The sunshine and warm temperatures are turning our thoughts to gardening here at State Street. It may seem a bit overwhelming to attempt to have a container garden in your limited space. We have rounded up a few tips and tricks, whether it be a container on your balcony or a pot on your window sill, you'll be surprised at how rewarding it can be to grow flowers, herbs, or veggies.
Sunlight – You will need to check your apartment for sunlight. If you’re planting indoors, you will typically get partial sunlight. However, if you’re planting outside on a balcony or patio, you may get more. Here’s a cheat sheet for tracking the amount of sunlight your apartment gets:
You’ll want to compliment the sunlight with what you would like to plant. After that, you can figure out how to set up your garden to get the most out of the type of natural light that your plant needs.
With oodles of types of plants to choose from, here are a few ideas:
Herbs – Try growing a variety of herbs like basil, mint, cilantro, and many more. Most herbs need about 6 hours of sun to thrive, which means you’ll need to find a space in your apartment that receives a lot of light or place them outside on a balcony. Herbs do best at around 65 F without cold drafts, which can kill the plant.
Veggies – There is a huge variety of vegetables that you can grow indoors. Carrots, garlic, micro greens like sprouts, and lettuce are all very easy for indoor gardeners. Each has its own needs when it comes to light and watering, so it’s best to decide what you want to grow and then set up individual pots for each type of veggie.
Indoor plants – If you’re new to gardening, your best bet is to go to a local nursery, choose plants you’re interested in growing, then ask specifically how much water and sun it needs. Each type of plant is different and if you don’t naturally have a green thumb, this extra step will save your plants! Getting specific instructions helps keep your plant alive and thriving.
Flowers – Although flowers are usually saved for outdoor gardens, some flowers can thrive indoors like African Violets, Peace Lilies, and Jasmine. Most flowers need heavy sunlight and moist soil.
Feel free to send us your garden photos, we love when tenants share how they are making themselves a home!
