I Can Plant That?!?

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The common green houseplant will keep the oxygen flowing but let’s face it… the same old ivy and african violets can get a little stale.

Here are a few surprising and original ideas for planting indoors and in small outdoor spaces. Grab a planter and some soil and let your imagination run wild (not TOO wild, though, since your landlord might not approve of a tropical rainforest in your living room). Browse this list to get your motivation going. If you’re like us, you’ll be saying “I didn’t know I could plant…”

Strawberries!
It’s really not that difficult to grow your own fruit for snacks and pies right in your apartment! Here are a few simple tips:

• Get red alpine berry seeds, which are ever bearing (you’ll get more than one crop) and produce no runners (the messy field-type branches). The plants will bloom with white flowers first and then yield berries within a couple of months. The berries will be small but very flavorful and can be frozen for the winter. You will have berries for about three years.
• You’ll need a space with plenty of bright sunlight; either a bright south-facing window or a sunny outdoor area.
• Strawberries like deep soil, so use a big pot and fill it with moist potting mix. The soil should be moist but not soaked.
• Feed the plants every ten days with a fertilizer diluted to half-strength. They’ll also need lots of water but be careful not to over water.

Plant the seeds in the spring and by mid-summer, you should have plenty of berries to enjoy.

Herbs!
Spice up spaghetti, liven up vegetables and make chicken dinners tremendous with herbs from your very own garden. Don’t let chefs and their friends be the only ones eating well. Herbs are easy to grow and can also be frozen for the winter months.

• You can plant herbs in a potted container or in a window box (convenient and looks pretty outside the kitchen). You can use pretty much anything for a container, from a coffee mug to old hiking boots to a small wash tub. Just make sure you can create drainage holes in the bottom.
• Pick a location that gets at least five hours of sun per day and that isn’t windy.
• Use a soil-less potting mix - a combination of organic materials that is lighter in weight than traditional garden soil.
• In the container you plan to plant the herbs in, fill it with 2-3 inches of potting mix. Add the herbs, then fill the container with more mix. The herbs like moist, but not soaked, soil so don’t water them too much.
• If the plants are not getting enough light, position a fluorescent light over them for about ten hours a day.
• You should fertilize the plants once a month.
• The herbs are ready to use as soon as you see growth.

Citrus Trees!
Dwarf fruit trees (just as you thought, smaller versions of the outdoor guys) are perfect for indoor planting. The color and fragrance beats any air freshener and you’ll have fruit for several years. Here are the basics on turning your living room into a mini-orchard:

• If your apartment is on the dimmer side, grow sour fruit varieties like lemons and limes.
• As with other indoor plants, use a pot with good drainage and a light mixed potting soil.
• Citrus trees like regular watering and also need a multipurpose fertilizer once a month.
• As you might expect, citrus trees thrive on humidity (think Florida). You can create this environment with an air humidifier, regular misting with a squirt bottle or by putting a tray with pebbles and water at the bottom of the tree.
• In the summer months, slowly acclimate your tree to the sun and eventually move it into direct sunlight.
• Your tree will bear both flowers and fruit. To encourage fruit growth, use a paintbrush to add pollination to the stamens, which are the male organs of the flower and are found on the stalk.
• If bugs infest your tree, use rubbing alcohol on the infected area to remove them. Spider mites are a common pest and can be eliminated with insecticidal soap or horticulturist oil.

These plants are sure to bring color, fragrance and delicious flavors to your apartment. Whether you live in a studio apartment in the city or a spacious one in the country, it’s possible to have a purposeful garden right in your home.

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