Growing Your Own Edible Garden on a Balcony: Practical Considerations
Green balcony gardens are proof that tight spaces and big ambitions can work together. If you too have a balcony to grow, don't let the small size of it stop you from indulging your horticultural desires, as it proves to be possible to so do. Having a mini garden where you can grow your own delicious and fresh produce is fun and you can get a deeper connection with what you actually eat. Apart from that, by choosing to grow organically and not spraying with pesticides and other chemicals you can increase your overall health and feel better. But if you don't know where to start here are some practical considerations to be taken into account.
External Factors
Like with any other garden, it's essential to consider how much direct sunlight your balcony gets. You want to take some time to record exactly where sunlight falls and what time of the day in order to get the needed sunlight for your plants. Also, chances are that the higher your balcony the windier it's likely to be and not all plants can thrive while being exposed to it. With this in mind, having windbreaks like netting or reed screens come handy as they are very effective at filtering the wind.
Watering and the Ideal Planters
The combination of sun and wind can dry out your balcony pots rapidly. If you don't have enough time to water, what you can do instead is use a self watering plant pot. Thanks to today's advanced technology and people who actually understand what organic means and how can be done, growing plants at home is much easier and convenient. With the innovative self watering plant pot, you can keep your garden healthy and hydrated. The self-watering mechanism these pots have is comprised of a water reservoir that holds the water and an indicator to show you just how much is left and when you need to refill. What you need to do is just fill up the water reservoir, and your plants will absorb whatever water they need. Also, the fact that you won't have to water your plants manually daily gives you more versatility in terms of location. For instance, you can use a spare wall if any, as many smart self watering pots can be easily mounted vertically.
The Right Plants to Grow
Many fruits and vegetables can tolerate the exposed conditions of a balcony. You can, for instance, grow salad leaves, spinach, kale, carrots, strawberries or compact varieties of raspberry. Herbs like peppermint, oregano and basil can also strive in containers.
