A friend of mine commented the other day that this is the first year I've been out of college as long as I was in. Yet, I still get the chills whenever I pass those big "Back to School" ads in every newspaper and TV commercial. Happily, this year I don't have to pack up everything I own into my little car and try my best to live comfortably in a 10'x10' dorm room with roommates - stressed about where I can put my computer, let alone my beautiful container garden.
So in honor of all those who do get to experience the joys of college life, I've pulled together some ideas for very small space container gardens. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Windowsill herb garden
There are lots of herbs that will thrive in small containers if placed in a sunny window (5 hours or more sun each day) or under fluorescent lights. Some of the most common are: Chives, Oregano, Mint, Thyme, Sage, Basil, and Rosemary. (Although I've never been able to keep rosemary alive for some reason.)
It's easiest to buy plants at the nursery and grow them, rather than starting from seed if you don't have a lot of space or equipment to work with. Or take a cutting from a friend or family member's plant before you hit the road. You can plant them in anything that will hold potting soil that you can put holes in the bottom of for drainage. Fertilize sparingly every few weeks, and let the soil dry out between waterings. The plants require little maintenance, and can bring a lovely scent to any dorm room.
Sprouts - a word of warning
Sprouting has long been a fun way to grow your own veggies, that takes hardly any time or space. Just soak seeds in a jar of water overnight, then drain the water and rinse the seeds a couple times of day. Voila! You've got a nutrition-packed snack.
Unfortunately, there was recently an article published by the CDC that warned of Salmonella and E. coli being a risk with sprouts due to the warm moist conditions used for sprouting encouraging the growth of the harmful bacteria on the seeds. You can read the full text of the article at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no5/ta... It warns that young children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems should avoid eating sprouts. So use your best judgement if you plan to grow sprouts, and look for seed vendors who use the best management practices in their production.
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