When it comes to creating a garden that can become your own hidden oasis among the hustle and bustle of city life, size truly doesn’t matter. Like many that live in commuter towns or within walking distance of busy high streets, I have a reasonably compact garden; a paved space with a few beds, but plenty of potential.
I’ve loved the joy brought about by beautiful flowers for as long as I can remember, emphasised further by learning to arrange my own, but my true fascination with gardening – nurturing, growing, and enjoying the benefits – began at the start of the first lockdown. Getting outside and embracing nature is not only a relaxing pastime and great exercise, but it is an incredible wellness tool, enabling the welcome break from screen time and hectic schedules that we all regularly need.
The best part is, it is never too late to get started, and early spring is the ideal time to set your outdoor space up for the seasons ahead – from city courtyard to high-rise balcony. Here are my top tips on what to grow now to reap the rewards for the rest of the year.
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Flowers For Cutting
To me, the best outdoor spaces are ones that serve multiple purposes. For gardens that are tight on size, growing cut-and-come-again varieties like dahlias in containers is the perfect solution to bringing bright flowers that keep on giving to your plot, that can be enjoyed in a vase afterwards, too. Now is the ideal time to pot your dahlia tubers up inside, starting them off in a sunny spot like a windowsill or small greenhouse before relocating them into tin planters in a couple of months. Simply fill a 3-litre pot halfway with multi-purpose compost, and place your tuber neatly on top. Cover over lightly – dahlias don’t like to be planted too deep – and give a gentle watering. Then, simply sit back and wait to see your first shoots appear before re-potting outdoors around June time.
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Grow From Seed
Early to mid-spring is the perfect time to start sowing seeds inside for your half-hardy and tender flowers, as well as vegetables. Growing varieties from seed is great for multiple reasons; they are a cheaper alternative to shopping for fully formed plants from your local garden centre, and bring infinite joy as you watch them develop. Simply curate your chosen selection of seeds, and get them started in compost-filled seed trays that can sit neatly on a windowsill, and always opt for reusable, planet-kind options. Fill your kitchen sink with water and allow your seeds to soak it up, then wait two to four weeks for germination. When the time comes, plant outside in early summer. Seeds are perfect for forming a small wildflower meadow – with varieties including poppy, cornflower, scabiosa, and sweet pea being great for attracting wildlife like butterflies and bees.
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An Edible Garden
With more and more people being interested in growing their own, allotment plots can be slim pickings in cities. But that’s not to stop you from growing herbs, vegetables, and medicinal plants in your own small garden space. Whether it is a sprig of mint for your Friday night Mojito, or you are interested in secondary uses for beautiful flowering varieties – there are plenty of options to explore. Herb gardens are best planted up in the early spring months, allowing you to enjoy their produce throughout the season. Even better, you can keep building upon your patch all year round, aside from when the ground is frozen.
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Grow Upwards!
Many city spaces struggle with small square footage, but this doesn’t have to stop you from growing vertically. There are plenty of varieties that work well in deep containers or beds that will offer maximum drama. My favourites are hollyhocks, as they are the perfect country garden meets city space flower, best planted in April or May to be enjoyed all the way from June through to September. Their growth can be staggering, so you may need the support of some bamboo canes to keep them standing tall.
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Choose Climbers
If your small space is suffering from an unsightly fence or craving some privacy, growing climbers is a great way to conceal your garden with botanical beauty. Most climbers are best planted just before or after the frosty season, making early spring a great time to grow evergreen varieties or get started with climbing roses. Simply attach a trellis to your fence, and opt for fast-growing choices like clematis or honeysuckle.
