In addition to the benefits of gardening to receive the cost benefits of not having to buy expensive plant products at the grocery store, growing your own plants provides many nutritional benefits as well. In the United States most of us live far from where our fruits and vegetables are grown. In fact, a study by the U.S. Drug Administration found that the average vegetable has to travel a distance if 1500 miles before they arrive in our homes. This type of travel takes time. This time that fresh vegetables take to make it to your dinner take not only takes away from the flavor of the fruit but many of the nutrients have been lost as well.

It is easy to forget these facts when there are markets that have these fruits and vegetables available to us at all times. It is also easy to forget about the land that is now being developed into suburbs was once fertile farming land. As we become more disconnected with where our food comes from and as we take for granted the value of fresh food, the importance of urban gardening becomes more urgent.

City dwellers can grow beautiful gardens. With a very small amount of outdoor space, amazing gardening feats can be achieved. Some people have the resource of a community garden, others have rooftop space, and some have balconies that are perfect for potted plants. Don't forget that urban gardening also includes the gardening that takes place in the backyards of those who live in the city. Although land space is less abundant in urban area, those who do have a yard have an even greater opportunity to create a garden that they can be proud of. Of course there is some research and education that is needed if you are to be a prized gardener.

How do I start an urban garden?

If you have never gardened before and want to start your own urban garden there are a few things that you should find out about before you get started. First, you will need to decide what types of plants you would like to grow. After you know what plants you are interested in growing you should research those plants to find out if the environment that you can provide for them is going to be ample enough to ensure their survival. Some plants do very well in pots while others have more extensive root systems and will become stifled if grown in a pot. You need to decide what types of soil, fertilizer and potting techniques are best for your plants.

There are also urban garden specific techniques that you may want to look into before getting started with your garden. Just one of these techniques is to raise your beds or use the growing method of succession planting to make the most out of the space that you have. If you have land that you are able to use for your garden, you will want to test the soil for pollutants that are often found in the soil of urban areas.