Growing vegetables on the balconyis a perfect solution for city dwellers who do not have their own garden. By growingvegetables on the balconywe have some fresh and organic food of known origin on hand. Less known, interesting vegetables, which can be decorative on balconies, are also becoming more and more popular. See what vegetables to choose for the balcony and how to grow vegetables on the balcony step by step.
Vegetables on the balcony - lettuce in a hanging pot
Which vegetables to choose for the balcony
Many people do not have a garden or plot of land to grow vegetables. Another problem is the quality of the soil we have in the garden. Cold, wet soil is not conducive to the cultivation of vegetables, especially those thermophilic, such as tomatoes or peppers. For them, growing in rapidly heating containers on the balcony is then more advantageous. Tomatoes are undoubtedlythe most commonly grown vegetables on the balconyAlthough less common, cultivating paprika on the balcony may be equally attractive due to the varied colors, size and shape of its fruits. Peppers of various varieties can be a colorful attraction.
In small pots on the balcony you can grow chives, lettuce, arugula, radish, curly parsley, leaf chicory, as well as herbs such as marjoram or basil. When growingvegetables on the balconyin the company of herbs, we use the so-called good plant vicinity, as some herbs have a beneficial effect on the growth of vegetables and scare away pests.
"Medium-sized containers (5-10 liters) are needed for hot pepper, celery and cherry tomatoes. We reserve large containers (over 10 liters) for tall varieties of tomatoes and beans. Vegetables such as tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, if necessary, can be transplanted from smaller to larger containers, because they tolerate transplanting well. Sometimes it even has a positive effect on their root system and growth.Increasingly, in addition to vegetables, climbing strawberries are also grown on balconies. "
Growing potatoes in the sack is also gaining more and more popularity. This is an idea that came to us from England and France, where such potato cultivation is not uncommon. For amateurs of vegetables from their own cultivation, this method is recommended, because in bags hidden under a roof (protection against intense rainfall and moisture), these plants are less likely to suffer from potato fungal diseases. Bags of growing potatoes can be successfully kept on the balcony or terrace.
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Growing vegetables on the balcony - step by step
1. Pots for growing vegetables on the balcony
Before buying pots, we must consider whether ourvegetables on the balconyare to a greater extent decorative or utility functions. If usability is more important, it is enough to choose production containers, multi-pots, plastic balcony boxes in which we can fit many plants. Ifvegetables on the balconyare also to have decorative qualities, it is worth choosing clay or wooden pots, modern boxes, decorative barrels or jugs.Remember thatthe size of the pot should be adjusted to the growth rate and requirements of the vegetablesFor example, cucumbers on the balcony should be grown in pots of 10-20 liters (one plant per pot), but lettuce can chives grow in pairs in an ordinary balcony box.
2. Soil for vegetables on the balcony
Due to the fact thatvegetables on the balcony , grown in pots, have a small amount of soil at their disposal, it must be fertile and rich in nutrients. You can buy ready-made soil for growing vegetables in stores. When preparing the substrate ourselves, we must obtain compost, garden soil and loosening material, e.g. gravel, expanded clay or polystyrene balls. Additionally, we can apply long-acting fertilizer or preparations increasing the water capacity, e.g. a hydrogel, to the substrate. The latter will mean that we will be able to water ourvegetables on the balcony a little less often
After selecting your favorite vegetables, selecting a container and a suitable substrate, the vegetables are planted and looked after.
3. Preparation of vegetable seedlings for the balcony
We can sow vegetables ourselves through row or nest sowing. Many vegetables can be sown in rows - lettuce, carrots, radishes, garden dill. After germination, we break the seedlings, leaving them approximately every 2 cm. Others, such as tomatoes and beans, are better to be planted in separate pots, and when they are about 10-15 cm, after the frosts have subsided (third decade of May), put them on the balcony.
When you do not want to sow vegetables yourself, it is worth getting ready-made seedlingsvegetables for the balcony . The best quality seedlings are 4 to 8 weeks old. The older the seedling, the worse it gets, because the roots are tightly compacted and the plants harder to root after transplanting.
4. Planting vegetables on the balcony
Seedlings or youngvegetables on the balconyit is better to plant them in moist soil on cloudy days. On sunny days, we only plant in the evenings. Let's try not to damage the roots.Vegetables such as melon, cucumbers, patison do not tolerate transplanting and damaging the roots badly, so the root system must not be disturbed when planting.
If we have a seedling, it must be hardened before planting on the balcony. So we gradually ventilate the seedlings and get used to the lower temperatures outside. Before planting seedlings, water them abundantly, which prevents the soil around the roots from collapsing. When transplanting vegetables from pots, we plant them to the same depth as they grew in the container. Tomatoes can be planted deeper, down to the first leaves, in order to stimulate the adventitious roots and thus strengthen the plant. If the lettuce is planted too deep, the heads may not develop. Celery planted too deeply does not develop a proper root.
5. Caring for vegetables on the balcony
After plantingvegetables on the balconyit is necessary to water the plants. We direct the water to the ground.Remember that watering plants in the evening may contribute to the occurrence of fungal diseases, so it's bettervegetables on the balconywater in the morning. When the vegetables are well established, the only treatments we have left are weeding and watering the plants on dry days. If we did not use fertilizers when planting, we use liquid fertilizers, preferably natural ones, such as biohumus, every 7 or 14 days. In the event of diseases or pests, we can use natural preparations such as Biosept or Bioczos.
