Are you dreaming of having a home garden where you can harvest your own fruits, herbs, and vegetables, but you live in a condo and don’t have a backyard to grow one in? Not a problem! Aside from the soothing effect of having a mini paradise to walk into every morning or whenever you’re stressed out, growing your very own edible garden also provides the assurance that the food you eat is safe from pesticides or exposure to viruses — a benefit that is especially welcome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Pick a spot that gets enough sunlight.

It goes without saying that plants need enough sunlight to grow. You may not have a backyard to expose your plants to lots of sunlight, but the spacious balcony in your Suntrust condominium is just as good a spot to grow your garden. You can also utilize the walls with vertical gardening, which is great for decorative purposes as well.

Use the right containers.

Before starting your garden, do lots of research on the plants that you’re planning to grow, especially on which types and sizes of containers they need to thrive. Since you’re growing vegetables and herbs, your pots must be large enough to accommodate the plants’ roots and to hold the soil and water they need to be healthy. While most plants only require at least six inches of soil, some may need wider and deeper containers.

Choose plants that will do well with condo living.

There are actually a lot of plants that you can grow in your condo!

• Herbs

Herbs are the easiest plants you can grow in your condo. They require little effort to care for, and you can even place them by your window if you don’t have a balcony or just want to save the space for bigger plants.

• Microgreens

Microgreens are one of the most low-maintenance crops you can plant on your balcony and even indoors. They’re also packed with nutrients and can be used in a variety of healthy recipes.

• Avocados

Yes, avocados are surprisingly easy to grow, which makes it an ideal plant for your condo garden. All you need are the pit (washed and dried), a jar or glass filled with water, and four toothpicks stuck into the pit to suspend it by the rim. Put it in a sunny place and water frequently.

• Tomatoes

For growing tomatoes, it’s best to use larger pots that will hold their roots. The ideal size for containers is 18 inches in diameter. You can also put them in smaller pots, but this means you will have to water them more frequently.

• Salad Greens

You can grow everything you need to make your own salad with cos lettuce, spinach, arugula, and mustard greens. The depth of soil they need will depend on the seed you’re planting, but salad greens generally need a warm, moist soil to grow.