It's time to plan this year's garden. I am a missionary for homegrown vegetable gardening. Flowers are fine, but only a few of them can be eaten and usually only for garnish. So I would like to spark your imagination to try something different this year! There are so many ways to plant a garden, and they can be so many sizes. To say "I don't have room" isn't a good excuse. The only excuse that is plausible is "I don't have any sun" and sometimes that can be overcome. See if one of the following ideas will work for you.

Let me start with the smallest of gardens: containers. From window boxes to a single pot, vegetables and herbs can be successfully grown on a patio, a back door stoop, or in a tiny spot in the sun. Fanciful containers, plastic pots, buckets, bath tubs, water troughs, and even garbage cans can be great containers in addition to ones specifically designed for container gardening. My son successfully planted tomatoes in a two bucket system with a tube inserted in the lid where the hose is put to water the plant. With the addition of natural fertilizers, this is a wonderful way to grow- no weeds and plenty of tomatoes.

Did you know you can grow potatoes in a trash can? The most important thing is to be sure the containers have good drainage. http://www.almanac.com/video/growing-potatoes-trash-can

Vertical gardening is becoming a more popular way to plant fruits and vegetables. When space is limited, go up - up the side of a garage or wall, up a fence, up a structure built just for multiple gardenette (sic) spaces. You can sow one-kind-of veggies or multiples; this includes herbs too.

Wood pallet gardening is also a way of compartmentalizing plants. The openings between the boards let the plants grow, and weeding is minimal. Be sure to place the pallet where you want it before you fill it with soil. Also, be sure the pallet is in enough sun and near a water source. The pallets are very similar to square foot gardening. The layout really works and provides continuous space for planting and harvesting. Divide the area in your yard in 12x12 sections and lay out the rows-3 rows of 4 sections would be a good start. Use bricks or boards to section the area. Additional soil should be added to fill the square foot boxes.

Planning the garden is a must here. Plant early-harvest seeds and plants to the outside. They will grow fast even in cooler temperatures, and you will harvest them first. An early harvest often allows for another sowing of seeds for a fall harvest. Plant mid-season or late harvest plants on the interior of the square. You want to be able to reach to pick.

My favorite way to garden sans backyard is straw bale gardening. I wrote about this method of gardening last year as I was beginning the straw bale experiment. It was a huge success! I am going to increase the number of bales I put in my driveway this year. Conditioning the bales is critical. It takes about 10 day to three weeks to get the bales ready, alternating watering and fertilizing so the bale starts composting. Each bale can accommodate three tomato plants, and last year I used six bales.

Note: A class on straw bale gardening will be offered at Backyard Birds on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Call 255-7333 to reserve a spot and order bales.

Now I hope you are inspired to start your gardening plans and possibly entertain ideas for trying new techniques. Urban gardening with the satisfaction of growing our own food is becoming bigger with each year. Plan, plant, enjoy!