Growing vegetables and herbs in containers is not too difficult, although it requires more attention than the cultivation of ornamental plantsRegular watering is very important - in the morning or evening hours, depending on the balcony display.In the period when frost may occur, water in the morning, evening watering may freeze the root ball, and thus also the plants. The southern, western or eastern exhibition is the best for growing vegetables.
The second issue is nutrition, vegetables with higher nutritional requirements should be constantly fed with liquid or granulated fertilizers, preferably with a prolonged effect.There are vegetables in the mini version, sometimes referred to as "baby", such as cabbage (white, e.g. 'Piccolor', red 'Redball' and Italian 'Fiona'), broccoli, carrots ('Baby Mignon'), small fruit tomatoes ('Mascot', 'Beads'), cucumbers as well as mushrooms such as oyster mushrooms, shiitake and lilac ear.
Proven fruit plants for planting in containers are berry plants, especially strawberries and wild strawberries (practically any variety growing in the field will be suitable for this).Climbing varieties are especially recommended for this type of cultivation. In fact, they are strawberries that hang to form long stolons. The seedlings require careful care, first of all, maintaining a constant soil moisture and more frequent watering. Wild strawberries are also suitable for growing in balcony boxes. Tiny shrubs will grow in one place even 2-3 years. Plant the seedlings in containers with garden soil.
Blueberry can also be planted in containers.Blueberries require a specific substrate, which should be extremely acidic and permeable.It is best if we fill the pots with high peat, which is available in most garden stores.From fruit shrubs for growing in large pots, gooseberries, currants and haskap berries are also suitable. The best varieties are those with low requirements and low growth force.
Apple trees are especially suitable for balconies, but only those grafted on super-dwarf rootstocks, such as P.22 or M.27. Trees enriched with them will grow very slowly and even after many years they should not reach more than 1.5-2 m in height. The varieties of 'Szampion', 'Pinova' and 'Idared' are worth recommending. Pear trees are also easy to lead in containersTheir greatest advantage is the creation of symmetrical crowns that can be led flat against the wall.Here, too, we choose only varieties refined on quince, thanks to which the trees grow extremely poorly.
Art of cutting trees in containers
All trees growing in a limited space require a specific type of pruning. On the one hand, pruning should provide the plants with the right growth and nice habit, and on the other with the right amount of fruit.For plants in containers, a cut developed by a French gardener, called the Loretto cut or the three-eyelet cut, is particularly useful.
It is easy to do, although regularity is necessary here. Tree pruning involves shortening the sprigs that sprout after the third eyelet, counting from the root of the shoot. We make them practically throughout the growing season. It causes the growth of only fruiting shoots.They are the most valuable because they are the place where the fruit is formed. This kind of pruning strongly reduces the growth of the branch, and therefore the whole tree.
Trees and shrubs growing in containers are more susceptible to root damage on frosty days.Remember to cover the pots well at the beginning of winter.The bottom of the pot must have a water drainage hole.Let's not forget about fertilization, preferably with multi-component fertilizers.
