A month-long campaign to raise awareness of the huge benefits of organic food and organic farming. To celebrate and support the nature around us and to encourage people to make planet and plant positive decisions and changes. Whether you’re new to the organic lifestyle or you’re already actively engaged, there’s still so much you can do throughout Organic September.
Shopping in local organic stores, signing up for organic box schemes and even the classic of recycling organic waste, can all contribute to living an organic lifestyle. But, what if you went one step further and started to grow your own organic produce? We know not everyone has the luxury of having a greenhouse or an allotment but guess what?! You don’t need one to get those tomatoes ripening at home. Stick with us and we’ll give you the knowledge and know-how to get those veggies growing at home and how to take advantage of your communal spaces.
Grow at home kit
Here’s everything you need to turn those hands green at home:
Pots
Of different sizes depending on what you want to grow. These don’t have to be expensive either. Going to your local garden centre or looking at freecycle sites is another way to reduce waste.
Seeds
You can pick these up online or in a local gardening store. You can also get seeds and seedlings from vegetables and fruits that you already have in your house.
Good quality soil
We would always recommend choosing organic soil. It is Organic September afterall!
If you’re going to be gardening outside then you might want to consider these bits too:
Watering can
We need to keep those goodies hydrated. You can also be creative and use a recycled water bottle with a spout lid.
Wooden stakes, garden wire or trellis
These are to help any vegetables or fruit that grow upwards onto a vine (tomatoes). We’d opt for the wooden stakes here because guess what? You’ll be able to recycle these easier when you’ve finished!
Shovels and heavy duty gardening tools
Now we’re talking about some serious gardening here. You’re only going to need these if you’re working with a large outdoor space. Some of our properties benefit from beautiful communal areas, so you can pick these tools up for a fair price online or check the freecycle sites.
Let’s get growing
It doesn’t matter how big or small of a space you have, there is always room for some vegetable and fruit growing. In honour of Organic September, we’ve put together our top choices of what to grow, how to grow it and where to grow it.
Window sill
Yes, you can grow organic goodness right on your windowsill.
Herb box
First thing’s first is picking the right window sill. You need a window sill with adequate lighting to give your herbs the sunlight they need to flourish and grow, and also be super tasty! The majority of herbs are going to need at least six hours of sun per day and ideally kept away from drafts. You don’t want to choose herbs that grow really tall, your best bets are herbs like basil, parsley, mint, chives, thyme and rosemary.
Step-by-step guide:
Fill your plant pot with soil until it’s just about full, about an inch from the top
Sprinkle your seeds evenly into the pot and then add a little more compost on top of them to just slightly cover them up (don’t drown them in soil!)
Water your pots so the soil is moist and then pop them on your sunny windowsill and watch the magic happen
Top tip: if you’re planting various herbs, we recommend labelling your pots with herb names so there’s no mix ups when it comes to adding some flavours to your cooking.
Your herbs should start to sprout in about a week and you’ll be able to harvest your herbs in about a month’s time. As always, external factors such as sunlight will affect how fast your herbs grow.
What else can you grow on a window sill?
Peashoots
Rocket
Watercress
Chillies
Spinach
Kale
Baby carrots
Baby beetroot
Radish
Bean sprouts
Patio trees
Patio trees and plants are game changers. Gone are the days you need acres of fields to pick some fresh lemons. All you need is a decent size pot and off we go with some fresh juice.
Citrus trees
Oranges, lemons and limes use most of the same steps to make your backyard or patio feel like you’re walking through the sunny fields in Greece. You’re going to need quite a large pot and a terracotta one preferably. Terracotta pots lose moisture quicker, which makes it harder for the soil to become overwatered. Good drainage is vital when it comes to taking care of your citrus trees. No one likes waterlogged soil…
Step-by-step guide:
Select your plant from a nursery. Let’s go with the lemon plant for this example. You want to choose a plant that has already started to bloom. Starting from seeds can take up to 5 years!
You want well-enriched soil with organic matter, is light draining and slightly acidic. The recommended soil for a citrus tree is sandy loam.
Plant your lemon plant into the pot with your soil and then lightly water.
There are a few problems to look out for when growing citrus trees, such as leaf yellowing which can be caused by dry compost or overwatering, low temperatures and lack of nutrients to the roots. Poor fruit growing can be down to low humidity and lack of flower blooming is due to lack of light.
Other types of patio trees:
Peach
Cherry
Apple
Plum
Communal areas
The majority of our properties allow our guardians to have access to communal green areas. Guardians can work together as a community to enhance these areas and are encouraged to develop these spaces. With it being Organic September, why not come together with your fellow guardians and try a spot of organic gardening? One of our current guardians worked closely with other members of the community to create a gardening and fitness initiative that was not only beneficial to the other property guardians, but the local community too.
One of the roles and responsibilities of being a property guardian is to maintain site environmental conditions, and what better way to do that than create a communal organic vegetable and fruit garden?!
Here’s what you could grow together:
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Peppers
Garlic
Courgettes
Don’t forget about us when all these lovely foods are ready to harvest!
We try our best here at Blue Door to help our guardians make the most out of their properties, create communities and have long-lasting relationships and memories. You can view our available properties here, or if you’re here for a little help in securing your own property, please get in touch. Enjoy growing those veggies!