Mother Nature is the only natural ally for a viable garden so it is best to put her on her side and position your plants under the best possible light source. Otherwise, patience and discipline will be the rules to follow. Before you set out to create a garden, you must take the time to think about it and organize it.
My garden on my balcony: an element to remember
The balcony can become, with a little willpower, a perfect place for a harvest of fresh, organic fruit and vegetables. Make an inventory and check where the main source of sunshine and prevailing winds come from. In addition, make sure that your balcony will be able to support the weight of the containers and that everyone's safety is preserved.
Preparing the ground
For a successful harvest, it is essential to prepare the soil in which your plants will live. Take the time to purchase soil that contains a rich concentration of all essential minerals. Your plants will need to eat, so give the soil the food it needs. It is advisable to make a mixture of soil and compost. Compost gives a second life to your table scraps and is a true natural fertilizer that nourishes plants. Very rich in essential trace elements, compost ensures the growth of your plants without harming the environment. The ideal quantity is 50-50. Then make sure you add fertilizer after about 1 month, because they will have consumed everything. Afterwards, add some every two weeks. Ah yes, while making a natural garden, please feed it with organic fertilizers. It is suggested to put them on top of the soil and add water. All the good elements will go down to the roots. At all times, avoid chemical treatments that infiltrate the roots of your fruits and vegetables and eliminate the good bacteria present in the soil.
Make a good choice of plants
The success of your small garden will be directly influenced first of all by the choice of plants. They will have to be adapted to the natural light in your garden. Plants that are well chosen according to this important variable will better succeed in their quest to offer fruits and vegetables. Shop for natural seedlings that will not have experienced aggression from pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Of course, the best thing to do is to do them yourself, but in the city, few people have this luxury. Instead, look at the markets or visit farmers' markets, some of which sell organic seeds at a good price. If you don't have enough time, choose small, slightly more mature plants. Otherwise, choose fast growing plants such as small cherry tomatoes, radishes, arugula and others. It is interesting to know that many varieties are well suited to pot cultivation and of course herbs. If you like berries, consider raspberries, currants and strawberries.
Potting
Sufficient space greatly helps the growth of your plants. Choose pots of at least 12 inches for fast-growing varieties. For tomatoes, cucumbers or zucchini, consider much deeper pots such as 18 to 20 inch pots. Always ask the staff for information. Generally, they are very familiar with the different needs for each variety.
Watering, the key to success
It seems that the morning is the ideal time to water the plants. This way, the plants are cool and usually there is no wind. Therefore, less evaporation. Also, rainwater is apparently the best thing to offer your plants. Find a solution to collect it. Otherwise, prefer water at room temperature and keep to no more than 2 waterings per week. In fact, the soil should always be moist, but be careful, only water if it is a little dry, because you don't want to drown your plants. Also take care not to wet the leaves.
Protect your vegetables from small rodents.
You will quickly meet little gourmands who will try to eat your harvest. You should know that, unfortunately, there is no miracle recipe. If you can, install chicken spit. I know, it's not at all aesthetic, but it's still quite effective.
Harvest
It is better to harvest your vegetables by cutting them rather than tearing them with your fingers. Get the tools you need to do this. Also, if you're lucky enough to have a generous production, consider freezing, storing a few products in a cellar or canning them.