Springtime looms just around the corner, and growth and renewal are the themes of the season. Flowers and plants are sprouting and blooming, and gardening may be a favorite leisure time activity, or even food source, in the coming months. But for those of us without a backyard or our own little piece of land to grow on, gardening may seem like an impossibility. Fortunately, there are ways for everyone, in small spaces, apartments and with no access to a plot of soil, to cultivate your own herbs or vegetables at home.

The first consideration of course is how much space you can actually allocate for your garden. You may not be able to grow a prize-winning pumpkin on your window sill but many other veggies lend themselves to smaller areas. The main ingredients for your home garden are seeds, soil and containers. Containers can be any size, shape and re-usable or purchased specifically for your plants. A wooden box or a planter are excellent options. Look for wood that is not treated with any type of toxic chemicals. Try www.windowbox.com for planters, pots, hanging baskets, tools and aides and of course, windowboxes! Their wooden boxes have holes already in place for drainage, and use responsibly harvested wood. Drainage is a critical element of container gardening. Too much water can ruin your plants. Half-inch holes are advisable in your containers, and be sure to line them to reduce soil loss.

You can purchase an organic soil, but there are also options for making your own mixture. A critical part of having nutrient-rich soil, as well as an essential measure of an earth-friendly garden, is compost. Compost will act as a  fertilizer and allow your soil to retain a good amount of moisture.

For growing in containers, gardening guides advise a "soilless mixture" as the best option. Soil from the ground is too thick to use for containers. Soilless mixtures usually consist of compost, sand and perlite a naturally occurring mineral that allows your mixture to retain moisture. You can also purchase soilless potting soil. Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply offers an organic soilless potting mix, which they recommend mixing with perlite for indoor planting (www.groworganic.com).

As far as your garden itself, the easiest vegetables to grown in limited space and that require the least amount of direct sunlight are leaf lettuces. Leaf lettuces such as romaine can prefer soil that's not too wet. Lettuce will take one to two months to mature. Planting lettuce is an easy way to get started. You should try to use a container that will allow you to plant a small row and you can place seeds directly in the soil. Make sure your soil mixture is a little wet before you sow the seeds.

Other veggies that lend themselves to container growth are beans, carrots, tomatoes and onions. Each plant has its own space requirement for optimum growth and you should consult a reliable resource to ensure your container is the right size and  for the appropriate amount of sunlight. Try www.gardenguides.com for choosing the best container for your vegetables, as well as tips for all types of gardening.


You got your container, put together your soil mixture and picked your plants - now its time to get seeds! If you are just starting out as a container gardener, visit www.olivebarn.com, for seed packets that reflect their eco-friendly sustainable living mission. They offer lettuce, tomato and herb seeds as well as pots and kits.

Now that your veggies or herbs are planted check on them every day to ensure there isn't too much or too little water. Water the soil and not the plant leaves and also check your plants for insects and weeds. With the right care, in a few weeks you may be enjoying a salad from your very own small space, container garden!