Whether you are a beginner to gardening in the city, or you’re struggling to find the space to start a vegetable garden, this article will explain how to successfully start a flourishing veggie garden in NYC. Don’t feel discouraged if your outdoor space is too small, all of these tips have space limitations in mind. 

Getting Started!

Imagine you’re getting ready to get things rolling and you’re excited to start the day. You have your goals set, you filled up your watering can, but you soon realize you forgot to get that shovel to start. So now you must wait to purchase it and will have to come back to start the process all over another day. Don’t let this be you! Make a list of all your essential tools before you start planting. We have a great guide that we found from Forbes here, that we believe can help you make that process easier! 

Choosing the Right Veggies

Remember to grow what you love. What are you the most excited to plant? Start there! Here is a great list of fruits and veggies to get you started if you’re a beginner gardener in NYC. According to gardening experts, these are more likely to do well in NYC weather and humidity.

• Avocados: Buy a small avocado tree if you want to grow your avocados faster. This plant will thrive if placed by a window with plenty of sunlight.
• Tomatoes: A tomato plant will need around 12-18 hours of sunlight, so you might have to invest in grow lights to have healthy tomatoes. They need tons of water, but the trick is to maintain an evenly moist soil. 
• Green Beans: This vegetable is low maintenance and will promise to bring you a fresh and healthy harvest. 
• Carrots: To successfully grow this veggie, sow the carrots directly into the ground, since they dislike transplanting.
• Citrus fruits: Try fruits like mandarin oranges, lemons, or lime. But if you’re a beginner, start with an orange tree and buy a small tree from a gardening store. 
• Herbs: Herbs like chives, basil, mint, and thyme are very easy to grow, and most only need partial sun. Water your potted herbs from the bottom and this way their roots get stronger.

Planning Ahead

If you want your first garden to be successful, planning is key. Determine what your goals are with this garden, and ask yourself these questions: Why do I want to start a garden? What do I want to achieve? The second thing on your list should be research and educating yourself, and you’ve come to the right place to help you get started.

Planting your crops at the right time is important to have a flourishing garden and healthy veggies. This New York City Garden Calendar will help you determine what are the best planting times, and successfully create a garden plan. If you would like to go into more detail, you can also read Urban Farm’s planting calendar by zones here.

Vertical Gardening

Whether you have a large or small space, you can make the most out of your garden space with vertically oriented gardens. These living green structures are used to grow plants or vegetables on a vertically suspended panel by using hydroponics. These gardens are easier to maintain and, in many cases, can offer higher yields. These structures can be attached to a wall or be freestanding. They can be used both outside and indoor and can be built on any existing wall surface. You could buy a prefabricated vertical structure, but the most popular option is to DIY it. There are many benefits to vertical gardening but here are a few of the best ones:

• More plants: You’ll be able to grow a heartier harvest because you’re able to maximize your space with this efficient technique.
• Less space: No yard? No Problem! If you don’t have a lot of outdoor space to work with then this is the best solution for you.
• Fewer plant problems: Many gardeners swear that their gardens need less water, less fertilizer, and also experience fewer issues like pests!
• Easier maintenance: You’ll have fewer maintenance chores, and it’ll be better organized.
• It looks beautiful: A green wall will brighten up your space and add greenery.

Pots and Containers

If you have a balcony or a rooftop space, then pots and containers are the solutions to your problems. 

• Quality potting soil: Using quality potting soil is very important for vegetables to thrive. Avoid using soil from your garden since you might be importing problems into your containers. Figure out what type of soil you have, its nutrient levels, and its pH levels. This will help you figure out what vegetables will thrive in your soil, and what nutrients it needs.
• Nutrients: Your veggies will need nutrients to grow big and strong. Make sure you are adding quality nutrients to your soil. Here is a list that goes more in-depth.
• Drainage: You want to avoid overwatering your veggies and keep them from drowning. Make sure your containers have optimal drainage at the bottom. You can either buy pots with holes at the base or drill holes yourself. You also want to make sure that the container is elevated so the holes aren’t plugged up. A great technique to avoid overwatering which works for most plants, is to practice bottom watering, which prevents the roots from rotting.
• The right containers: You can choose from a wide variety of containers like ceramic, food-grade plastic, terra-cotta, or self-watering. For beginners, we would recommend self-watering containers, because it’s easier to maintain your plant’s hydration, and all you have to do is keep the water reserve full. Another great option is terracotta pots. Because of their porous nature, it allows for air and water to move through the walls which helps prevent root rot or soil diseases. 
• Vegetables: The best veggies to plant in containers are peas, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, radishes, eggplants, leafy greens, and peppers. We recommend avoiding melons, corn, pumpkins, squash, or any large vegetables.

Keep on Learning!

• Grow NYC is an environmental organization that offers workshops and events for beginner gardeners. They also support a network of New York area farmers’ markets to ensure fair access to fresh, high-quality, and healthy food for all New Yorkers, they also educate children about gardening and recycling. If you want to get your kids involved, they offer Waste and Food & Nutrition programs, school garden workshops, and giveaways to keep them engaged and interested. If you would like to support green organizations like Grow NYC, then read more here about how Renaissance Power & Gas is working with them to help the environment. You can help by switching your energy and gas provider.

• Green Thumb is the largest community garden in New York City, and it offers free online gardening classes with experts in the field. They cover topics like sustainable gardening techniques, soil science, plant propagation, and garden care and design. Read more here.

• YouTube: you already know there is a vast variety of video content out there, but we have a couple of channel suggestions that we think you might enjoy! For gardening tips in urban environments follow Urban Gardening, and if you’re a beginner follow Epic Gardening. Both channels offer great tips for planting in containers, growing your food, proper plant care, and much more!

Conclusion

Starting your own home garden can be very exciting, but it is important to remember to take it slow and have a realistic plan on how much time you want to spend on your garden every day. Be patient and remember that it takes time to get the hang of it, but with time and patience you will get there! And finally, take the time to enjoy the fruits of your efforts, and don’t forget to take pictures to document it so you can look back on your progress, it will be very rewarding!

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