NO ROOM TO GARDEN EXCEPT BY MY FRONT DOOR

 

Michele's "Front Door" Garden on the Maryand Coast: What to Plant & How to Care For It!

🪴 Why a Front Door Garden?

Living in a rental with no yard meant I had to get creative. The front railings became my garden’s foundation. I ordered two black window boxes from Amazon and filled them with bright, trailing blooms and compact edibles. Then I lined up seven 1-gallon black pots and a couple fabric grow bags to expand the growing space. Altogether, it’s small but mighty—it has begun to bring me joy every time I walk outside.

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🌸 What I Planted (And Why)

1. Pink Ivy Geraniums (Window Boxes)

💖 Reason: Chosen for color, texture, and the way they spill gracefully over the railing
🌱 Growth Note: These are already flowering! They love sun and don’t mind drying out a little, which is perfect for summer in containers.

 

2. Peppers (Window Boxes)

🌶️ Reason: Compact growers, high yield in small pots, and I love cooking with them
🌱 Growth Note: Starting to bud! I’m watching for aphids and feeding them with diluted fish emulsion every 2 weeks.

 

3. Marigolds (Window Boxes)

🧡 Reason: Natural pest deterrents and pollinator-friendly
🌱 Growth Note: Thriving! Bright blooms and helping keep pests off my peppers.

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4. Basil (1-Gallon Pot)

🌿 Reason: Fresh for cooking and makes great companion plant to tomatoes
🌱 Growth Note: Bushy and fragrant! Pinching off flowers to keep it leafy.

 

5. Three Types of Tomatoes (3 Pots)

🍅 Reason: I wanted variety—likely cherry, Roma, and a patio slicer
🌱 Growth Note: All three are flowering now. I’m supporting them with simple bamboo stakes and watering daily.

 6. Strawberry Plant (Pot)

🍓 Reason: Fun and sweet, and I’ve always wanted to try growing my own
🌱 Growth Note: Small fruits are starting to form! Just protected it from squirrels with mesh.

7. Cucumber (Fabric Bag)

🥒 Reason: Chose a bush variety for container growing
🌱 Growth Note: Beginning to vine out nicely—starting to see yellow flowers!  I plan to use the  railing for gentle support.

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