18.04.2025

How to make an urban garden: Enjoy your own vegetables!

By Vitia

Today, the idea of growing an urban garden has gained popularity, and it’s not hard to understand why. Growing your own vegetables at home not only gives you fresh and delicious food, but also contributes to a more sustainable and healthy lifestyle.

Urban gardens are a great way to connect with nature, even in urban environments, and allow us to enjoy the benefits of gardening without the need for large spaces.

The importance of growing your own vegetables lies in the possibility of accessing organic food, free of pesticides and herbicides, thus controlling the quality of what reaches your table.

How to make our own vegetable garden

Below, we’ll walk you through the first steps of creating your own urban garden:

Best Time to Sow

First you should know that to begin with, there are specific times to do it:

  1. Spring:Spring is generally the best time to start your urban garden. The earth begins to warm up, and many vegetables thrive in warmer temperatures. Plants such as tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and herbs are ideal for planting in this season.
  2. Summer:While some crops will already be growing, you can still plant fast-growing plants like zucchini, radishes, or spinach to harvest later in the season.
  3. Autumn:Some vegetables, such as carrots and cabbages, prefer the cooler weather of fall. Take advantage of this time to plant them and enjoy an additional harvest.

Preparing the Earth

  1. Select the Space:Choose a well-lit area that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. You can use pots, containers, drawers, or grow tables, especially if your space is limited.
  2. Prepare the Soil:Make sure you have good quality, nutrient-rich soil. You can mix garden soil with compost to improve its fertility. If you opt for pots, use a potting mix that makes drainage easier.
  3. Control the Water:The soil should retain moisture but not be excessively humid. Add perlite or vermiculite to the mixture to improve drainage. Water regularly, but avoid watering the soil.

What to Plant

  1. Leafy Vegetables:Lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and cabbage are all great options to start with. You can harvest fresh salad leaves as they grow.
  2. Fruit Vegetables:Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and zucchini are popular and well suited to pots and small spaces.
  3. Herbs:Basil, parsley, cilantro, and mint are easy to grow in pots and bring a lot of flavor to your meals.

Remember to research the specific needs of each plant and enjoy the process of growing your own vegetables at home. Your urban garden will provide you with fresh and healthy food right from your window or balcony!