Our home is 1920’s house based in the middle of Belfast in the UK. Geographically located 54^oN with RHS hardiness rating H3 (USDA Zone 9b/10a) with absolute minimum temperature ranging from 1 to -5^oC under the category half hardy – unheated greenhouse/mild winter. I have no idea what the hardiness zone was until my attempt to grow aubergine outside in a pot, by the end of the season there was a questionable 30 cm plant. It is good to refer your growing zones for the best choice of plants and plan accordingly. If you would like to know your growing zone click here.

For an urban property we are lucky to have a sizable walled garden space sheltered from harsh wind. On the other hand, the garden is northeast facing surrounded by residential homes which makes it hard to get enough sunlight for part of the garden. As part of my journey into gardening and permaculture, the overall garden offers a wide variety of urban garden features. Thus, I have designed into the garden raised beds – dig and no dig; sunny sheltered spots; mini-greenhouse; small space vertical planter; pots and hanging baskets. 

Raised beds

The raised beds constitute two different parts with distinct difference of dig and no-dig methods.

Dig beds

The dig beds were built in the previous season and we have obtained few produces over the period. They are south east facing and get most of the sun among the garden beds. There are three beds, 1.2 m wide and 1.6 m long each providing 5.76 m² of growing area. For this growing period, I have dug the beds over and topped with composted horse manure.

No-dig beds

The No-dig raised beds were put together for the first time this year converting half of our lawn area. As preparation, at early days of January, we put down thick cardboard to cover the grass and topped with composted horse manure. In the process, we have not dug or aerate the soil not to disturb the soil life and network. There are three beds, 1.10 m wide and 4.8 m long each providing 15.84 m² of growing area. The bed on the right gets good bit of the sunlight while the one on the left would be partial shade from the trees and walls. 

Mini-greenhouse

This space is created from my stubbornness and the failed aubergine and pepper crop last year even if we had a good warm summer. I didn’t start the seeds early enough for the plants to reach maturity, by October I got the smallest green pepper and the aubergines didn’t bother to flower at all. Thus, I extended the planter and built a green house frame in a sunny sheltered spot where I got good tomato crop last year. The planter is 40 cm wide and 1.8 meters long and filled with 40 cm of composted horse manure. This will add 0.72 m² of intense growing space.

Vertical garden planter

Growing in urban areas can be quite difficult considering the available spaces. However, if you have a sunny wall side it has a potential to provide simple salad greens and herbs enough for own consumption. The left side of our house is a drive way which is not mostly used but gets good amount of sunlight from early morning to mid-afternoon. Thus, we decided to increase our growing space by building a vertical planter big enough to get most out of the sun but deep enough not to interfere with the drive way that much. At the base of the planter there are three compartments 46 cm wide and 76 cm long each and the vertical part constitute 6 boxes 23 cm wide and 76 cm long each. The planter adds 2.1 m² space to our garden.

In addition to these designated areas, there are spaces at the front garden; the front and far end of back of the garden; sheltered sunny spots for pots and hanging baskets that we have not decided how to use it yet. Some part will be used for berries and fruit trees.

Compost bin

The fertility center and very crucial part of the garden is our compost bin. It is located in the far-left corner of the back garden. We have made compost in the past two years but it never had a demarcated border. For this growing season, I have built three-part compost bin – One part will be active composting, another for turning compost over and the third for collecting composting material.

Wormery

Coming soon…