Have you ever noticed that you’re surrounded by buildings in your city but wish there were more green spaces? I felt the same way, until I chose to add a bit of nature by turning part of my small city garden into an edible landscape. Having fresh herbs and vegetables on my balcony let me enjoy nature and made my home a mini food garden.
If you’ve ever wanted to know how to make your apartment or balcony into a place where you can grow both beautiful plants and food, read on. I’ll share with you how I created an edible landscape from the beginning in this guide. You don’t need a beautiful garden or gardening skills—just a bit of space, time and some creativity will do. Ready to grow something you can eat? Let’s dive in!
Why Should You Start an Edible Landscape in the City?
Here’s the part I didn’t expect…
Initially, I wasn’t sure if I could turn my city apartment into a space with lots of edible plants. I wondered: “Can I really grow food here? Isn’t it just too urban?” What I didn’t expect was how much pleasure and improvement in my lifestyle I would find in doing it.
The benefits of edible landscaping
- Homegrown Herbs, Fruits and Vegetables: Growing produce at home lets you enjoy food that’s always fresher than food you buy at the store.
- Sustainability: City living means that your food usually covers a lot of distance before it reaches you. By growing your own, you can reduce your impact.
- Stress Relief: The act of gardening itself is therapeutic. It’s been scientifically proven to reduce stress and boost mood.
- Beauty and Use: Many edible plants are as attractive as ornamental plants and you can eat them too.
Takeaway:
An edible garden isn’t only for eating—it helps make your life better. It’s a step towards sustainability, health, and mental well-being.
How to Make Your Balcony a Garden You Can Eat
It started with something I thought I’d hate…
If you’d suggested that I could make my small, dark balcony into a garden, I would have found it hard to believe. But as soon as I started working on it, I found that it wasn’t as complicated as I thought. Here’s how I did it—and how you can too.
Step 1: Assess Your Space
Make sure to check your area before you buy any plants. How much sunlight does your balcony get? Is there room for vertical gardening or hanging baskets?
For a quick test, sit in your space for one hour at various times and notice the light. You will know where to put plants that require direct light and those that are happier in the shade.
Step 2: Choose Your Plants Wisely
Since not every plant is right for city living, I had to be selective. I started growing basil, tomatoes, lettuce and a dwarf apple tree.
Things to keep in mind:
- Light needs: Plant species that match the light you have.
- A good habit: Pick plants that grow up or stay small to save space.
- Watering: Because some plants use more water, you should water them differently.
Step 3: Invest in the Right Containers
It didn’t take long to see that the containers I used had a big impact. I found that self-watering planters were best for me, since they kept vegetables hydrated all the time. If you’re tight on space, look for vertical gardening solutions like trellises, hanging pots, or vertical garden systems.
Takeaway:
These first steps set me up for success and helped me realize that creating an edible landscape doesn’t require a large yard—just smart planning and a little creativity.
How to Select the Best Plants for Your Urban Garden
Here’s what I wish I knew before starting…
Picking plants for your urban area goes beyond taste and includes what will work best where you live. At first, I decided on plants just because they looked nice and this didn’t always turn out well. Now, I’m more strategic with my selections.
Things to think about:
- The climate in cities can be different from that in rural areas. Choose plants that will do well in your region’s climate, including its temperature, humidity and rainfall.
- If your area is small, plant varieties that grow in a bushy shape instead of those that spread out.
- I prefer to grow herbs, leafy greens and fruits together. You can choose thyme, rosemary and mint because they’re easy to care for and tomatoes and peppers will give your herb garden some color and edible fruits.
- Because there are usually more pests in cities, you should choose plants that can handle small pest problems or try natural ways to keep them away.
Takeaway:
Picking the proper plants is important for your garden to do well over time. It’s about working with your space, not against it.
How to Look After Your Edible Garden: Tips for Achieving Success
This is where it all shifted for me…
To begin with, I thought it would take a lot of time to look after my plants daily. After making a few changes, I figured out how to keep the process simple and lasting. Here’s what worked for me.
Keep it simple and sustainable:
- I realized that watering my plants in the morning or evening helped keep the water in the soil. Using self-watering containers reduced my time spent on this.
- I have found that organic fertilizers such as compost and fish emulsion, do a great job for my plants. They thrive without the chemical overload.
- Regular pruning makes plants grow better and produce more. I decided to do it every week and my yields grew larger.
- I discovered that using neem oil and soap solutions is a safe way to fight pests.
Takeaway:
The key to a thriving edible landscape is consistency. With the right habits, you’ll have a garden that practically takes care of itself.
What I Discovered About Growing Food in an Urban Area
It’s not about being perfect…
I hoped for a lot, but soon realized that life doesn’t always work out the way I expect. Some plants failed, others thrived beyond my expectations. Still, everything worked out in the end—making an edible garden was more about gaining knowledge than making it perfect.
What I learned:
- I planted different kinds of plants every season and some didn’t succeed. But I didn’t give up. My peppers didn’t ripen as fast as I wanted, but I enjoyed watching them grow slowly.
- You can still learn from failures: Not all plants will survive, but it’s still worth trying. Even if I don’t get a big harvest, growing my own food is very satisfying.
Takeaway:
An edible landscape isn’t meant to be flawless; it’s all about learning and having fun as you go.
Conclusion
Making an edible landscape in the city was one of the most satisfying things I’ve accomplished. It changed my surroundings, helped me better understand my food and gave me the fun of growing something myself. If you have space for a balcony or just a small windowsill, it’s easy to grow your own food today.
If you’re excited about urban gardening and want to start being more sustainable, pin this for guidance. What’s the one little thing you did that really changed your room? Let me know in the comments!
