Self-Sufficiency in the City

19/04/2024

Spring is a great time to plant onion sets and April is probably the last month it's a good idea to do so (I guess this is up for debate, but it's been my experience). So, there's a couple of weeks or so left to get planting if you want to sow onion sets this year! 🧅🧅🧅

Check out the video below for more info...

This simple video will show you how to grow onion sets in containers in spring. Growing onion sets in containers luckily isn't difficult for beginners - even...

17/04/2024

If you're living in a city space and you are considering growing plants indoors, you'll want to read this article on 11 INNOVATIVE indoor vertical gardening ideas you won't want to miss! Enjoy!

Indoor vertical gardening is an excellent way to grow plants and vegetables in small spaces. In this article, I'll explore 11 of the most innovative…

20/03/2024

If you're looking to grow a vertical garden in your small space, you'll want to choose the right containers. From materials, to mounting and design - from hanging baskets to wooden containers, read on to discover all you need to know!

Read on to learn how to choose vertical garden containers, the different types of containers available, installing and mounting, optimal plant selection and more!

19/03/2024

If you're looking to develop a vertical garden in a shaded area, check out this article on what plants thrive in shaded vertical gardens. From graceful ferns to herbs like parsley and herbs - there are a surprising number of options available to grow in your shaded area!



https://www.selfsufficiencyinthecity.com/what-plants-thrive-in-shaded-vertical-gardens/

17/03/2024

Ever considered venturing into hydroponics? This can be a great way to grow vegetables - after all it's clean and efficient, so excellent for those living in cities without much time on their hands!

If you're looking for a way to grow fresh produce in a small space, hydroponic vertical gardens could be the perfect solution for you. With…

11/03/2024

Spring is an excellent time to start considering your planting schedule in the months ahead!

But what are the best vegetables to plant in March? Read on to find out!

As the cold winter months start to draw to a close, March is an excellent time to think about your city garden and what options…

09/03/2024

Ever wondered when to transplant your onions? Here are the major signs you need to keep an eye on...

I've mentioned before that onions are among my favourite crops to grow in small spaces. You can sow sets indoors before transplanting and they don't…

07/03/2024

So, it's March and potentially time to transplant your onions to bigger containers. But how do you know they're ready?

Read on to discover a few tips!

I've mentioned before that onions are among my favourite crops to grow in small spaces. You can sow sets indoors before transplanting and they don't…

05/03/2024

Ever thought about using a vertical garden trellis? It's an ideal option for city spaces and an aesthetically pleasing way to grow your crops!

Vertical gardens are a great way to make the most out of your small space and add some greenery to your home. And, trellises are…

07/09/2023

Just resharing my September growing infographic from last year!
What are your growing plans for September?
September and October are brilliant months for planting - can't wait until the☀️☀️ weather cools down so I can restart!

My updated infographic for September crop growing (I added potatoes - mine are coming along quite well) 🥔

Does anyone have any other crop suggestions for September?

11/08/2023

I managed to harvest some onions this year! 🧅🧅🧅

I know the bulbs aren't very big, in fact they're pretty small, but it's SO heartening after last year's extreme weather conditions ensured I got just a few miserable-looking rotting onion sets that hadn't grown one inch...

I think next year I may leave them a bit longer before harvesting even though they had all the signs of being ready, they could have done with a couple more weeks...

This encourages me to grow a LOT more sets from February so I can have a bonanza harvest next year 🤞🤞🤞

Even tiny wins needs to be celebrated considering how many disappointments there can be in this game!

09/08/2023

If you're fed up of commercial fertilizer (perhaps it's too expensive or takes up too much room) and want to learn how to make your own, this article on the top 17 homemade fertilizers for plants may help you out! 🌱🌱🌱

Discover The Best Home Fertilizers For Your Plants Making your own home fertilizers for plants is a cost-effective way to look after them and ensure…

25/07/2023

Got some spare scraps in your kitchen to put to use? Why not make an organic fertiliser!

👇👇👇

Choosing the right fertiliser is one of the most important things for your urban gardening project. And, while there are any number of commercial organic…

19/07/2023

Are you keen to get started growing vegetables in containers? If so, you may be interested what kind of compost to use. Read on to discover more! 🍅🥒🥕

As a keen urban gardener, I know that growing vegetables in containers can be a great way to produce fresh, healthy food in a limited…

03/07/2023

Confused about how to get started with container gardening? Have a read of this for tips and tricks 👇

When it comes to growing your own vegetables, container gardening is a great option for those with limited space or who want to add some…

23/06/2023

Having a gardening lesson today- here's celery in tiny pots ready to be transplanted to the ground!

19/06/2023

I put together an article on what to grow on your balcony in June!
Enjoy 🌱🍅🥕

When it comes to growing vegetables on a balcony, June is a great month to get started. With the warmer weather and longer days, there…

08/06/2023

🫘Used coffee grounds can be a natural way to fertilise your plants rather than opting for synthetic fertilisers.

☕In urban areas coffee shops are EVERYWHERE, so there's nothing stopping you from asking local owners for their coffee grounds if you feel it's a viable option for you!

☕Have any of you every used coffee grounds or do you have any other original ways to fertilise your plants? I'd love to hear more!

Do you know that you can recycle your used coffee grounds and use them as fertiliser for your vegetable garden? Your washed coffee grounds can…

31/05/2023

It's June! And here's what vegetables are good to sow on your balcony...

27/05/2023

Cool planting wall at Chelsea Flower Show! Looks useful for small spaces - potentially for salads and herbs. If you look closely you can see the planting pots on the wall

24/05/2023

Here's a blog I wrote on the challenges of urban gardening 🌱🌱🌱

Personally, limited space and lack of access to sunlight 🌞 are probably the top two obstacles I've experienced over the last couple of years.

What have been your biggest challenges to building and sustaining your urban garden so far?

As someone who lives in a big city, I've always been fascinated by the idea of urban gardening. The concept of growing your own fruits,…

17/05/2023

Are you planting potatoes 🥔 this year and do you use grow bags? I put together a few words on the best grow bag size for success.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on your experiences too!

Growing potatoes can be challenging due to space constraints, but grow bags revolutionise the game, especially for urban gardeners. With their convenient storage and usability,…

11/05/2023

When a stinging nettle finds its way into your basil...

Not sure quite how it happened! But yes, I got stung 😧

10/05/2023

If you look closely, you can see new shoots showing from my onion sets after just a few days!

07/05/2023

I can't believe how quickly this year is passing! It's already May, yet it seems like we've only just come out of winter! This month is a great month to get planting some of those more ambitious plants - here's what you can sow in May...🌱🌱🌱

02/05/2023

Transplanting my onion sets from trays to bigger pots!

28/04/2023

Something a bit different for you this Friday afternoon...

While this page is mainly focused on growing vegetables in small spaces, my goal was to also explore other areas for self-sufficiency in the city 🏢

Recently, I decided to start rainwater harvesting on my balcony to help water my plants 🪴

So, without further ado, here's my blog about 11 steps for catching rainwater on your balcony 🌧️I hope you find it useful!

As a balcony gardener, I'm always searching for ways to conserve water and to make the most of my rather limited space. That's why I…

24/04/2023

Spring is a brilliant time to plant onion sets in containers, so if this is something you're keen on, you probably want to think about doing it now before the season ends.

I put together this quick blog for beginners - a step-by-step guide - hope you find it useful! 🧅🧅🧅

Growing onions in containers is a simple and effective way to grow your own vegetables when space is limited. If you have a city garden…

20/04/2023

Returned from my holiday and my spring onions are falling apart. I was looking forward to growing them - I started them indoors three weeks or so ago but they always seemed a bit weak. I moved them outside when I went away 10 days ago. Does anyone have any tips on how to get started?

10/04/2023

The UK has erratic weather, so it's hard to know what to focus your efforts on when it comes to growing fruit and veg.

This article offers six options for resilient crops you can keep producing no matter the weather...☂️

🥗 Loose leaf salad leaves
🚀 Rocket salad leaves
🥒 Crystal lemon cucumber (this sounds ambitious!)
🫘 Field beans
🍅 Cherry tomatoes

And...artichokes! (Also check out the useful planting chart in the article...)

Growing vegetables at home is a great way of bringing fresh produce to the table, in turn, reducing food waste and reducing your carbon footprint. A gardening expert has exclusively shared six "resilient" crops to try growing.