About Big City Gardener

What’s up, world!

Welcome to my blog

My name is Timothy Hammond, and I am the Big City Gardener. I started down this road in 2017 with no idea where I was going. My parents are both avid gardeners as well as their parents and probably all the way back down the family tree. So, I have been playing around in gardens for my entire life, and I like to say I am true to this, not new to this.

Urban Gardener, Creator, Influencer and Thinker of Fresh Ideas

No matter the size of your space, Big City Gardener encourages growing healthy foods for nutrition and medicine. Thank you for visiting today, and if you wish to learn more about growing, let’s talk it over a cup of tea!

Big City Gardener’s mission is simple; to help you just grow it!

Upon joining Instagram, I noticed a few things. One, there weren’t many minority gardeners showcasing urban gardening. Second, what I thought were simple everyday tasks and knowledge seemed foreign to others. And third, that nobody made gardening dope or approachable.

With Big City Gardener, I decided to tackle these three issues. As well as, I believe everyone has a green thumb, but the only way to find out is to get in the garden and get your hands dirty.

I still think writing and talking about myself is awkward, so rather than read this about you page, check out the resources from Big City Gardener. The in-depth blog articles here on this site, the short-form content available on any social media platform, or turn on the Just Grow it Podcast. These resources serve one purpose: show the world how dope gardening is, remove any fear or reservations associated with gardening, and inspire millions to just grow it!

There’s so much knowledge you can gain from growing, so just grow it!

Fresh From The Garden

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Latest On The Blog

Growing Carrots: Your Complete GuideDecember 7, 2022
Carrots are one of my favorite crops in my fall and spring garden. The taste of homegrown carrots trumps anythingContinue reading “Growing Carrots: Your Complete Guide”
Growing Beets: Your Complete GuideDecember 5, 2022
I love beets. That probably has something to do with my dad’s love for beets. I grew up eating beetsContinue reading “Growing Beets: Your Complete Guide”
Growing Kale: Your Complete GuideDecember 1, 2022
One of the trendiest foods in the market right now is kale. If you ask me, it deserves all the praiseContinue reading “Growing Kale: Your Complete Guide”
Growing Fruit Trees: Your Complete GuideNovember 24, 2022
No gardening space is complete without fruit trees or bushes. These perennials are an excellent way to add low-maintenance high-rewardContinue reading “Growing Fruit Trees: Your Complete Guide”
The Importance of Sun ExposureNovember 21, 2022
There are three essential contributors to the success of a garden, sunlight, water, and soil health. As gardeners, we mustContinue reading “The Importance of Sun Exposure”
Growing Calendula: Your Complete GuideNovember 11, 2022
If I could only grow one flower for the rest of my life, it would be calendula. It is easyContinue reading “Growing Calendula: Your Complete Guide”

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If you don’t know, let me tell you. This is my f

If you don’t know, let me tell you. This is my favorite composting setup. Three pallets and some screws, and you’re ready to get started. You can add more than one of these bins next to each other to move the compost, depending on its stage. I don’t know if that’s necessary, but we will see.

I will add some pieces to the side so that boards can be placed in front of the pile to keep everything neat and orderly.

Your homemade Compost is the best amendment you can add to your garden. With your compost bin, you can control all of the inputs and ensure you have a high-quality product.

Let this be the year that you get started composting. Even if you are short on outdoor space, there are many different ways you can compost. ✌🏾

I love when the 2-for-1 happens. I’m trying to

I love when the 2-for-1 happens.

I’m trying to grow as many things from seed as possible this year. Well, not just this year, but again. I’m getting back to it.

But I didn’t have all the pepper seeds I wanted to grow. So I had to head to the nursery for some scotch bonnets and hot banana peppers. Hot pepper relish 🙋🏾‍♂️yes, please.

When I go to the nursery, I purposely look for plants that have more than one plant growing in the cell. Then when you get home, you can separate the two plants, and now you get two for the price of one.

I can’t be the only one who does this. Who else looks for the two-for-one special when at the plant nursery?

I am planting the tomatoes that I started in Janua

I am planting the tomatoes that I started in January.

I still think it’s crazy what good grow lights @activegrowled, time, and some excellent liquid fertilizer @microlifefertilizer will do.

The power that a seed possesses is still mind-blowing 🤯
Over the past couple of years, I haven’t been growing from seed. I have been relying on the nursery. Since I moved to the new garden, I have made it a priority to get back to me And get back to growing from seed.

Let’s go Brandywine and San Marzano tomatoes! Happy tomato season to everyone who has planted and plans to grow them.

Comfrey is one of my favorite plants to grow in a

Comfrey is one of my favorite plants to grow in a garden.
•It is a favorite of the pollinators, especially my backyard bees.
• the big leaves provide habitats for the pollinators
• it requires very little maintenance. •The leaves of the plant can be used to make free fertilizer.
• comfrey is a dynamic accumulator that helps to build the soil.

I do not know how much growing comfrey at the base of fruit trees, aids the fruit trees. But I do know that I used to have an Anna apple tree in my last garden that I planted comfrey all around it, and I have never seen an apple tree produce more apples than that one.

If you’ve never grown comfrey, Then let this be the year that you give it a try. Make sure you give it enough space because it tends to get bushy. Then let this be the year that you give it a try. Make sure you give it enough space because it tends to get bushy.

This coop and run took longer to build than I anti

This coop and run took longer to build than I anticipated, but that’s okay. All that matters is that it was ready when it was time to move the chicks to the coop and let the egg adventure begins ✌🏾

My dream of picking grapes out of the rafters is s

My dream of picking grapes out of the rafters is still alive.

I lost every other fruit tree in the garden this year. I never worried about these muscadines. I just had to sit back and wait for them to wake up.

I planted these three varieties last year in the summer, and the vines didn’t grow very much. I don’t know much about pruning muscadines, but this year I will have to learn. I’m expecting these to take off.

The 3️⃣ varieties I am currently growing:
•Carlos bronze
•Cowart
•fry or noble

I don’t remember the exact third variety. I have to wait for them to produce fruits before I find out.

This is why you should label everything in your garden.😬 I’m going to put the @hoselinkusa slate plant labels in action tomorrow.

The wall of apples is starting to come together. A

The wall of apples is starting to come together. A little winter pruning has these apple trees beginning to take shape.
I will continue to prune and train the trees this season to help maintain their shape. I will remove all branches growing out, away from the trees, towards the garden beds.
The last tree on the wall, the golden Dorsett, does not look as good as the other trees. When I bought it online last year, I was told the tree was four years old. When I received it, I could tell that this tree was not that old. I will let it keep growing this year but will be looking for a bigger, healthier tree to replace this with potentially. If I replace it, I will dig it up in the winter while dormant and move it to a container.

Today is a sad day. I had to remove my Ujiksitu le

Today is a sad day. I had to remove my Ujiksitu lemon tree. I grew this thing for about 5 years in a wine barrel before planting it in the ground last year. Unfortunately, I didn’t cover it when the previous freeze came, and it died.

I hate covering trees during freezes. The last time I did, all the trees died anyway.

But like I always do, it’s time to look at the bright side. At least I get to go fruit tree shopping.

Also, my blood orange looks like it is dead as well. I am giving it 1-2 more weeks before I pull it out.

I don’t know that I will put citrus back here again. I’m thinking about a couple of peach trees. I will leave the citrus for the front yard.

The first night I had the chicks, I didn’t put a

The first night I had the chicks, I didn’t put a lid on this broader/tub. In the middle of the night, I heard something fall outside on the porch. When I looked, three chicks were missing.
I felt terrible because I was tired and fell asleep before securing the chicks.

Well, that won’t happen again. Let’s see a cat move this piece of plywood.
The plywood does not sit directly on top of the container. I have a 2x4 that leaves a gap between the top of the container and the plywood so the chicks can get fresh air. Every morning I take the lid off. Once the chicks can fly/jump out of this bin, I will move them to the coop.

Make sure to harden off your seedlings before tran

Make sure to harden off your seedlings before transplanting them into the garden. This is an important step that is often overlooked.

Start by leaving your plants in a shaded area for a few hours on the first day. Gradually increase the amount of time they are outside. And don’t forget to increase their sun exposure as well.

For a better breakdown of the process, check out the latest episode of JUST GROW IT- THE PODCAST.

#justgrowit #seedlings #alwaysgrowingfood #zone9garden #houstongardening #urbangardening

Ginger is one of my favorite crops to grow. One re

Ginger is one of my favorite crops to grow. One reason because I drink ginger tea almost every day and two because it is one of those set it and forget it plants.

Ginger can be grown in partial shade.
For best results plant in full sun.

Plant it in loose fertile soil in your garden bed or grow it in containers. Due to the amount of time it takes before harvesting ginger, I prefer growing it in containers.

I usually always order rhizomes.This year I waited too long and they were sold out. So I decided to try my luck with grocery store ginger. I am trying the organic and the conventionally grown.

Before planting outside the Rhizomes should be sprouted for best results.
Plant a 1-2” piece in warm soil, 72F-80F for 4-6 weeks Usually between February and April depending on the growing zone
High humidity helps with sprouting .

Here's a trick someone shared with me; After placing the rhizome in a pot, cover the pot with plastic wrap or a saucer to help increase the humidity.

If you have never grown ginger give it a try. It may become one of your new favorite crops.

#justgrowit #alwaysgrowingfood #whatimgrowing #urbangardener #zone9garden #houstongardener

Every year I run out of milkweed when raising mona

Every year I run out of milkweed when raising monarch caterpillars… not this year….
•
#raisingmonarchs #tropicalmilkweed #justgrowit #zone9garden #urbangardener #inmybackyard

While in @bee2beehoney garden I stumbled across so

While in @bee2beehoney garden I stumbled across some hoja Santa. And since I’m on a mission to get ALL the herbs from everywhere in my garden. I had to take small piece to start with ✌🏾

#justgrowit #alwaysgrowingfood #herbgarden #zone9garden #urbangardener #houstongarden

When Ken from @qualityfeed_and_garden says it’s

When Ken from @qualityfeed_and_garden says it’s time to get the chicks, there’s no time to waste.
It is crazy to see how many people are getting into backyard chickens. While there, I saw four other people buying chicks and heard the guys on the phone talk about the varieties they still had available.
I’m just happy to be back in the game. I ended up with five, but I’m considering getting two more tomorrow.
I guess I have no choice. Now I have to get back outside and finish the chicken coop and run ✌🏾

Fun fact about me: My dad and great-grandma used to raise and sell chickens in Jamaica. Does that make me a 4th generation chicken person? What do you call someone who keeps chickens? 🤔

#backyardchickens #houstongardening #urbangardener #inmybackyard #raisingchickens

Gardener life 👨🏾‍🌾 #justgrowit #always

Gardener life 👨🏾‍🌾

#justgrowit #alwaysgrowingfood #gardenerlife #urbangardener #houstongardener

Dirt and soil are not the same. Soil is alive. It

Dirt and soil are not the same. Soil is alive. It is filled with microorganisms that feed and strengthen your plant. Dirt is soil stripped of life.
So make sure you are treating your soil accordingly.

And if you’re starting a new garden, just remember that the soil is the most critical aspect of your garden. Choose wisely. Choose organic. Choose local soil ✌🏾

#justgrowit #soilhealth #gardeningtip #gardentips #zone9garden #urbangardener #houstongarden

Backyard chickens were the first thing I did in my

Backyard chickens were the first thing I did in my last garden. Before I even built the garden, I got chickens.

New place, same me. I am just doing things in a different order.

Eggs are not my number one reason for getting chickens. That happens to be a bonus. I’m really here for the soil out of the chicken run, and a way to divert my family’s food waste.

Time to get the chicks on Thursday at @qualityfeed_and_garden

Oh and Shoutout to @rocketboy_collectibles for the pallets and crate.

#backyardchickens #gardendesign #houstongarden #urbangardener #zone9garden #inmybackyard

I’m not one to talk about prices. I accept them

I’m not one to talk about prices. I accept them as part of living. But now, every time I go to the grocery store, I am more and more thankful for my garden—not even just my garden, but the ability to garden and grow.

Everyone knows my favorite saying is “do you,” so I’m not going to tell you to get a garden or start gardening. But I will say $2.19 for cilantro is wild. I remember it being three bunches for $1.

Before you tell me that starting a new garden is not cheap, save it. I know, but gardening is not just about saving money. There are many other benefits that you can’t put a dollar amount on. Anyway, we are too old not to be gardening. But like I always say, “do you.”

#justgrowit #herbgarden #gardentips #houstongarden #urbangardener #zone9garden

It’s crazy what a few days under grow lights @ac

It’s crazy what a few days under grow lights @activegrowled and good soil from @heirloomsoils will do for plants.

Let’s see what these transplants look like in another two weeks. I’m looking forward to this spring growing season.

#justgrowit #urbangardener #houstongardener #zone9garden #growyourownfood

I’m getting an early start this year on the swee

I’m getting an early start this year on the sweet potatoes. Last year’s harvest was disappointing, and I will not repeat that.

Starting your sweet potato slips is easy. Here are two foolproof methods.

Make sure you’re starting with organic sweet potatoes, not yams. I wanted to grow more purple sweet potatoes, but I had these in the kitchen and couldn’t justify purchasing the purples.

Method 1 is the water method. Suspend a sweet potato in a mason jar, Ensuring the bottom is slightly submerged in water. Change the water weekly, and in no time, you will have slips.

Method 2 is the soil method. Take a sweet potato and place it on its side in some soil. Keep the soil moist, and in a couple of weeks, you will see slips begin growing.

Choose whichever method works best for you. Slips take around six weeks to grow. I plan on planting them in April and again in May ✌🏾

#justgrowit #alwaysgrowingfood #gardenhack #urbangardening #houstongardener

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