Gardens in limited space?

Containers, containers, containers!

I grow all my vegetables in 25 gallon blue plastic containers (plastic tubs from K-Mart). I cut drain holes in them. Generally one plant per container. Have about 40 currently in production, tomatos, peppers, melons, squash.

Pros

Easier to work (less bending over), and lots fewer weeds. Less water use, less insect problems. Following harvest, I plant the pots with alsike clover, and let it grow overwinter for 4-6 months. In Spring, I depot the pots, and compost the soil and clover, over the next spring/summer, I add grass clippings, and other stuff (ammonium nitrate, potash, and phosphate). I have 2 compost beds, each one easily fills all 40 pots. In spring, I re-pot from the other compost bed. I rarely need to fertilize, Watering is very easy.

Cons, cost me $5.49 each for the tubs, and I re-pot them yearly (but I like this so it's not really a con).

When I had only a 12 x 14 enclosed patio, I started my first container garden. I'm on almost an acre and I still grow a lot of plants in containers because it adds height and dimension.

I grow succulents, tomatos, peppers, herbs, oleander, citrus trees, sweet pea bushes, fushia, ferns, jade plants, cactus, bouganvilla, ivy geranium, impatiens, aloe vera, and even a eucalyptus tree and an evergreen pine. When they get too big, I will put them in the ground, but I moved here with over 200 containered plants from that little garden I started from my patio.

I really haven't found many plants that don't survive in pots. You do have to water and fertillize container plants more often because they dry out faster than if they are in the ground. I think that is about the only con about container gardening.

You can also grow watermelon in a container.

Start you container garden and at the same time, work on the yard.

Personally, I would have more fun fixing up your yard to enjoy after a hard days work. Why not work out a deal with the landlord? If he/she is not interested, do it anyway. Sure you can get friends to help you too.

Then, you may be able to transport some plants to the yard.

Any kind of herbs grow well in containers. You can also get a variety of tomato plant that grows well in a container; it should indicate so on the label or ask someone at the garden center.

TOMATOES DO GREAT IN CONTAINERS, AS WELL AS PEPPERS (ALL VARIETIES). WITH TOMATOES YOU NEED TO TRY AND PICK A SHRUBBY, LOW GROWTH VARIETY, OTHERWISE YOU WILL HAVE TO STAKE OR CAGE IT. I LOVE THE CHERRY AND GRAPE TYPES. YOU CAN ALSO GROW CUCUMBERS IN A CONTAINER, HOWEVER, YOU NEED TO HAVE A TRELLIS OR SOMETHING STUDY THAT THE VINES CAN RUN ON. YOU COULD PROBABLY DO ONIONS AS WELL, BUT IT IS KIND OF HOT FOR THEM NOW. ALL TYPES OF HERBS GROW GREAT IN CONTAINERS. IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU LIKE. THERE ARE SEVERAL BOOKS PUBLISHED ON CONTAINER GARDENING. YOU MIGHT LOOK INTO THOSE IF MY SUGGESTIONS AREN'T UP YOUR ALLEY. GOOD LUCK. JUST MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU ARE GROWING SOMETHING IN A CONTAINER THAT YOU DON'T OVER OR UNDER WATER IT.

Raised beds are wonderful if you've got bad soil. You can make them with rocks or wood then get some compost/sand mix from a landscape supply - it's not too much money maybe $100-150 for a 10x10 area.

Raised beds are great because they don't have drainage problems and are easier on your back.

It depends on where you live. You dont want tropical plants if you live in Maine. I built shelves on the sunny side of my rental home and put impatients and peonies and begonias, I also planted Sunflowers in the ground below tthe shelves to cover them up. it has worked well so has spices such as thyme, rosemary and basil:). Good Luck

Use the biggest pots you will get, and advance what the seed organizations call 'patio veg' they're incredibly bred to advance in pots. the biggest aspect to keep in recommendations will be a lot of water even as they get huge and commonplace feeding as they are going to quickly use each of the feed contained in the compost. if it is your first time i'd propose tumbling tomatoes and courgettes - purchase flowers - and from seed try french beans, spinach, lettuce, cabbage for the wintry climate. Root vegetables are a lot extra sturdy in pots except what they call 'first early' potatoes, they're the tiny new ones you get in June and may be grown genuinely in a large pot, I continually pot some up for my moms and dads patio (2 potatoes in preserving with pot), after I plant my veg plot and they get about 30 potatoes from a 14 inch diameter pot. purchase 'seed potatoes' in February from a backyard centre, ask them which of them are first earlies and also ask them a thanks to 'chit' them earlier you plant