Complete Urban Vegetable Garden Structure

Intensive Gardening Containers

• Urban gardeners with small yards must maximize the available space through raised beds, containers and trellises. If you have a space that is at least 10 by 10 feet, install two or three raised beds with 18-inch paths in between. The raised beds have high yields because the soil is improved. Pressure from weeds is usually less and plants are spaced more closely together than in a traditional garden. If all you have is a patio or balcony, plant vegetables in pots or a grow box. Use rich potting soil and water the pots frequently. Trellises are a good option for urban gardeners. Install a trellis made of two poles and chicken wire in the raised beds. Use the trellises to grow not only pole beans and peas, but tomatoes, cucumbers and even small melons. The trellises keep vining plants off the ground, which promotes healthier plants, but also takes less space. Plant small crops, such as lettuce or carrots, beneath the trellis.

Succession Plantings

• To get the most of a small, urban plot, utilize succession planting, which is the simple technique of planting one crop after another. Plant lettuce, for example, in early spring, as soon as the soil is soft enough to work. Harvest it by early summer, and plunk a few summer squash seeds down in its place. Sow more lettuce seeds in late summer. The summer squash shades the young lettuce plants. The summer squash die with the first frost, while the lettuce will tolerate a bit of cold, providing a tasty fall crop.

Soil

• Intensive gardening techniques deplete soil of nutrients. To keep the soil in top shape, amend it with manure or compost every fall. Start with high-quality top soil, amended with plenty of organic matter, as well. Add vermiculite or perlite to retain moisture.

Plant Selection

• When selecting plants for an urban vegetable garden, choose only those you know your family will eat. A small garden is not the place to experiment. Choose compact varieties, such as cherry tomatoes and bush zucchini plants. Greens and root vegetables are good choices for the urban garden because they grow quickly in a small amount of space.