish is sunlight. A good gardening tip is to observe beforehand how much sun the garden, terrace, balcony or windowsill gets before you start. The ideal is to have 6 to 8 hours of direct light per day. However, it is possible to grow food or plants in mainly shaded areas, but you should seek professional advice on which plants to choose. And for those who don't have the outdoor space to create an urban garden, you can also install it right in front of the largest window, the one that receives the most natural light.
Getting the right containers
Once you've found the perfect spot for the urban garden, it's time to plant. And this time, it's the containers that you need to focus on. The most important thing is to choose the right size containers so that the roots have enough space to grow. Terracotta pots have the advantage of protecting the roots from the cold, allowing good air circulation and water evaporation. Another trend is the use of geotextile bags. These plant bags offer good oxygenation of the roots and good drainage. They are also very trendy and often made of recycled material. It's up to you to create the garden you want. Wall grids, hanging planters, use of wooden pallets, there are many ways to create a pleasant plant space.
Equip yourself with the right materials
An urban garden needs to be maintained and care must be taken on a daily basis for it to flourish. To take care of your plants, you need the right equipment. To do this, you need a transplanter to plant or move flowers and aromatic plants; a picker to eliminate weeds and prepare for sowing; secateurs to prune flowers, plants and other small shrubs; gloves to protect yourself from thorns, sharp leaves and also from dirt; and finally a small watering can to keep the plants well hydrated
Respect the vegetable garden calendar
Gardening in the city can quickly make you want to create a vegetable garden to harvest fruits and vegetables. It is quite possible, but be careful to respect the vegetable garden calendar in order to optimize the harvest. Generally speaking, tomatoes can be sown a few weeks before winter ends for a harvest from July to October; carrots between March and July for a harvest between May and July; lettuce at the end of the summer for a harvest all year round depending on the varieties chosen; gherkins and cucumbers in March and April for a harvest from June. Aromatic plants are sown from March. Finally, beware of frost, during the cooler seasons, it is essential to bring the pots in at night.
Regular and measured watering
Watering is essential to maintain a green and flourishing urban garden. However, be careful not to overwater and follow the instructions for each species. Moreover, you should never water soil that is still wet. For many plants, two waterings per week are sufficient. For succulents, on the other hand, one watering per month is sufficient in winter. In the summer, this is increased to once a week. Watering early in the morning or in the evening is recommended.
We like to have plants at home not only to feel closer to nature, but also to keep ourselves busy. On the other hand, leaving on vacation often causes stress regarding watering. To get the garden back in the same condition as you left it, you can buy a drip kit or use the soaked wool technique.
One last piece of advice: don't hesitate to create a table with all the plants you grow and indicate the frequency of watering opposite
