When you hear about growing vegetables, you probably think of long vegetable beds in a huge garden. But vegetables can also be planted on the balcony. You can grow a surprising amount of edible food yourself in pots, tubs and boxes. The urban gardening trend presents practical ways in which you can use every centimeter of your own balcony space for your own vegetable garden. Today we will give you a few tips on what you should consider if you want to create a balcony garden.
The lack of space should not be an obstacle to this enjoyable hobby. There are many vegetables that can grow in containers, pots and window boxes on the windowsill. And sometimes yields are even better than in an outdoor garden because these heat-loving varieties find the perfect growing conditions on the balcony. We should also not forget their decorative effect. Chard with its attractive red stems, tasty cherry tomatoes and mini peppers in red, yellow and orange look beautiful in the garden on the balcony.
The advantages of vegetable gardening on the balcony are obvious: not only do you always have a source of vitamins at hand, but you also have a useful and interesting hobby. Engaging with plants is not only pleasant, but also useful. Gardening reduces stress and creates positive feelings. Is there anything better than seeing your work literally come to fruition? The reward is tomatoes, cucumbers andFresh strawberrieson the plate. Growing vegetables in a container is also quite practical – there are no weeds and therefore no competition for water and nutrients.
Pay attention to the orientation of the balcony
A balcony on the east or west side of the house is ideal for gardening. Tomatoes, strawberries, currants, peppers and eggplants thrive on the sunny, south-facing balcony.Salads are suitable for shady areas, chard, dill, parsley, watercress and wild garlic. Mediterranean herbs such as thyme, rosemary, mint and oregano are particularly suitable for full sun and windy locations.
Consider the height of the plants and their needs
There are a variety of vegetables with compact growth that are well suited to a balcony garden. Ideally, you should choose varieties that are described as “shrub”, “dwarf” or “mini”. The most popular plants for a small garden on the balcony include herbs, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and chili varieties, beans, carrots, lettuces, onions and eggplants.
It is recommended to plant several crops in one planter. This attracts pollinators and ensures a harmonious arrangement. Pay attention to the correct arrangement of the plants in the mixed culture. Otherwise the large plants would provide too much shade. The concept also applies here“Thriller, Filler and Player”also works perfectly for the balcony garden. That means a large plant at the back, a half-height plant in the middle and a small plant at the front that hangs down over the edge of the pot. Thyme is ideal for this.
Find the right planter
The selection of planters is incredibly large and there are almost no limits to your imagination. You can also use old everyday items or even build a raised bed for the balcony yourself. There are three main things to consider: size, material and drainage. As a rule, it is dryness or stagnant moisture that occursGardening on the balconycause problems.
Honestly, the bigger the better. Large pots and containers require more soil to fill, but save time and money when it comes to watering. The disadvantage of large planters is their weight. Flower coasters on rolls offer a good solution here.
Root vegetables such as radishes, carrots and beets are best planted in deep containers. A depth of 30 centimeters or more is optimal. Onions and relatives like garlic and wild garlic also love deep containers to prevent the roots from rotting.
Climbing aid necessary for climbing plants
Climbing plants such as runner beans, peas, cucumbers, climbing zucchini and some types of melons can grow well in pots, but definitely need a climbing aid. A teepee made of wooden poles for them to climb up is always a good solution. Spiral rods are particularly suitable for tomatoes. Other variants include ropes, trellises and trellis nets.
The material of the planters is of great importance
When choosing materials for the plant pots, you are spoiled for choice, as the list is quite long - from clay to plastic, metal, wood and fabric. And each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. Below we will mention some of them.
Clay dries out quickly and requires more watering. But if it is glazed, a clay pot can retain moisture much better. Clay is a good choice for plants that cannot tolerate wet feet, such as most herbsas well as strawberries. They are usually planted in clay containers with several side openings.
Plastic is waterproof and this could lead to waterlogging, which could negatively impact plants that prefer dry soil and good drainage. Like most herbs and peppers.
Metal is very temperature dependent. At very high or low temperatures it quickly becomes too hot or too cold. Eggplants like it warm, so metal containers are suitable for them. However, it would be beneficial if you gave the plants some sun protection.
Wood has very good properties in terms of moisture and temperature. However, it will rot over time if not protected by pond liner. Wooden boxes, old wooden pallets or wooden barrels are perfect as plant containers.
Vertical garden on the balcony
Of course, space is limited on balconies. A trick that is becoming increasingly popular in urban gardening: you use the space at height and can therefore use vertical surfaces. Hanging baskets, plant stairs, upright pallets, clay pot towers and other structures are ideal.
Plant bags are usually made of a breathable fabric that retains heat and moisture, but to a reasonable extent. These plant bags can also be easily attached to the wall or balcony railing and save space.
When to create the balcony garden?
You can plant the balcony garden on the sunny south-facing balcony at the end of April and beginning of May. On the west-facing balcony a little later - mid or late May. A north-facing balcony is more exposed to the wind, which is why it is recommended to plant young plants instead of seeds in June.
The quality of the plant soil
The plant soil factor is also crucial for a good harvest. Healthy soil guarantees healthy plants. When gardening in containers and pots, you should not use conventional garden soil because it is too heavy and will gain weight even when watered. Cheap soil also tends to clump together. The earth should be light and airy. Although a ready-made plant substrate can be a bit expensive, it is worth the investment. This will help you avoid poor yields later in the harvest season.
You can also make your own planting medium by mixing peat moss (to keep soil and roots moist) with compost in a 2:1 ratio. You can also add a little perlite. It provides additional ventilation and prevents waterlogging.
The balcony garden needs regular watering
Vegetable plants that grow in containers need to be watered more often because the soil dries out more quickly. How often it is watered depends on the climate and the material of the container. As already mentioned: clay is more common, plastic less common. Distribute the water well using a watering can.
A layer of mulch would be beneficial
The soil moisture is retained under the mulch layer. Bark mulch is not well suited for vegetable gardens because it decomposes very slowly and binds nutrients in the soil. Instead, choose cedar or cypress, which also deter some insects. Straw works perfectly, but you need to make sure it is seed-free.
