At Home: Growing your own

At Home: Growing your own

Here are some ways they are growing their own edibles:

• Vertical gardens. Those who think a vertical garden is an off-the-wall idea are right. These gardens literally grow on walls, in planters or containers attached to vertical surfaces with clips or brackets. Some home gardeners rig drip watering systems to keep them green.
• Tabletop gardens. Not even the lack of a yard is stopping pent-up gardeners from growing their own herbs and vegetables. They are planting table gardens by converting a flat surface, such as an outdoor table, into a garden by placing a raised bed on it. You can make your own in whatever dimensions suit your space using either a raised-bed kit or building it from scratch. Bonus: Getting down on your knees in the mud isn’t necessary.
• Hanging basket gardens. If you don’t feel like serving a banquet to the critters in your area, getting goods off the ground with hanging, tiered baskets can be the solution. Line lightweight wire baskets with preformed bowls of moisture-retaining moss. Fill them with edibles and stick in some flowers for color.
• Themed gardens. Today’s DIY gardeners are growing gardens with a purpose: Mediterranean cooks are growing oregano, fresh basil, and Italian parsley. Salsa lovers are cultivating onions, chilies, tomatoes, peppers and cilantro. Grill aficionados are harvesting vegetables to throw on the barbie. Happy Hour lovers are planting ingredients to garnish their evening cocktails. Here are some ideas (http://gardenclub.homedepot.com).
• New age organics. Over the past five years, Home Depot has started carrying twice as many kinds of organic soils. “Customers want more organic food, so are demanding organic soils, seeds and herbs that have been started organically,” said Fishburne. “We’re seeing a new generation of gardeners moving toward environmentally friendly, and health-conscious gardens.”