I live in Tokyo, Japan and if anyone has heard the stereotypes that apartments are small, they are correct. Not only do I have little space to live in, but I don’t even have a yard. Of course this presents a problem when one wants to start a garden. I was envious of my mother, who lives in Ohio, and talks about a huge, beautiful garden, and soon began to think “Can I start one on my porch?”
If there’s a will, there’s a way…or so they say. I’ll give you some advice and tips for a pergola garden of your very own! It is very easy and actually exciting to come to live vegetation.
First, start by going to your local Target or Wal-Mart. I went to a store that is similar to the one in Tokyo. They should have a variety of “Start your plant” eyes that come with soil, seeds, and well; small pot First of all, they are great for the garden because they come with everything you need.
Another option you could go for if you want to step it up a bit from a kite starter is to buy some seeds in a package. This is the cheapest route, however if you want this route, it will take a little more time. After you want to choose the seeds, buy some soil specifically suitable for plants or herbs or soil rich in minerals/nutrients. These will have the soil nutrients your plants need to grow at their best. Next you need to find your rock-bottom-brewery”>racks for your bottom. These are also useful for water and used for drying. Plus, they add other nutrients, or keep them in the soil longer. You can garden without them (only) I’ve used them (compared to times before when I tried gardening without soil… yikes).
Now that you’ve chosen your seeds, soil, and mineral rocks, it’s time to look for pots for your future garden. You can start with small pots, but so you don’t have to play around with moving the plants once they’ve grown a bit to a bigger pot, so it’s better to start with a bit bigger one. If you use your porch, and it’s small like mine, you want to have a pot that fits your plants and the size of the porch. You may be able to find these at your local garden or discount store. I found these great pots at my doll shop! The nice thing about these pots is that they are plastic (they won’t rust) and they can be placed on the floor or hung on the veranda wall. You will find this something very versatile in the garden small space. I also found hooks to hang them on. When buying pots, you need to buy some netting. Plastic is good or you can use organic netting, like burlap. This only helps to drain the holes in the bottom of the pot.
You are now ready to garden! You can start with starter kits or start with netting, rocks, and soil in pots. Please follow how far the seeds and the seasons of the year. You can also plant to give the plants additional nutrients. Make sure you choose the right food for the type of plants you are planning to grow. I filled the pot in the middle, added the food, and filled the rest of the pot with soil. I could read the directions but guessed from the pictures (all in Japanese and my reading skills are not up to par).
After they have been watered, put them on your porch. Make sure you have a match for the sun, hanging on the grass. If you live in a rainy environment (like Tokyo summer rainy season) you can get away with not watering your plants every day. I planted mine eight and a half days ago and only watered twice. Fortunately, it rains almost every day. Make sure to follow the directions on how to water your plants.
When the first sprout comes out, it’s a very exciting experience! Especially for someone who usually has thumb”>yellow instead of greenone. plants are roots and tomatoes. These are half of what I planted, and the firstborn I fruited without effort. Strawberries, lavender, and celery seem to be sprouting further now, but they are coming out above the ground .My papaya plant is taking a little longer…I’m a bit worried now that I’m thinking about it.
With these tools and a well-placed veranda, you too can enjoy your garden without the soil. Happy gardeners!
