Get in the spirit of springtime with these tips for an on-the-go garden for your RV! Depending on the amount of space available in your RV, there’s really no limit to the kinds of herbs or plants that you can grow! Oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, strawberries, and tomatoes are all examples of things that can be grown in your RVs. Below are some basic tips and ideas for an “on-the-go” garden of your own – whether you’re on the road and desire a fresh salad, or for when you’re parked at one of the many Thousand Trails campgrounds and want some beautiful flowers to look at when you step out of your vehicle.
Back Bumper Planter
An obvious but important concern for RVers is space. If you haven’t already utilized the back bumper area of your RV, securing a planter box that is sized to fit your bumper is a great way to grow larger plants like tomatoes or strawberries wherever you may be. Bloggers, Russ and Tiña De Maris, fashioned a custom planter box to grow tomatoes on the back bumper of their RV using cedar fence boards, plumber’s tape, and a few carriage nuts, washers and bolts. Read about how they did it over at rvtravel.com. Another clever idea the De Maris’ mention is to attach some hanging plants to the rolling awning of your RV if you’re stationed somewhere for a few days or more.
AeroGarden® Systems & EarthBox®
For the RVers who’d like to have some greenery in their vehicles but don’t quite have a “green thumb,” you may want to opt for an indoor grow system like the AeroGarden® System from Miracle-Gro. These systems are a little bit on the pricier side, but for the amount of ease they provide, the extra cash is worth it. The AeroGarden® has features to make this system fool-proof – there’s no soil needed, has built in grow-lights and and even an alarm that tells you exactly when it’s time to water your plants. Though AeroGarden® is designed to be easy-peasy to care for your plants, you are going to want to make sure that it is secured to a table or hard flat surface if you’re in transit.
Let’s say you’re parked at one of the many Thousand Trails campgrounds for a little bit of time (like if you’re exploring San Diego for a couple of weeks before the Coronado Flower Show!) you may be interested in purchasing an EarthBox® System. This is another fool-proof option and it has the capability to grow a plethora of different flowers, plants, and vegetables. All you have to do is set up the EarthBox® System in the area of your choice, plop in some seeds, water it accordingly, and you’re good to go!
Window Herb Planters
Another space-saving way to incorporate some greenery into your on-the-go lifestyle is to utilize the small window spaces in your RV, perhaps above your kitchen sink. Small window planters are a popular way to grow herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, and oregano wherever you are and they provide freshness and flavor to any dishes you’re cooking. All you need is a sturdy window rod to attach along your windowsill, small planters shaped like buckets or cans, and hooks to hold up the planters. Growing herbs does require a minimal amount of maintenance but as long as you keep the plants facing the sunlight, use high-quality soil, and water them accordingly, you can have fresh herbs in your RV all year round!
Would like to see pictures.
What about restrictions about bringing live plants, fruit, vegetables,,etc.into California from out of state?
Great question, Rosalyn! California does not allow plants to leave or enter the state however, every state is different. These laws are put in place to prevent harmful diseases and insects from spreading. Just make sure you check the laws before crossing state lines with plants.