The Urban Patch

The internet and gardening communities can make things very complicated. Do you have the right fertiliser composition, sun direction, companion plants etc. But the truth is, whether you’ve got a sunny balcony, a scrappy courtyard, or just a windowsill and some hope, there’s really only four basic things every edible garden needs:

1. 🌱 The Plants
2. 🪣 Their Home
3. 🪱 The Dirt
4. 🌞 The Environment

I’ve broken down each into a ✅“Must Have” and an 🫖“Optional, Don’t Sweat It Yet” section – the goal here is to just get started and you can add more things as you learn!

🌱 1. The Plants – What To Grow First

What are you going to grow? Start with one or two easy edibles you actually like to eat – think herbs, greens, or cherry tomatoes. You’ll learn as you grow (and probably kill a few along the way – it’s all part of the fun).

✅ Must Have – Easy Edibles You’ll Actually Eat

• Pick 1–3 plants you actually like to eat (e.g. basil, lettuce, parsley)
• Choose easy, forgiving plants like herbs or leafy greens – check out our Beginner Friendly Plant recommendations
• Buy seedlings (baby plants) from the nursery to keep things simple and get growing fast

🫖 Optional Extras

• Growing from seed (it’s cheaper, but trickier)
• Companion planting or plant families
• Heritage varieties (cool, but not essential)
• Planning out your whole harvest for the year – just start with something now

💡Urban Patch Tip: It’s way more motivating to start with something that grows fast. Herbs or lettuces can be ready for harvest in a few weeks. A capsicum? She’s more of a long-game diva.

🪣 2. Their Home – Containers Are a Flexible Urban Home

Your plant needs a home – either a container, or straight into the ground. Every plant needs a place to put down roots – whether that’s a pot on your balcony or a patch of soil in your backyard, the right home makes all the difference.

🌿 Option 1: In a Container

Great for balconies, rentals, or when your soil is basically just construction rubble. Also great for moving around to catch the sun.

✅ Must Have

• A pot or bucket with drainage holes
• Big enough for roots – about the size of a loaf of bread for herbs
• Potting mix (not garden soil)

🫖 Optional Extras

• Pretty matching pots
• Raised garden beds
• Self-watering or vertical planters

💡Urban Patch Tip: Almost anything can be a pot if water can drain out and your plant fits. Yep, even a recycled Farmers Union yoghurt container with holes poked in the bottom! Oh – also label your container if you’ve got a few on the go so you know what you’ve planted…nobody wants to excitedly harvest their coriander and realise too late it’s actually parsley.

🪱 Option 2: Straight into the Dirt

If you’ve got earth, use it! But think like a plant: is this a good spot to live?

✅ Must Have

• A spot with at least 4–6 hours of sun
• Somewhere not too compacted – avoid old driveways or rocky rubble
• Clear access to water (tap, hose, or watering can nearby)
• A space you can walk around and reach without stepping on all your plants

🫖 Optional Extras

• Fencing or barriers if you’ve got pets (looking at you, Odie 🐶)
• Defined borders with bricks, wood, or edging
• A path using stepping stones or mulch to avoid compacting the soil
• A garden layout plan (you’ll probably change it anyway)

💡Urban Patch Tip: The best garden bed is the one you’ll actually visit. Pick a spot you walk past often – you’ll remember to water, weed, and harvest more often.

🪱 3. The Dirt – Use the Right Soil from Day One

Healthy plants need healthy soil. Whether you’re filling a pot or digging a patch in the backyard, healthy dirt is the unsung hero of your garden. Good soil = happy roots = tasty harvests.

🌿 Option 1: You’re Using Pots or Containers

✅ Must Have

• Use potting mix, not garden soil (it’s lighter, drains well, and your plant roots can breathe)
• Check that it’s labelled for edibles or vegetables if possible

🫖 Optional Extras

• Add a handful of compost or worm castings to boost nutrients
• Mix in a bit of perlite or coir if your mix feels too heavy
• Buy the fancy organic stuff (it’s great, but not required)

💡Urban Patch Tip: Start with basic potting mix. Your plants won’t know if it came from the budget aisle or the premium blend.

🌏 Option 2: You’re Planting Straight into the Ground

✅ Must Have

• Test your soil:
  • Dig down and feel it. Does it crumble like chocolate cake? You’re golden.
  • If it’s clay (sticky and heavy) or sandy (drains too fast), you’ll want to mix in some organic matter
• Add compost if you can – even just a bag or two will help
• Clear the area of weeds and grass before planting
• Loosen the soil – use a fork or spade to break it up so roots can grow easily

🫖 Optional Extras

• Soil testing kits to check pH or contamination
• Mulch to retain water and keep weeds down
• A layer of worm castings or aged manure
• Raised beds (if the soil’s really rough)

💡Urban Patch Tip: Don’t stress if your soil isn’t perfect. Just loosen it, add some compost, and get planting. Nature’s been growing stuff in dirt long before garden centres existed.

🌞 4. The Environment – Sun, Water, Weather

Where you place your plant makes a big difference. Sun, water, wind, and temperature all shape your plant’s chances – understanding your little microclimate can turn guesswork into growth. But the biggest factor? The sun.

✅ Must Have – Did We Mention The Sun?

• At least 4 hours of sun a day (most herbs and veggies love sun)
• Water your plant regularly (every 2 days, or when the soil is feeling dry) – stick your finger into the soil up to your first finger joint to check the soil is actually wet, not just the surface of the soil
• A spot where you’ll see it daily (so you don’t forget it exists)

🫖 Optional Extras

• Wind protection or shade cloth
• Water timers or irrigation systems
• Pest management plans (just keep an eye out for now)

🎉 That’s It — You’re Officially a Gardener

You don’t need a “green thumb” or a perfect setup. You just need:

• A plant
• A container
• Some soil
• A sunny-ish spot

And a little curiosity.

Mistakes are part of the process. Plants will wilt. The dog might dig one up. But something will grow – and when it does, you’ll never look at a salad the same way again.

See our recommendations for Beginner Friendly Plants, or check out our Guide to Getting Started on a Budget to see how to get going with just $20!

Happy growing!
— L (and Odie 🐾)