Pining for spring? While you hope for some longer, warmer days your fingers may start itching to get out in the garden. It’s not too early to start planning your growing space.

Speaking of space — any garden, large or small, can be a microclimate of diversity.

The Horticultural Society of Kingsville recently hosted Jan Dugale, the President of the LaSalle Horticultural Society, who shared several great ideas for gardening in small spaces.

If you don’t have a yard to plant in you may have a balcony, patio or deck. Once you evaluate the conditions of your space, for example, sun exposure, wind and rain, you can begin to search for plants that will thrive with little care.

Drought-resistant, low-care plants and self-watering plants may be suited to your balcony.

Jan introduced us to a variety of planters that could be purchased at gardening centres, hardware stores, dollar stores, or homemade.

Vertical wall planters hang over the top of a fence. They look like the mitts and hats or shoe racks that you see in many places and second hand shops. 

Once you water the top plant, the excess water will drip down to the plants below through the drainage holes in each planter pocket. Ensure you put holes in the pockets if there aren’t any.  We start at the top, so the bottom pouch does not get too overwhelmed with water. 

Railing planters can be long and rectangular or the bucket type. Remember to measure your railing before purchasing so you know it will fit! Some come as frames and you add coconut husk linings to them.

You can even plastic line the husks and put a few holes in the plastic to ensure more moisture is kept within the roots of your plants.  There are also self-watering railing pots, just ensure you keep them full. Check them every several days in hot weather. 

Horizontal planters allow for a lot of growth in a small space. You will want your taller plants in the upper levels and your trailing plants on the bottom.  These trays can be purchased as a two set or set of four, just like the vertical pouches, they come in four or six pouches. .

Growing bags are easy to use and store over the winter. Some bags hang over a post and may be used for flowers, strawberries, or cherry tomatoes and some bags sit on your balcony or patio. Last year I grew herbs, flowers, and fingerling potatoes in grow bags. At the end of the season simply wash, dry, and fold the bags to store in your garden shed.

 Planters filled with soil, water, and plants do get heavy! You may want to consider making these planters movable by putting them on wheels or you can purchase rings with wheels on them for pots in various sizes. You can also buy a set of wheels and install them on a wooden raised bed for easier access to the plants.

 Actually, you can put a plant in almost any container – an old metal tub, a cardboard box lined with plastic, even an old kitchen sink. Be creative and ensure there are drain holes! 

So, there are no excuses! Start planning your personal oasis filled with flowers, veggies, and a dish of water for the birds and butterflies.

The Horticultural Society of Kingsville is holding a Seedy Saturday on March 22nd from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Unico Center. Come and get some seeds to start your garden indoors. There will also be some kids crafts and a bake sale. Cash only. Don’t miss it.