Published: April 30, 2009 02:54 pm      

How does your garden grow

Tips and tricks for beginning planters

A country estate with plenty of acreage is no longer a necessity for growing a garden. Rather, says Mike Cline, owner of Rail Trail Gardens in Zionsville, even condo and apartment dwellers new to planting can develop a good green thumb. And, Cline says, many first-time gardeners are jumping on the bandwagon because of First Lady Michelle Obama’s revitalization of the White House’s garden. Cline estimates his sales are up 40 percent so far this year, largely because of first-time gardeners.

The trick is knowing what plants to grow and how. And with local horticultural hotspots like Rail Trail, getting tips and advice is easier than ever. Rail Trail offers a variety of gardening classes, including instruction on growing small, container-based plants. Container-grown gardens are a hip trend with those lacking much yard space. “One thing I know we’ll see again this year is doing contained gardening with herbs, right out back door patios,” Cline said. “With the influx of condos and apartments, (gardening) is not just for the traditional homeowner. Even in just a brownstone, there are things (people) can do.”

Perhaps one of the neatest – and most useable – container gardens is the “salsa-pod.” Growing tomatoes, onions, and cilantro all in the same pot makes for easy harvesting and instant ingredients for home-made salsa. Chives, rosemary, thyme and basil are also popular container plants. If you’ve got a little more space and would like to grow edible veggies, Cline recommends starting with already-sprouted plants rather than seeds. Basic staples like cucumbers, beans, and carrots are relatively easy to grow.

But if you’re not destined to be the gardener in the family, Rail Trail has an alternative: make a planting pot for the person who is. On the Saturday and Sunday before Mother’s Day, Rail Trail will have biodegradable planters available for decorating.