Custom Home 360

Designed for the Joy of Living

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Home Decorating
  • Home Improvement
  • Lawn and Garden

Small-space gardens: Easy tips for homegrown flavors

May 13, 2017 by CustomHome360

(CH360/BPT) – The new growing season is upon us. You don’t have to be an experienced gardener to enjoy the many benefits of the season, nor do you need large swaths of land and sprawling acreage to grow your favorite greens. In fact, beautiful outdoor spaces — rich with colorful blooms and hearty edibles — can be created in nearly any space, including patios and balconies.

“Small-space gardening is the fastest-growing area in gardening and is becoming increasingly important to individuals who are interested in starting a garden but don’t have a lot of space,” says Tom Batt, a horticulturist and sales associate with Burpee Gardening Products and a consultant for Tractor Supply Company. “Ultimately, people are looking to have more control over what goes into their family meals and there’s no better way to know than by harvesting food from your own garden.”

Small-space gardening is all about getting creative and having fun. So whether you’re attempting to create an eye-catching outdoor oasis or produce delicious food for cooking, the most effective way to learn is by simply digging in.

To help you get started, the experts at Tractor Supply Company compiled a list of tips on how to take a confined area and turn it into a bountiful garden.

Ready, set, prep

As with most new endeavors, preparation is key. First, determine how much space you’ll be allocating and whether or not the area has access to adequate sunlight. According to Batt, a successful garden should receive at least eight hours of sunlight per day. It’s also important to make sure your planters are equipped with a sufficient drainage system. A hole at the bottom of your containers will help prevent oversaturation while still allowing water to permeate the soil. It will also ensure adequate airflow reaches the roots.

Commit to cultivating

Now that you’ve decided on an area, it’s important to remember that a garden — regardless of its size — requires time, attention and effort. It isn’t just planting then vacating. With that in mind, try to be realistic about how much time you’re willing to put forth. Batt suggests reserving an hour over the weekend for things like weeding and watering.

When it comes to plant hydration, it’s better to water deeply and thoroughly on a seldom basis than water too little on a regular basis. That being said, plants in containers tend to dry out more quickly than plants in the ground and will often require more water, especially during warmer months. A good rule of thumb is to soak plants until you notice water coming through the drainage holes. But remember plants absorb water through their roots and lose water through their leaves, so when watering try to avoid the foliage.

Start simple

It’s almost time to plant those first few seeds, but you’re not entirely sure what to grow. Consider starting with simple, cool-season crops like cabbage, carrots and radishes. Often, according to Batt, newer gardeners attempt to grow popular products like peppers, but what they don’t know is that in order to thrive, those need to be started indoors.

Another great option for beginners is herbs, which are inexpensive, require nothing larger than a 6–8-inch container, and only take three to four weeks to yield results.

“Herb gardens involve very little space and provide gardeners with a harvestable product that’s relatively easy to cultivate,” Batt says. “It’s also a fantastic way to grow a wide variety of plants in one fell swoop.”

Time to eat

It’s vital to know what you’ve planted and how long it should stay in the ground. Carrots, for instance, will harvest in about 65 to 70 days and, according to Batt, will show signs of wilting when they’re ready to be eaten.

Try to make a trip out to the garden every day to see what has ripened or is starting to flower. Trim back herbs, such as chives and basil, as soon as they start to flower. This will help plants continue to put energy into growth and production.

Checking on your garden daily also allows you to intervene at the first sign of trouble.

When it comes to small-space gardening, a little goes a long way. To give you an idea, a 10-foot by 12-foot garden has the capacity to feed a family of three for the entire summer simply by rotating the crops.

Tractor Supply Company hosts a variety of gardening events throughout the year, featuring expert advice and special products, all geared toward getting families out from under the roof and inside the garden. The rural lifestyle store carries all the supplies a family needs to get started, including mulch and soil, live plants, regular and organic seeds, pest control and garden tools.

Check with your local Tractor Supply store for details on upcoming gardening events.

For more expert advice on lawn and garden care, visit Tractor Supply’s Know How Central, and for homegrown inspiration for your garden, visit Tractor Supply’s Pinterest page.

Filed Under: Lawn and Garden

Visit Our Builder’s Own Custom Home and Office

A Custom Home and Office for a Custom Home Builder

Featured Articles

Home innovations that protect against moisture

Home innovations that protect against moisture

5 green home improvements that can help sell your home for more

5 green home improvements that can help sell your home for more

DIY done simple: 5 projects you can tackle in a weekend

DIY done simple: 5 projects you can tackle in a weekend

Burglaries peak in summer: Is your home secure?

Burglaries peak in summer: Is your home secure?

How to use color psychology to influence the mood of your home

How to use color psychology to influence the mood of your home

Business Economic Outlook 2017



December 9, 2016 – The CU Leeds School of Business just released its 52nd annual Colorado Business Economic Outlook. Here are some 2017 predictions for Mesa County via The Business Times:

The business and economic outlook for Mesa County will continue to ‘trend positive’ for 2017.

The assessment is based in part on the prospect of further diversification of the local economy, programs offering tax incentives for new businesses and jobs, and the quality of life offered in the area.

As of November, 4,234 real estate sales worth a combined $993 million were reported in Mesa County for 2016. Compared to the same span in 2015, transactions rose 13.8 percent and dollar volume increased 10.5 percent. Year-to-date numbers for 2016 already top year-end totals for 2015 and have climbed to their highest level since 2008.

Mesa County remains a regional hub for health care, education and tourism. Community Hospital opened a new four-story facility and St. Mary’s Medical Center completed the buildout of its patient tower. Colorado Mesa University ranks among the largest employers in the region. One million people visited lodging properties in Mesa County during 2015. The Colorado National Monument attracts more than 500,000 visitors annually, while the wineries and mountain bike trails in the Grand Valley remain popular destinations.

Statewide, population growth contributes to economic growth. By percentage, Colorado has the second-fastest growing population with a projected total of 5.5 million in 2016.

Colorado will continue to rank among the top 10 states nationally for employment growth. The construction sector is expected to add 9,000 jobs as gains in single-family home building offset a decline in new multi-family housing.

Serving the Western Slope of Colorado

Custom Home 360 builds luxury homes in the Colorado region west of the Continental Divide, including Moffat, Routt, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Ouray and San Miguel counties.

The region contains plentiful sources of oil, natural gas, uranium, and coal. It is also known worldwide for its ski resorts, with popular destinations such as Aspen, Crested Butte, Vail, and Steamboat Springs.

Although the area's economy is dominated by energy extraction services and tourism, the Grand Junction area's most prominent economy sector is health care.

Get In Touch

Contact Info

Custom Home 360 was founded by Wilco Enterprises, LLP, a general contractor serving the Grand Junction area and Colorado's Western Slope since 1982, with custom homes, remodels, and light commercial projects.

Custom Home 360
Wilco Enterprises, LLP
661 Independence Valley Dr.
Grand Junction, CO 81507

Dennis Wiltgen
dennis.wiltgen@customhome360.com
1-800-810-4030

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Home Decorating
  • Home Improvement
  • Lawn and Garden

© 2017 CustomHome360.com · All rights reserved · Privacy · Terms of Service