How to Start a Micro Garden

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Micro-gardening is becoming more popular with rising food prices. People who live in urban or suburban areas are often interested in starting a vegetable garden to offset these costs, but think that they lack the space to do so. Micro-gardening offers an alternative to starting large gardens or farms. By utilizing small areas of space, families can grow many varieties of vegetables and reduce their weekly grocery bill

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Landscape timbers, cross ties, rock, brick or stone to build a wall
Top soil
Fertilizer
Shovel
Vegetable starter plants or seeds
Water

Step1

Select an area that can be used for your new garden. It can be as small as 3 feet by 3 feet or as large as you can build. Please consider upkeep when deciding the size of garden you will build, so that you don't build something that you can't manage. This can take the fun out of the project.

Step2

Enclose the selected area using cross ties, landscape timbers, stone or edging blocks. The height of the enclosure should be between 1.5 feet and 2 feet. Rectangle designs are easier to manage as they allow easy access from both sides, which makes it more convenient to work in the middle of the garden.

Step3

Fill the enclosure with a mixture of top soil and fertilizer, or you can use a pre-mixed planting soil. You can estimate the amount you will need by multiplying the width by the length by the height to determine the cubic feet of soil needed. For example, if your garden is 4 feet by 10 feet by 2 feet, you would need approximately 80 cubic feet of soil. Be sure to speak with your local gardening center to determine the correct mix of fertilizer for your area.

Step4

Once the soil is in place, mark off sections of the garden for each of the selected vegetables giving enough space as indicated by its information card. Be sure not to crowd the garden as this can inhibit growth and make upkeep difficult.

Step5

Per your layout, plant the seeds or starter plants in the garden. Be sure not to pack the soil too tightly as this will prevent proper water and air circulation.

Step6

Water the plants completely so that they each get good coverage. Continue to water per the needs of each plant.

Step7

Harvesting vegetables will depend on the type of plant chosen and your local area growing season. Talk to your local gardening center to help with your selection process.

Tips & Warnings

Rotate your plants during the year to help keep the soil fresh.
Mark the plants with small signs to remind you what you planted in each section.
Consider installing a rain barrel near your garden to help offset the cost of watering.
If the garden starts to produce more than your family can use, consider offering some to your neighbors.
Small metal garden fences can keep rabbits and other creatures out of the garden.
Try to avoid pesticides or other chemicals in your garden. Investigate natural alternatives.
Don't start with a garden bigger than you think that you can easily handle.
Read plant instructions to avoid overwatering.
Be sure not to build your garden on someone else's property.