5 Ways To Customize Your Community Garden Plot

Fog isn't the only thing taking over San Francisco this summer. With gardening on the rise, it can be a total buzzkill not having a backyard for your horticulture and floriculture needs.

But it's all good — we know you're always out and about exploring anyway, so why not adventure into all the local community gardens the city has to offer? We're sure you'll find one that makes your green thumb itch with excitement.

This Friday buy-day we've compiled some garden plot essentials to make having a local shared space just as exciting as having a backyard garden.

This Week's Products

Who they're for: Any San Franciscan with a local garden plot and a green thumb

Why they're awesome: Having only a garden plot instead of a full backyard garden can sound kind of depressing. But these five products make it possible to be happy and excited about your little plot of hope. Plus come on, who wants to actually maintain an entire backyard? We sure don't.

Where to use them: Still looking for a luscious, grassy plot of land to plant on? You can fill out this form to be notified when a plot in the San Francisco area opens up so that you can plant your heart away.

1. Mark your territory

Chalkboard Sign, $38.40

The first order of business when having a plot within a community garden is making sure you know which one is yours. It's bad enough when creatures steal your veggies; you don't need your neighbor doing the same because they thought it was their plot. This chalkboard sign is a fun way to say, "Hey, this is my land, and you aren't allowed to enter" (unless, of course, you're open to sharing your grown goods with the entire community).

Buy It Here

2. Plant a variety of interesting herbs

Nature's Blossom Herb Garden Kit, $22.99

Vegetables can oftentimes be difficult to grow when you only have a small amount of space. That's why we recommend this sow-and-grow seed starter kit filled with a variety of herbs. From cilantro to basil to sage, all of these herbs are small, so you'll still have room to plant decorative flowers in your garden plot.

Buy The Kit Here

3. Ditch the traditional garden bed

Fabric Raised Garden Bed, $24.95

Most portable plastic garden beds are flimsy and fall apart when transporting them to your plot. But this fabric raised garden bed will eliminate all your frustrations due to its easy portability. The best part, though? This bed has air-pruning technologies that expose roots to the air making your plants grow stronger and taller than traditional plants rooted in the ground.

Buy It Here

4. Read up on all that community gardening has to offer

The Community Gardening Handbook: The Guide to Organizing, Planting, and Caring For A Community Garden, $13.59

Let's be real, normal backyard gardening can be very intimidating, especially if you're starting for the first time. But community gardening can be even more scary, and you may have a laundry list of questions you need answered. Reading up on community gardening before heading to your plot is a great idea, and this community gardening handbook offers great insight into all you should know.

Buy It Here

5. Add some decorations

25 Piece Butterfly Stakes, $6.59

Most community gardens are boring and just have a few veggies growing, but yours doesn't have to be! There are a bunch of fun ways to decorate your small space without overcrowding. Exhibit A: These small butterfly stakes add a touch of color to the abundance of green within your garden, and they can double as markers so you can remember which plants and veggies you planted where.

Buy Them Here

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All prices and savings listed in this post are as of publication and could change.