How to Plant a Garden With a Windowsill and Keep It Alive
The horticultural boom triggered by the pandemic is great for people with a backyard, community garden area, or even a balcony. But for those of us who don’t have any of the above, outdoor gardening options were more limited than ever. But there is one way to grow plants – even in an apartment you shouldn’t sleep in: boxwood gardens by the window. Beth Harpaz recently wrote for the Associated Press about growing one of these micro-towns and shared expert advice on how to plant her own and actually keep it alive.
How to start a garden with window boxes
For people who live in apartment buildings, a window garden may be their only opportunity to put in their best effort. But it is also important to consider safety when installing. “People are really dying because of falling window boxes,” Nina Brown, community program manager for the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens in New York, told AP .
So how can you make sure your window frame garden is not a safety hazard? According to Kharpaz:
As with an air conditioner, make sure the window boxes are securely fastened so they don’t fall or break off during a storm. Because of these potential hazards, window frames are sometimes banned by homeowners, building associations, and property insurers. Home windowsill is a great alternative.
Where to install a garden window sill
Because window gardens are attached to or very close to buildings, they usually receive a limited amount of sunlight. Therefore, before planting something, check what kind of sun exposure is required for this and whether it is suitable for the window space you have.
The location of the window also matters in terms of how often you need to water the tiny garden. “Window sills dry out faster than plants in the ground, so they need a lot of watering, especially if they face south,” writes Kharpaz.
If you choose to choose succulents to counteract the water situation, they tend to work best for windows facing south or west, says AP Matthew Pottedge, curator of the Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at Weasley in Surrey, England.
How to choose the right plants for the garden under the window
While we usually think of the flowers that live in the garden by the window, we don’t rule out fruits, vegetables and herbs – just be sure to choose the ones that can grow and survive in this confined space. Laura Miller from Horticulture Know-How explains what you need to know about planting vegetables in a window box, including how to install it and how to make the most of your available space:
You can make the most of your limited garden space by growing multiple microgreen crops. Or you can admire delicious home-grown tomatoes. Dwarf tomato varieties are especially suitable for containers. You can mix and match as well. Try planting spinach in the same drawer as the chili. By the time the pepper seedlings need more space, it’s time to harvest the spinach.
Miller also provides insight into the types of crops that are best for garden boxes , including:
- Microgreen
- Radish
- Lettuce
- Beet
- Bush beans
- Baby carrot
- Basil
- Dwarf pepper
- Green onions
- Garlic
- Chamomile
- Patio tomatoes
- Parsley
- Oregano
- Celery
- Garlic
- Parsnip
How to care for a garden window sill
Just because box gardens are smaller than other gardens doesn’t mean you can just set it up and then forget about it – you have to take the time to maintain it.
“People who have really beautiful window boxes are cutting off dead, frayed leaves and flowers,” Ryan Benoit of The Horticult tells AP. They also make sure to water their garden by the window frames with plenty of water and “make a difference.” Some plants will only look good for one season. ”
For more ideas and tips, Harpaz suggests checking out How to a Window Box by Chantal Aida Gordon and Ryan Benoit, which provides 16 different window box concepts, including Jungle Box, Southern Belle, and Tiny Island.