Garden planning in January

For several years, I've been considering planting a vegetable garden. People who know me might need a moment to compose themselves after their laughing fit has passed. As much as I hate heat, hate weeding and, yes, hate eating veggies, I grew up visiting my grandparent's farm every summer and understand the value of home grown vegetables and the ability to integrate them into your every day life. A few tomato plants means lots of salsa and homemade marinara! Add in a bell pepper plant, a few onion and you can have a lot of fun.

Right now, we're living in a rather small apartment. We have a 6x4 balcony and I want to use it to my advantage and try to do some container gardening this summer. Several of our neighbors used the Topsy Turvy tomato planters last summer and they do indeed work. But at almost $30 per plant including shipping, I can't justify purchasing them when gardening is a cost saving endeavor. I'll have to do some investigating to see if I can make my own upside down container.

My plan is to do as much research as I can between now and the spring. I want to make my own rail boxes instead of purchasing window boxes. Making my own upside down containers would be great and would make it possible for more plants to receive full sunlight on the balcony.