lauryncary's Profile

Containers can hold more than you think for sure. Square-foot type boxes can be built so that they are only 6 inches deep. Along this line of thinking, I have had success planting things in containers using 1 gal=1sq/ft. So if you have smaller containers you plant less, but you get an idea about far they need.

Typically gardens are spaced out to allow for walking through rows to weed and such. This pushes down the soil, compacts it, and makes areas where roots can't actually spread. If you can make a garden that you don't have to walk through or in containers you can plant them according to these guidelines:

http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/plant-spacing/

My mom has a beautiful porch, but lives across the street from a Junior High School and the parking lot is next door. She uses planters on the ledge of the porch with hanging baskets to block the view of the traffic going by and from inside the school. She also has vines growing on the fence that separates her yard from the parking lot. I think that using plants in this way is just another creative landscaping technique which effectively blocks the view of ugly scenery, beautifies the space, and keeps large amounts of people from watching you nap on the porch swing on a sunny afternoon.

Local, organic, heirlooms only for me...even living in North Dakota and Minnesota. No matter where you are, there should be some great resources; start at your local extension service and go from there.