Vegetable Garden on Balcony: Ideas We Spotted from Professionals

Spring beginning is the best time to buy seeds and plan your plantings. We asked an expert how to do it and what you need for that.

Natalia Shushlebina — landscape designer, blogger and co-author of the exhibition garden "Kaleidoscope"

"Growing a vegetable garden on the balcony is an opportunity to observe how plants develop, enjoy communication with them, - says Natalia. - And it's also a great way to express your creativity and find like-minded people for sharing experience. "

How to plant a mini-garden on the balcony and get your first harvest? The expert recommends following simple rules.

Assess the Ecological Environment

If you plan to grow vegetable and salad crops, the balcony should not be located near busy roads, major streets or air-polluting enterprises. If the ecology is poor - limit yourself to planting flowers.

Prepare the Soil and Containers

Besides the aesthetic aspect, containers should suit the chosen cultures: match them in volume, not subject to excessive overheating, and have drainage holes.

It's hard to prepare soil in winter, so Natalia suggests an alternative. "You can buy packaged potting soil for flowers, add perlite to it and definitely ceramzite that should be placed at the bottom of containers. This will help retain moisture in pots and prevent soil from drying out too quickly."

Select Varieties of Herbs and Vegetables

First, you need to consider the orientation of the balcony to the compass directions. It's unlikely to grow a good tomato harvest on the north or west side, but it's quite possible on the south or east side.

For beginners, the expert recommends starting with growing greens and aromatic herbs: "These can be green onions, arugula salad, leafy salad, spinach, parsley, dill, chives, oregano, basil, mint".

More experienced gardeners can try growing tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. "When choosing tomato varieties, prefer low-growing, fast-maturing, and small-fruited ones. Cucumbers should also be chosen from fast-fruiting and self-pollinating varieties."

A good solution is to combine several plants in one pot: basil and cherry tomatoes, salad and dill, yellow pepper and chervil. You can also add flowering plants to vegetables and herbs. Such combinations will allow you to green your balcony by yourself not only tastefully but stylishly.

Think About Balcony Design

The expert recommends approaching the creation of a mini-garden systematically. "It's important to choose furniture and containers models in advance, pre-planning what and where will stand and grow. "

It's good if the balcony harmonizes with the apartment's interior. For example, geometric forms of pots and color play suit modern interiors, wicker baskets and wooden boxes fit the Provence style, and pastel shades of planters, shelves and outdoor furniture complement classic design.

Care

It's quite simple. The minimum requirements are: regular watering with warm, settled water, periodic fertilization, soil loosening and wind protection. "And of course, love for plants!" - the expert adds.

10 ideas for a balcony vegetable garden