Having fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables at your fingertips is fantastic. Growing your own food is not only economical, it’s also very gratifying: biting into that first tomato straight from the garden fills any gardener, whether beginner or experienced, with happiness and pride. Many people don’t have the space to grow a large in-ground vegetable garden, but the good news is that you can have food close to your hand, even if you’ve only got a small balcony to work with. Here’s how to grow a vegetable garden in a small space.
Knowing your environment
The first thing to do when planning your vegetable garden on the balcony is to be familiar with the characteristics of your environment: sunshine, heat, wind, etc. To be successful with your vegetable garden, you need a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight daily, as edibles need light to grow. Lettuces, spinach and other leafy greens can thrive in partial shade, but others much prefer to grow in bright sunshine.
Wind and heat are also factors to watch out for, as they can dry out plants more quickly. Since potted plants often need to be watered more frequently than those in the ground, you need to keep an eye on your growing vegetables to make sure they don’t run out of water.
If the wind is very strong, opt for compact plants to avoid broken branches, or use stakes to give your plants a chance to reach their full potential.
What to grow in pots?
Many vegetables, fruits and herbs grow very well in pots. Here are a few ideas for varieties you can grow on your balcony:
Vegetables
- Tomatoes – choose determinate-growing plants that are better suited to growing in pots or confined spaces. You can even find patio cultivars that are highly productive yet compact.
- Cucumbers and zucchinis – cucurbits can hang on thanks to their tendrils. Planted in pots against a trellis on the wall, they grow very well.
- Leafy vegetables – lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, lamb’s lettuce and spinach work well in containers. Plus, you can sow them successively and have them all season long, right through to late autumn.
- Root vegetables – If you have large, deep pots, potatoes, beets, radishes, turnips and carrots will grow well on your balcony.
- Peppers – Hot and mild peppers love the heat. Growing them in pots in full sun is ideal.
Fruits
- Strawberries – there are several varieties of potted strawberries ideal for small spaces. Take advantage of height by using hanging planters or wall pockets.
- Raspberries – some raspberries have a determined shape and work well in containers. Use a stake to ensure stability.
- Ground cherries – this fruit grows easily and abundantly. Its invasive potential is therefore not a problem in pots.
- Citrus – potted citrus grows well in the heat of sunny balconies. Don’t forget to bring them in before the nights get too cool!
Fine herbs
- All herbs – all aromatic herbs grow well in pots. Cilantro can go to seed more quickly than in the ground, but you can sow it regularly. As mint is rather invasive, plant it alone in its pot, where it can take up all the space it needs.
Maintaining a potted vegetable garden
For your vegetable garden to be healthy and productive, you need to give it some basic care:
- Choosing the right pot: your container should have drainage holes to prevent water stagnation and root rot. Adjust the size of your pots according to what you want to grow. Don’t plant too tightly to allow plants to develop to their full potential.
- Choose the right potting soil: use a rich, well-draining potting soil, ideal for growing vegetable plants. Add compost and natural fertilizer at planting, then fertilize regularly to keep your plants healthy and vigorous.
- Water regularly so that your plants don’t run out of water. Be sure to respect the needs of each plant: too much water is no better than not enough.
- Harvest regularly to boost production. The more you harvest, the more productive your plants will be, and the more abundant your harvests will be.
Even your small outdoor spaces can provide you with fresh, healthy food. We can help you find the best plants for your potted garden on the balcony or in the backyard, just drop by our store!
