A balcony is too good to just plant geraniums on and dry your laundry on. Instead, fresh fruit and vegetables can be grown here in a small space. Many types of fruit and vegetables not only taste good, they also look good - especially if you grow them in decorative planters. However, it must be watered regularly when it is dry: This is especially true for thirsty plants such as strawberries or tomatoes.
What ideas are there for a balcony garden?
Balcony garden ideas include the use of vertical gardening, original planters such as wooden boxes and wicker baskets, as well as growing vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, strawberries, herbs, potatoes and zucchini. It is important to have a good water supply and drainage.
Which containers are suitable for pot gardening?
Basically, the following applies to pot cultures: the larger a container is, the fewer problems the water supply causes to the plants. You can choose standing vessels as large as the space (and statics) on your balcony allows. On a small balcony, however, the space can be used better if you also attach planters to the wall and ceiling. Vertical gardening is a trend that has given rise to many design ideas for planting walls. There are racks with several levels (€94.00 on Amazon) - the so-called plant stairs - to buy on which you can store the containers to save space. There are also bags made of fleece or plastic that are attached to the wall or hanging baskets from the ceiling. Planted cans that are attached to a climbing frame are also original.
More original planters:
- Wooden and plastic boxes (e.g. fruit or wine boxes)
- Zinc tubs, baby tubs
- Shopping baskets, used laundry baskets
- folding boxes
- Plant Bags
- Potato or jute sacks
- Wicker baskets
Vegetables and fruit from the balcony garden
Most vegetables and fruits can be easily cultivated in sufficiently large containers or planters, provided the substrate, location and care are right. For annual herbs and vegetables, use a good, peat-free potting mix. Perennial herbs and vegetables as well as tree and shrub fruits, on the other hand, need a good, clay-rich substrate. In principle, you can grow anything - only large trees and very large vegetable plants such as artichokes, cardy and Jerusalem artichokes are not suitable. When it comes to fruit, it's best to choose columnar fruit varieties or berry bushes.
Grow particularly well in container culture:
- Aubergines
- Chilis and peppers
- Tomatoes
- various herbs
- Potatoes (in jute bags)
- pole beans, bush beans
- Leaf salads
- cucumbers
- Strawberries
- Physalis
- Rhubarb
- Chard (in boxes or bags)
- Zucchini (large space requirement!)
- Mushrooms (e.g. button mushrooms and oyster mushrooms)
Tip
No matter which planters you use: good water drainage must always be ensured, for example by making holes in the bottom. So that the runoff water doesn't run onto the balcony of your neighbor who lives below you (and cause trouble), you can also place the bags, boxes, etc. in a "planter" - for example a waterproof box. However, you should always remove standing water promptly.
