The Itsy Bitsy Urban Garden

From apartment terrace to table?and every tiny space in between?gardening small has become a big deal in cities everywhere. Whether it's pots on the rooftop or tiered baskets hanging out the window, urbanites are finding inventive ways to grow incredible edibles in even the most vertical landscapes.

It's all easier than you might think?but there's definitely a science to it. What to plant, irrigation, container choice, fertilizer?with so many options, it's easy to get confused. That's why we recommend a little research before you get started (says the girl who grew loads of misshapen, garnish-sized container veggies before picking up some books on the subject).

Here's some of my favorite reads with expert tips for cultivating a thriving small-batch garden of your own. With lots of sunshine and a little luck, you'll be crunching your way through a healthy harvest in no time. And nothing tastes quite as great as something you've grown yourself!

Downtown Dirt

For a complete DIY guide for starting a garden in the heart of the city, tap into Apartment Gardening: Plants, Projects, and Recipes for Growing Food in Your Urban Home. Using easy-to-follow illustrations, tips, and recipes, Kate Bingaman-Burt and Amy Pennington make gardening accessible (and fun) for every type of urban homesteader and every space. There's even instructions for making your own beauty products!

The Garden Whisperer

Award-winning author Sonia Day explores "the hottest gardening trend" and dives deep in her book, The Urban Gardener: How to Grow Things Successfully on Balconies, Terraces, Decks. Brimming with details to help even the tiniest garden grow bountiful harvests, Sonia shares smart tips for every step of the way, from getting started to safeguarding plants for winter.

Flora and Fauna

With the mantra "no space is too small or too dark to raise food," author R.J. Ruppenthal gives us a comprehensive guide that touches on virtually all aspects of producing diverse foods in tight quarters. In Fresh Food from Small Spaces: The Square-Inch Gardener's Guide to Year-Round Growing, Fermenting, and Sprouting, Ruppenthal shares how-tos for things like mushrooms, bees, chickens, and hydroponics, in addition to more traditional crops.

Farm Faster

Looking for somewhat-instant gratification? Then Fast, Fresh Garden Edibles: Quick Crops for Small Spaces might be the read for you. In it, author Jane Courtier explores varietals that excel in containers and produce crops in what seems like a snap?you'll love her tips on speedy sowing, growing, and harvesting.

Your Own Organics

Here's a favorite for gardeners with a little bit more experience: Kitchen Harvest: A Cook's Guide to Growing Organic Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs in Containers by Susan Berry. Susan's rich detail helps bring out the best in your tiny plot, with helpful how-tos like plant facts, crops yields, recipes, and even info on how to start and sustain potted trees.

Grow Like a Girl

Gayla Trail, beloved creator of yougrowgirl.com, shares her knack for getting delicious organics to flourish in tiny environments. With Grow Great Grub: Organic Food from Small Spaces, Gayla starts us off with inside scoop on things like pest control and selecting the perfect heirlooms to grow. She finishes with easy-to-follow recipes that showcase your harvest's freshness and flavor?a fun and delicious way to share your passion with friends.

And if that's not enough, check out our full selection of books on Urban Gardening.

What about you? Do you have any tips for tiny gardening in the big city? How about a plant that's grown really well in a container? Or types of containers you've had great luck with? As always, we'd love to hear about it!

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Read more by KA Scott