Urban farming in small spaces is the way of the future, however growing vegetables in small spaces can be challenging. The first thought that comes to mind when you moved into your brand new apartment is usually –  "I miss my backyard and the little patch of kitchen garden I tended to".

Don’t worry, raised bed planters are an ideal solution that substitutes the little patch you miss. 

Home Harvest’s planter on Nandini’s balcony. Pic: Nandini Vaidyanathan

Why planters? Why not pots that are commonly found on most balconies? Rows of plastic pots with ornamental plants come close to the greenery that you crave to surround yourself with. Now you can use the same space to grow vegetables in boxes/raised beds. The planters are flat bed boxes about 6-8 inches in height and holds soil and can be used to grow  all kinds of veggies – greens, tomatoes, brinjal, okra, radish etc. on your balcony. 

Planters are not mass produced as yet but are available in Bangalore. The concept is simple and uses a combination of material – metal wood and plastic sheet. 

Recycled packing wood can be used to make the frame. Plastic sheets holds the soil mix. To keep the bed raised at a height, a metal frame can also be used.This is especially important if you are also practicing rainwater harvesting in your terrace.

The materials can be accessed easily and the boxes can be made in different sizes and assembled with minimal carpenter tools.

Construction of planter. Pic: Sushil JP

Cost of a planter can range anywhere between Rs 800 to 3000 per box depending on the size of the box. Raised metal frames can add to the cost but then it keeps the floor clean and is also movable. You can do-it- yourself or get them made by a carpenter or even buy them from individuals who are making these boxes.

Purna organics, My Sunny Balcony are professionally operated outfits offering installation and service and have fixed square foot rates. Some keen garden enthusiasts have also created their own versions and are making boxes based on individual orders. Laxminarayan Srinivasaiah (SL as he is known) can be contacted over eval(decodeURIComponent(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%5c%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%6c%61%78%6d%69%6e%61%72%61%79%61%6e%40%67%6d%61%69%6c%2e%63%6f%6d%5c%22%3e%65%6d%61%69%6c%3c%5c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b’)) if you want to buy boxes.

You don’t need to crib anymore, explore these links below that may inspire you and give you solutions to create and set-up your very own kitchen garden in small spaces you may have.

• Purna Organics
• My Sunny Balcony
• diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-build-a-planter-box
• ehow.com/video_4872778_build-planter-box.html

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