Beginner Patio Gardening

Here are some basic tools to have handy for your beginner garden on your patio.

1. Potting soil

2. Hand spade

3. Hand tiller

4. Pots

5. Miracle gro

These are the tools I use most in my work with gardening. Since I live where a balcony/patio is available to me, my source of soil is potting. I use the hand spade to help liberate a plant from a small pot for transporting into a larger one, and a tiller to keep the soil loose, so as to let the roots breathe when they get their drink of water.

We are fortunate to receive southern exposure in our complex, so the amount of full sun makes the possiblilties for a variety of plants to be had. The climate in which we live requires the watering of plants on a daily basis, especially this year with the heat of summer. Every 3 weeks I'll till the surface soil carefully for aeration of the roots, plus it is a very good feeling to play with dirt.

There have been some plants that have survived with us for years, such as our rubber tree (over 10 years old.) It's a most hardy plant, and was sitting dormant for a very long time. My husband helped revive it, by snipping off the dead parts, and I placed one scoopful of miracle gro to help it along, and for the past several weeks, new red leaves have been sprouting out. It's a beautiful sight to see something that has been left alone for years, to just receive a little pick me up care, and bring forth new buds. We look forward to seeing this tree bloom full and high, with it's lush dark green leaves.

An investment of one tomato plant and one bell pepper plant is my new project. Found the largest pot we could find, and placed them in it. So far the bell peppers are still growing, and I've yet to see little flowers that is considered the first sign that tomatoes will be following soon after.

We cut slips from our various plants to build on them, and so now, there are many slips of green ivy and swedish ivy abounding the patio. These are very easy to replant. I decided to reuse mayo and pickle jars to house them in until they are ready for potting. The nice think about these plants, is they can stay in these jars as long as you like, just as long they receive ample sunlight and fresh water.

My new experiences with patio plants have brought me insight into how, no matter where one lives, a fine little garden can be cultivated and enjoyed. I received that enjoyment from my mother, who is an excellent gardener. I hope to someday have built a source of fruit and vegetable garden as she has done over the years. There truly is nothing like running ones fingers through dirt and seeing something come out of all that pleasurable work put into it.