‘Tis the season to discover urban gardening

You don't need a home in the country to enjoy the benefits of gardening. Whether you go solo with containers on the patio of your apartment or join a community garden, gardening makes a great socially distanced hobby to ease (what we hope is) the final stretch of quarantine. You can get started as soon as the danger of frost in your area has passed.

Eight tips for success:

Container gardens

1.     More than just flowers. Many vegetables can thrive in containers. Good choices include lettuce, kale, herbs, chilies and tomatoes. If you choose tall-growing veggies like traditional green beans and peas, make sure there's room for a trellis they can climb.  

2.     Bigger is better for pots. Larger pots retain water and regulate temperature better than smaller ones. Group together plants with similar needs for sunlight and water.

3.     Watch the weight. On balconies, opt for lightweight pots such as plastic or wood rather than heavy ceramic or concrete pots. Otherwise, their weight can become excessive once they're filled with potting mix and watered. Overloaded decks, especially if they're already somewhat weakened, can be a serious collapse risk.

4.     Use drip pans. Your downstairs neighbors will appreciate that you keep your water to yourself, rather than letting it spill over and drip on their patio below. Water trapped under pots also can contribute to algae growth on your deck or worse, rot.

Community gardens

5.     Find an available patch in your area. Community associations and faith organizations are great places to start, since many community gardens start out as reclaimed vacant lots, with a mission to both revitalize an area and provide social connection. You also can reach out to your county extension office for options. Community gardens are popular and often have waiting lists. Even if they're full, you still may be able to get your hands dirty by offering to maintain plots during members' vacations or volunteering your skills like building raised beds.

6.     Understand ground rules. Is the garden organic-only? Does it designate certain hours to avoid disturbing neighbors? Are aggressively growing plants (like mint) discouraged? Where are the plot boundaries? Is a portion of each plot's harvest pledged to a local food bank?

7.     Keep up the social distancing. Maintain schedules to ensure there aren't too many people in the garden at once. Bring your own tools to avoid cross-contamination or, if tools are shared, disinfect them before and after use. Wear your mask and, if you're feeling sick, stay home.

8.     Be a good garden neighbor. Keep your patch free of weeds, remove all plant debris after pruning and practice water-wise gardening. Work only within your plot's borders and keep tools off walkways. Never be tempted to sample a delicious morsel from a neighbor's patch. And if you find you don't have time for your plot, relinquish it to the next eager gardener on the waiting list.