While it might be hard to remember while we’ve all been locked under quarantine, in the oft-quoted lyrics of Hadestown, “spring will come again”. Whether or not you want to believe it, Earth Day is coming up on 22nd April, pandemic or no pandemic!

Which got me to thinking, that while a lot of us might be spending a lot of time in the garden in order to get some fresh air while still maintaining social distance, there are just as many people who don’t have the luxury of access to a garden at all.

If that sounds like you, fret not my little butter bean! I’ve gone ahead and done the heavy lifting for you, so you don’t need to weed your way through the undergrowth of the internet, searching for relevant information. (I wish I could promise that the plant puns are going to stop, but I’m just not that person.)

Last summer I found myself in a little independent bookstore in Buffalo NY, and picked up a copy of “Home Sweet Homegrown: How to Grow, Make, and Store Food, No Matter Where You Live” by Robyn Jasko. For such a tiny book, it’s got BUSHELS (see, not sorry) of information that you can use if you’re interested in starting your own home garden this spring!

While this compilation isn’t one that covers every aspect of gardening in small and indoor spaces by any means, I tried to collect the most relevant information for you so that you can start your spring gardening projects as soon as possible. You’re welcome. 

One thing to keep in mind before we start: You don’t necessarily need to buy a ton of products before you begin. Check out different things you might have around the house, recyclable containers you can use to start seedlings in, soil and compost you might be able to get from friends/neighbours, etc. Be creative! There’s a lot of trial and error when it comes to gardening, and there’s no such thing as a “right” way. It’s whatever works best for you, your space, and your budget!

Gardening tip no. 1: Start with Seeds

Alright, if you’re going to have plants, you should start with seeds. If you’re really nervous about dealing with seedlings (an adorable term for baby plants), you can always skip this step and buy seedlings that are already grown. If, however, you’re on a budget, growing straight from seeds is where it’s at. I promise it’s not as hard as you might think!

According to Jasko, here’s a basic breakdown of growing (and caring) for seedlings:

• Whatever container you use for your seedlings — old yogurt containers, eggshells, whatever — make sure that you’ve got holes poked in the bottom to allow for proper drainage.

• Alongside with that, get a plate, a shallow dish, anything of that nature, to put underneath your seedling pots so you don’t end up with water all over your surfaces once the containers drain excess water.

• Your seeds don’t actually need a lot of light to sprout! Indoor gardeners rejoice! What they need is constant moisture and heat, so set them near the radiator in your house and make sure you’re touching the soil frequently to make sure it’s nicely moist.

• Once your seeds HAVE sprouted, that’s when they’ll need light right away, so stick them in a sunny spot. If you’re in a space that doesn’t allow for a lot of natural sunlight, they will also thrive near a bright fluorescent light or lamp. 

  • You’ll be able to tell if the seedlings aren’t getting enough light, because they’ll get very tall and thin as they stretch to find some sort of light source.

• BE PATIENT! Seeds can take a few weeks to sprout, depending on what you’re trying to grow, so don’t panic if you’re a week in and you’re still not seeing results. Human babies take nine months, cut your plant babies a little bit of slack.

You can buy your own seeds to get started on your very own vegetable plot here or why not try your hand at growing some indoor plants? Whatever you choose, these plantable starter seed pots are ideal for planting seeds in as you plant the whole thing in a bigger pot when they are ready.

gardening tip no.2: Transplanting Seedlings to Actual Pots

Think your babies are ready to graduate from their little yogurt cradles into actual pots? Jasko tells us it’s important to CHECK THE LEAVES! You’re not looking for the first leaves you see — you’re looking for the second set of leaves they’ll produce, that looks like what the plant will become. That’s how you know they’re strong enough to transplant. Don’t wait too long, either! Smaller plants will deal with the shock of being moved a lot better than larger ones will. You’ll lessen your chances of accidentally killing them (which I know is what you’re really worried about).

If you’re ready to move your seedlings to their new homes, here’s a quick and dirty breakdown of the process:

• Water your plants well the night before.

• Get your new pots/containers and make sure the soil in them is damp. Only fill these pots halfway full of soil, to leave room for your new plant baby.

• CAREFULLY lift your plants by the leaves, and support their roots from the bottom with your other hand. Put them in their new container, cover them with soil, and pack it down lightly.

• Water thoroughly. 

• Keep the plants in full shade for a day, which forces them to focus their energy on the roots, not the leaves. After that, you can move them back to their light source, whatever that may be.

• You’re done! Water your babies every now and then when the soil gets dry, make sure they’re getting enough sun, and you should have a thriving plant in no time! Rest assured that any issues you encounter can easily be troubleshooted by a quick internet search — you’re not a plant murderer if you run into a problem. Most issues are easily solved!

If you’re growing vegetables, then we recommend these outdoor wooden planters, reusable every year and made by hand with great quality wood, they start at £24.95. If you’re growing indoor plants then these Concrete Colour block planters starting at £11.50 are a gorgeous way of displaying all of your hard work.

Gardening Tip No. 3: Container Gardening

You are now the proud parent of some plant babies. Congratulations! This is the point where you might see a lot of guides telling you how to transfer your plants out of their pots into an actual outdoor garden. If this doesn’t apply to you, don’t panic about it. Plants (and even plants that you can harvest from, like vegetables) don’t need to be in an outdoor environment to thrive. Even if you live in a tiny apartment, you can still grow plants and vegetables, without any harm. Just keep a few things in mind:

• Try and research which vegetable plants will thrive in smaller containers — you’ll have better success that way, especially if you’re a beginner. Look for plants with names that include “dwarf”, “mini”, “baby”, etc.

• Containers come in all shapes and sizes — you don’t need a Pinterest-worthy terracotta pot to plant your veggies in. Soup and bean cans, plastic milk jugs, coffee tins…all of these things can be used to grow plants in. Be creative!

• Move your plants according to the season, and the weather. If you notice that light is changing as the seasons move along, and your plants aren’t getting the sunlight they need anymore…move them! The beauty of container gardens is that you have complete freedom to put your plants in places that guarantee them the best success.

What Grows Best in Your Space?

Different plants have different needs. Here’s a sample list that Jasko provides for what types of plants (vegetables in particular) that will thrive best in your home environment.

If you have a sunny place for your garden (6-8 hours of sunlight):

• Asparagus

• Beans

• Celery 

• Cucumbers

• Melons

• Peppers

• Onions

• Squash

• Tomatoes

If your space is a little more shaded, with less access to natural sunlight (3-6 hours):

• Beets

• Beans

• Broccoli

• Cauliflower

• Carrots

• Kale

• Lettuce

• Peas

• Radishes

And that’s it! If you’re looking for a MUCH more in-depth, well-researched guide on how to grow your own home garden, I highly recommend this book. You can buy your own copy of Homesweet Homegrown here. It contains all kinds of extra information, like how to preserve your veggies once you harvest them (which will save you big grocery money in the long run), which plants thrive best when planted together, different tips on individual vegetables and DIY information on everything from weed killers to rain barrels, as well as some basic recipes. On top of that, you’ll be supporting an independent publishing company! Everybody wins!

So go ahead and grow things! I don’t think I’m too far off the mark in saying that a lot of people are wanting to connect with the natural world right now, and surrounding yourself with little plants has been said to be a great way to boost mental health, especially in these uncertain times. You never know — you might surprise yourself with what you’re able to grow!

Written by Meg Williams

Disclaimer: We have an affiliate deal with Etsy and Amazon so if you do decide to buy any of the products we have linked in this article we get a cut from ETSY and Amazon. If you want to support the City Girl Network but can’t afford to be a Patreon, pay a one-off donation or sign up to our paid events, buying through the links on this article will help us AND the independent shops on Etsy, the publisher and of course the author of Homeseet Homegrown Robyn Jasko . Thank you!