Starting a new garden - in an apartment

[winterpromise31]

So hubby and I have talked about starting a garden. It will be all containers and probably indoors. I would love to do the planters that hang on the patio wall, but we have tons of stray cats around and I'm afraid they'd be thanking me for the new potty box. 

Do you think it would be ok to start outdoors and move inside if the cats start visiting? If I do that, what would be the best things to plant? I'm thinking lettuce, spinach, basil, and cilantro to start...

[annie p]

Sounds like a good idea WP.  If you're growing them indoors they'll need a position that gives them heaps of light.  My Auntie grew her entire garden in pots of various sizes and when the frosts came she would make my uncle lift every pot that was frost tender (there were a lot) into the kitchen!!  They were a wacky lot and I loved to stay with them.  It was impossible to move around the kitchen at all.

[ShariV]

I think growing indoors in Arizona is as good an idea as growing indoors in winter is around here.  Tricky, but doable.  What about microgreens?  I got myself a book for Christmas on microgreens.  I'm having the carpentry class at school make me the tamper for the dirt to fit a specific box.  Should be an interesting venture.

Let's keep each other informed. Don't forget the book "Square Foot Gardening" by Bartholomew (last name) he has some good ideas for patio gardening that could probably be the same as on a deck.

Shari

[cacaolove]

I know herbs grow well indoors, check out this site for more information and tips:

http://www.garden.org/ediblelandscaping/?page=indoor-herb

[winterpromise31]

If I keep everything indoors, I will have to put everything in the spare bedroom since we keep that room off limits to the cats. Otherwise my cats might enjoy a treat, especially since one of them is especially obsessed with fresh spinach and lettuce leaves. He LOVES anything fresh and green. Weirdo.

I really want to use the patio. We have one patio that gets direct western sun and a second patio that gets direct eastern sun. I think Square Foot Gardening is really cool but it's an investment and I'm afraid of what the stray cats will do. Is it possible to move a square foot gardening setup indoors?

Cacolove, thanks for that link! I definitely want to start growing my own basil. I'd forgotten how good fresh basil tastes until I used some tonight. Dried cannot compare.

Shari, what are microgreens?

Annie, your aunt's kitchen sounds awesome!

[ShariV]

Microgreens are baby lettuces (letti?).  Lettuce harvested just after their second or third leaf shows.

S

[Terry in the Keys]

WP, had you thought about building a box/boxes that were 1 or 2ft x3ft and putting them on castors so they could be moved into that catproof room you have if necessary.  I know Bartholomew shows pictures of boxes that were built on stands so a wheelchair bound person could do gardening.  I figure the 1 or 2ft wide size, built low to the ground, would still roll through a doorway without being a problem if necessary.

[Tommie]

Remember Valerie? She had a couple of square foot boxes that were up higher so she could sit and garden. I don't know that they had casters on them.

[montera]

Have you started an indoor garden, WP?  I'd love to hear how it's going if you have.

[Tommie]

I'm going to start planting my outside one tomorrow!!!

[montera]

So, did you get that garden started, Tommie?

[keira]

a couple of my roommates are trying to start a small garden outside in our back yard, any suggestions as to what would be good things to plant? They dug out a space about 2 m x 1 m. umm apx... 6' x 3' ?

[Tommie]

Well, Montera, I planted romaine, arugula and onions so far.

I think your calculations are just about right, keira. Maybe just 6" longer and 3" wider. Close enough, though.

[Terry in the Keys]

Keira, leafy greens are always good plants for early gardening and they are so yummy when they're freshly picked.   It sounds like you've got the perfect spot for a square foot garden.  Do you by any chance have the book 'Square Foot Gardening'.  I don't remember who wrote it (my copy sold at the yard sale), but it is a really good book.

[montera]

Yes, leafy greens are good. Also, things that can grow up if they are supported like peas, green beans and cucumbers since they won't take a lot of space if they are trellised.