So the USDA has divided the continent into 11 “Plant Hardiness Zones” which are supposed to represent the soil tempertaure gradient up the globe that determines the beginning of each region’s growing season, which should also be useful for choosing what types of seeds to plant. The National Gardening Association recommends you use blooming flowers as an indicator. The map below assigns numbers to the geographical zones, a convention that is followed on the instruction guide on the back of any seeds you would buy at your local store:
We, in Brooklyn, fall just within zone 7. If the map above doesn’t give you an idea of where you are, search by zipcode on arborday.org. Most of these zones are used for planting trees, but similar conventions are followed for vegetables.
Below, I included a very helpful article from here: http://nymag.com/restaurants/features/37275/
Urban Farming Tips and Tricks
By Hope Reeves
Anyone who has a window or a fire escape, some terra cotta or wooden containers, and a bag of soil can grow a multitude of fruits and veggies.
Radishes, beets and lettuce…
These are shade-loving plants and can be grown in containers smaller than 10 inches in diameter, says Sonia Uyterhoeven, the New York Botanical Garden’s gardener for public programs.
Herbs
The same goes for most herbs—basil, chives, and parsley grow particularly well in contained environments.
Tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, and peppers
Deeper-rooted vegetables requiring more light, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, and peppers, grow nicely in 3 to 5-gallon containers. (Uyterhoeven specifically recommends cherry-tomato varieties Sungold and Sweet 100, along with cucumbers Spacemaster and Fanfare.)
All containers should be raised on bricks or some kind of feet for better drainage and air circulation, and container plants must be watered as needed to prevent dehydration.
Vining plants are great for rooftops!!!!
Those with particularly exposed areas will need to protect their plants from the intense afternoon sun, says Uyterhoeven, who recommends shade cloths and bark chips.
Fast track on soil matters
Although backyard gardens typically allow more planting space, they can pose serious soil challenges. Make sure to test your soil for lead if you live in a city!
Also, before planting, you can assess soil qulaity by taking handful of dirt and squeezing it together. Good soil will lightly clump, bad soil will either fall apart (too sandy) or mass together (too clay-y). The good news is that soil problems can be remedied by adding compost, manure, and other organic materials widely available at area nurseries. Sun exposure, on the other hand, cannot be changed, so assessing your light prior to choosing plants is essential.
Shady Plants
- Leafy greens— bok choy, kale, spinach, mustard greens, leeks, and Swiss chard
- broccoli
- turnips
- rutabagas
- zucchini
- cabbage
SUN LOVERS
- tomatoes
- cucumbers
- peppers
- eggplants
- blueberries
- strawberries
Herbs of all varieties are hard to botch in part-sun, part-shade areas, and experts recommend interspersing edible plants with flowering ornamentals, both for aesthetics and insect control.
The New York and Brooklyn botanical gardens offer year-round workshops on urban gardening, and the BBG staffs a Gardener’s Resource Center to vet questions. The hotline (718-623-7270) is open on Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Check online for walk-in hours, helpful e-mail addresses, and other resources.
