Urban Gardening

Following news of John Hantz's ambitious plans for massive scale urban gardening, I've been thinking about gardening on a smaller scale. Like many of us, I imagine, I have a reasonably small backyard, and I'm curious what vegetables grow well in our climate.

I'd also be interested in cooperative gardening, but I haven't really heard of much. Is there a way to buy into community gardens, that is not terribly expensive? Or should I just stick with supporting the local economy at Eastern Market?

Comments on Hantz's plan would be interesting to hear, as well.

As far as what veggies grow well, I've had success with the following:

1. Summer crops: tomatoes, green pepers, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, lettuce, corn, and assorted herbs.

2. Spring crops: sugarsnap peas, raddishes, carrots, and celery.

3. Fruits: strawberries, raspberries, grapes and blackberries.

Hope that helps out some, and happy gardening. :)

As far as Hantz's plan, I see nothing wrong with it. When it comes to urban gardens, I say, the more the merrier.

We have enough vacant land throughout Detroit and certainly enough people with limited incomes that can be helped by ideas such as this. Besides, most folks would rather look at a beautiful garden than an empty, weed and trash filled lot.

"I'm curious what vegetables grow well in our climate."

You can grow just about anything. I've grown strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, sweet corn, popcorn, potatoes, carrots, radishes, grapes, peaches, apricots, cherries, apples, figs,...

Basically, everything but tropical fruit.

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Originally Posted by Detroitej72

As far as what veggies grow well, I've had success with the following:

1. Summer crops: tomatoes, green pepers, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, lettuce, corn, and assorted herbs.

2. Spring crops: sugarsnap peas, raddishes, carrots, and celery.

3. Fruits: strawberries, raspberries, grapes and blackberries.

Hope that helps out some, and happy gardening. :)

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yup. as a kid, i always had bountiful crops of tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini squash, and radishes. i never cared for the squash, but my neighbors were crazy about it! other folks grew corn, lettuce, and herbs, as stated [[be careful with the herbs, some can grow out of control!) my aunt had strawberries, and she also had blueberries, blackberries, or both. they were pretty hardy plants that returned every year. a lot of people grew sunflowers too.

this year is my return to gardening; i've already bought a niagara grape plant. i live in an oak grove in royal oak, so we'll see what the squirrels do to the plants. i've also noticed rabbits around here. and, i've heard the rats will go after the plants too!