Urban Guerilla Gardening

I’ve been trying to think of ways to help people cope with the dwindling economy and I think I’ve got something that might help some folks out. I call it Urban Guerilla Gardening. UGG uses various methods of cultivating vegetables and herbs, that don’t necessarily take up as much time, work, and space as a traditional garden. What most people don’t know is that a lot of vegetables and herbs can be grown in containers, which is much easier than trying to convert your yard into a garden. Growing vegetables in containers also eliminates the need for weeding and frequent watering, which makes the whole process much easier.

Note: If you live in a neighborhood that is controlled by a Homeowner’s Association, you probably shouldn’t read any further. They probably won’t allow you to plant anything other than pre-approved flowers in your yard anyway. As you can guess, I really don’t care for HOA’s or suburban nazi’s, as I like to call them. I’ll save my hate of HOA’s for another blog entry though.

While some people insist on purchasing window boxes and fancy-schamcy terracotta pots to grow stuff in, I prefer to use containers that are free or recycled. Not only is this cheaper, but it also keeps some plastic from making it into the landfill, which goes a long way toward convincing Mother Nature to hook you up with good vegetables. I personally believe that having a hearty respect for nature goes a long way when it comes to having a green thumb. Some people would disagree with me on this, but then I haven’t seen these people grow seven-foot tall tomato plants (like I have) either.

Soil Is Very Important

The first step to growing healthy vegetables is to start with a good soil mixture. I never buy pre-made potting soil from the store. It’s expensive and generally crappy in my opinion. So I make my own soil. I start by picking up composted manure, peat moss, and topsoil from the local store. These usually come in big bags and are fairly inexpensive. Then I mix them in even proportions (1to1to1) either in a large plastic storage container or even in a pile on the ground. It’s not that hard and this mixture will work for almost any type of vegetable. If you’re planning on growing tomatoes, be sure to add a little bit of pelletized lime (about ½ cup per 3 gallons of soil) and stir it in. This keeps the soil from being too acidic and burning the tomato plants.

Start Seedlings Indoors In Order To Get A Head Start

If you are starting seedlings in trays, you will need to mix a soil mixture made specifically to help the seeds sprout and take root. To make this mixture, simply take your premixed soil mixture and mix it half and half with peat moss.

Most seedlings (especially tomato and pepper plants) can be started in seed trays. Or if you’re in a recycling mood, you can use 16 oz. drink bottles. Just cut the bottle in half, put a few holes in the bottom. Then add soil, seeds, and then water it. If you split the side of the top of the bottle, it can be slid down over the top of the bottle bottom and act as a terrarium until the young plant gets too big and needs more headroom. Always take the cap off the top of the bottle of course. This ensures there is adequate airflow and mold does not grow in the bottle.

Once you’re young plants have established a good root system, they can be transplanted to your main growing containers. Seedlings can be started indoors near windows in order to get a head start on the spring growing season. Just make sure something is under your seed trays to keep water from seeping out onto your precious belongings.

The Five Gallon Bucket – The Messiah Of All Growing Containers

One of the handiest containers to grow tomatoes and peppers in is the five gallon plastic bucket. Not only is it the perfect size, but it also comes with a handle that can be used to move the plants if they ever get in the way. You can either buy these buckets at the store, or you can do what I do and scavenge them from local restaurants. These buckets are used to ship anything from pickles, to cake icing to stores and restaurants and they usually get thrown away. You can either ask someone to save buckets for you, or you can dig them out of the restaurant’s dumpster. I’d suggest asking someone to just leave them by the back door for you. Not only does this hook you up, but it also keeps them from having to tote the buckets to the dumpster.

Here’s how I prep buckets and get them ready for planting. First I wash the buckets thoroughly. Then I drill five or six small holes in the bottom of each bucket. This allows excess water to seep out and generally ensures your soil will stay at an optimum moisture level without you having to obsess over it. Then I put about one inch of gravel or rocks in the bottom and top that off with about one inches of leaves. This makes sure the holes don’t get clogged with soil as water drains out. Then I fill the bucket halfway with my soil mixture. Now the buckets are ready to have seeds planted in them or have seedlings transplanted into them.

When transplanting plants into buckets, always be sure to not only bury the roots of the plant, but also put dirt in around the plant all the way up to the first set of leaves. This should fill the bucket up to about 2/3 capacity. This insures there’s plenty of room for roots to spread out and plenty of dirt to hold moisture.

Each bucket will hold two plants max. Any more will stunt your plants out.

Soda Bottles And Herbs

Two liter bottles are very good for growing herbs. Basically you take the bottle and cut it in half. Then cut some small holes in the bottom to allow for drainage. Then fill with soil mixture and plant your seeds. Herbs such as thyme, oregano, and marjoram do really well in hanging baskets too. Marjoram grows very vigorously and will grow back just about as fast as you trim it. It’s got really pretty, tiny, flowers too.

Planting Veggies In Beds

Just about all vegetables grow well in beds. You can either make beds by mounding up dirt in large plots in your yard or you can close them in with railroad ties or landscaping timbers. Many times I enjoy making vegetable beds by filling an old kiddie pool with soil after drilling holes in the bottom of it. Usually when I make a bed, I use my normal soil mixture but also try to put a large amount of composted manure in the middle layer of the bed. This makes sure your plants have plenty of food. Beds work well for: zucchini, squash, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, radishes, and just about anything.

Grow Potatoes The Easy Way

Here’s a real easy way to grow potatoes. Take a potato that has eyes all over it. Cut it up so each piece of potato has an eye. Then take a 55-gallon barrel and drill quarter inch holes in the bottom. Then drill a few holes in the sides of it. Now fill the bottom of the barrel with about two and a half feet of soil mixture. Mix the potato pieces into the soil near the top. Now as the potato plants start to grow, slowly fill the barrel with more dirt. The plants will eventually grow up and out of the top of the barrel. When the growing season is done, simply tip the barrel over and harvest your barrel full of potatoes.

When To Water Your Plants

Basically, most plants should be watered when you initially plant them. The soil should be fully saturated with water but not severely soggy. If you can poke your finger into the soil and it comes out moist, then usually you don’t need to water. Plants that are in buckets usually can be watered twice a week unless it is especially hot and dry outside. Beds should usually be watered once every two days. Herbs may need to be watered every day depending on individual needs.

I hope this helps some of you. The thing to remember is it takes at least 2-4 months before anything you plant will be ready to harvest. So if you think you might need to grow some of food this year, then you need to start your plants soon. Depending on where you live, you might have to wait until later in the year, in order to keep cold temperatures from harming your plants. I live on the gulf coast and will probably start my tomato and pepper plants indoors sometime this next week.

If you have any questions, comments, or criticisms, feel free to add them. Thanks and good luck!