Gardening in the city: what to grow on a balcony?

Who says you have to have a house with a garden to grow fruits and vegetables? If your apartment has a balcony, that's already enough ... Here are some ideas of good and beautiful things to grow there!

Aromatic plants

Dill, chives, sage, coriander, thyme, oregano, parsley, mint, tarragon, rosemary, basil ... These aromatic plants are the staunch gardeners in town as they are easy to grow: they flourish even indoors on a window sill!

You can plant several varieties in the same planter, even if it is advisable to isolate the perennials with evergreen (sage, thyme, rosemary) in individual pots since they will last all year. In general, aromatic plants like the sun and heat, except for chives, mint and basil which are more resistant to partial shade.

Watch how they react to adjust their sunshine: if you see spots forming on the leaves, they are too exposed. Conversely, if you notice that the stems are getting longer and the leaves are shrinking, it is because they are lacking in light ... Make the necessary adjustments and water - without exaggerating the amount of water - as soon as the earth is dry.

You will see that in addition to embalming and decorating your living room or balcony, aromatic herbs will deliciously flavor your dishes, infusions and cocktails!

Dwarf fruit trees

Ideal for creating a mini orchard, apple, pear, apricot, cherry or dwarf peach trees can be planted in pots and placed on your balcony. The important thing is that the pots are large enough and have a drilled bottom that allows the drainage of the soil.

To allow these trees to fruit properly, you will need to place them in the wind and in the sun: you will have the pleasure of seeing flowers, then apples, pears, apricots, peaches, etc.

As winter approaches, protect them from temperatures and frost by raising them and applying a thick mulch to the soil and using a winter veil. You can also mulch them in summer so as to limit the amount of water provided.

Fruits and vegetables of the sun

If you have enough space, you can start growing vegetables from the sun. If we warn you about this notion of space, it is because the zucchini, for example, is so invasive that it needs to be placed in a large container… It's up to you to see if you can offer it the conditions necessary to flourish.

 

If so, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, cherry tomatoes and peppers will be as ornamental as they are good to eat. Place them well in the sun - as their name suggests, these fruits and vegetables need them - and water them regularly.

If the cherry tomatoes are very suitable for a small pot with a pierced bottom, the zucchini requires (as mentioned above) a container at least 40 cm deep. As for eggplants, peppers and peppers, they will also flourish in pots with a pierced bottom as long as their diameter exceeds 25 cm.

Conventional tomatoes, on the other hand, will also grow very well as long as you limit yourself to one plant per pot - large enough - and stake them ... And yes, some plants can reach up to 2 m high!

Leafy vegetables

Salads, spinach, chicory ... Do you also think of the freshness and crunchiness of these vegetables? The good news is that they grow just as well in the ground as in a container or pot!

These plants being endowed with small root systems, they are therefore not very greedy in space. No need to bring deep containers: pots large enough (about 30 cm) are enough.

For the aesthetic side as much as for the variety of tastes, you can plant romaine, lettuce and red oak leaves ... In the same pot! It will be most beautiful.

The radishes

We just love them with salt and a slice of buttered bread… These are the radishes! In addition to being delicious, they grow quickly - in just 6 weeks - and take up very little space.

Sow at the beginning of spring a seed every centimeter in a pot or a container, then water ... And let it grow! You will find that these root vegetables are the best allies for balcony gardening.

Red berries

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, currants are also suitable for growing on balconies, and have this incomparable capacity to delight our taste buds.

If you choose to plant strawberries, opt for climbing varieties like the Reine des Vallées or the Ostara, which will give fruit several times, or for a climbing variety like Mount Everest which will perfectly accommodate a trellis. Note that strawberries generally appreciate acid soils and the addition of compost made from coniferous needles.

As for raspberries, they will flourish very well in pots as long as you opt for pots at least 30 cm deep. If they are very resistant, they still require frequent watering - at least once a week, or even more in times of drought.

On Multitanks.com, find all the right equipment for gardening and growing fruits and vegetables on your balcony in town. Above all, do not hesitate to contact us for practical advice or information on our products.