windows. What about windowsills? These can be a bonus in older buildings. If you are willing to move your sofa and mementos to one side, you can create a stable surface on a windowsill for your small containers and plants.
Condominiums and townhomes. Although these are generally larger than apartments, the rules of the development are frequently stringent and can go as far as forbidding any containers on the patio, with the same rationale as the apartment buildings use. The good news is that, regardless of the orientation of the unit, there will most likely be some decent direct sunlight somewhere during the day. And if you have some outside space that allows for small gardens and container planting, you should have good growing options, beyond growing your plants inside.
Dealing with covenants and restrictions. Questions to look at include “Is the outside space common?” If your only personal exterior space is a patio, then placing raised beds on the surrounding grass will not be allowed. But if your unit is organized with dividing panels that delineate at least some outside space for which you are responsible, then you are safe to use it as you please as long as your covenants permit that use. More lenient developments do indeed allow you to use containers and raised beds; others need to be persuaded that the use is within reason. There are even some developments that have their own community gardens.
If you’re looking for a condo or townhouse… Taking a walk around different developments will give you an idea of what people are doing, but it is critical to read all the rules before you sign the contract.
A Front Yard Vegetable Garden
Milutin Calukovic was born in the former Yugoslavia. Growing vegetables was something his family had always done. Today, he lives in New Jersey, where his back garden is surrounded with trees and is too shady to grow healthy vegetables. Determined to have a vegetable garden, he turned to the front of the house where there was plenty of sunny space. His first step after site selection was to get some good healthy soil for the plants, which included lots of compost material. The garden occupies the area within the curve of his driveway and has an attractive wood edging. He grows lots of tomatoes, peppers and squash, giving his family plenty for eating fresh and for storing.
Finding Garden Space in Urban and Suburban Homes
Developments from pre-1980 are less likely to have a large book of covenants, whereas gated developments from post-2000 prefer a uniform look for both houses and gardens. Living here can be great, but you do need to know the rules. Many a resident has been taken to task for straying into the realm of “unacceptable under the covenant” and a fence or compost pile has to be removed.
Homes without covenant restrictions. The earlier homes and developments, plus some rural homes, have few if any covenants. Here, you might find gardeners tilling up lawns for vegetables, homeowners growing fruit and vegetables in the front garden, and compost piles in full view of the road.
Styles of urban and suburban houses are as different as the people who live in them. They are usually owner-occupied rather than rented. This leads to a sense of pride in the individual properties as well as the community or neighborhood as a whole – and of course, getting on well with your neighbors is vital for a pleasant and peaceful life. That said, the urge to grow some vegetables has become such a normal part of life today that you will likely find at least some neighbors with a vegetable garden. Traditionally, these gardens are at the back of the property where raised beds jostle with sand pits and gym sets for space.
A large number of developments are placed on cleared land with ample space to grow both on patios and decks and in the back garden. The downside to the clear view across such developments is that neighborhood cats, dogs, children and deer have a tendency to disregard property lines and trample your young seedlings unless a fence or hedge is placed to deter them. In these neighborhoods, it is conventional to put the vegetables in the back of the property.
Too much shade? But what if you live in a wooded development where the homes are spaced to maximize privacy and enjoyment of nature? Being able to see nature – from birds to deer – is a bonus to wooded lots. The downside is that vegetables do not grow well in wooded areas, and unless there is some cleared space, you will have issues with light. If your wooded area is only at the back and covenants are lenient or nonexistent, the sunny front garden becomes a great place for some vegetables.
Vegetable gardening in your front yard. For a garden in full view of the street, the design and size will be as important as what you grow. Careful planning and starting gradually will allay any concerns from neighbors. It is also very possible that by growing “out front” – visible to neighbors walking their dogs and mothers taking young children for a stroll – you will find yourself making friends with more people than if your veggie garden is tucked away in the backyard.
There are even more benefits than just fresh produce when you grow your vegetables in the front: It has been said that when one person is seen gardening near the road, a neighbor sees the garden and starts one of his or her own! It is important, of course, that you keep your front yard vegetable garden neat and cared for.
If you’d prefer to be more conventional and have a backyard vegetable garden, but you’re prevented because of trees or some other property feature that gives too much shade – here again, the best option may be a community garden. Meeting others from the neighborhood in a community garden allows you to increase the amount you can grow, and also creates a pleasant social environment to grow with other likeminded neighbors.
Older in-town homes. These can offer you some of the most flexibility. You can pretty much do as you please as long as the local township does not have regulations. Wide, sunny porches and pretty picket fences allow for container growing, window boxes, raised beds and in-ground growing. The only criteria to consider are the amount of sun that the proposed vegetable garden will get and keeping the landscape as a whole in tune with the age and style of the property.
Older country homes. Homes along country roads are covenant-free and can come with large acreage. If you are into country living, these are wonderful homes to live in, but unless you are planning to create a self-sufficient homestead, you do not need to till up large areas to grow your vegetables. Small raised beds or gardens make maintenance fast and easy, allowing you the ability to raise some produce while still having the time to enjoy the family and the peaceful area.
Before You Start Your Garden
If you are currently living where you plan to make your downsized vegetable garden – or if you have the luxury of looking for another home that’s a perfect fit for the garden you envision – here are a few things to keep in mind. The first and most important is making sure your plants will have the right amount of light.
Follow the sun. Almost all vegetables need some sunshine to thrive. Some vegetables can cope with light shade, but your choices are much broader with at least five hours of sun every day. For heat-loving summer vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, afternoon sun is better than morning sun. Salad greens
