2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
In this article, we continue the conversation about growing balcony crops
How to grow seedlings for a balcony
Choose the time for planting seedlings yourself. On average, if you sow seeds in February, you will get the harvest at the end of June. In September, the plants sown in April will bear fruit. Sow the seed into grooves not deeper than 10 mm, previously shed with water. Within a few days, the first shoots appear, requiring a lot of light and moisture. Plants dive at the moment the second leaf appears and are left in the shade for a day. Water every day, but do not water the young shoots. Turn the seedling pots upside down from time to time to keep them beautiful and even.
When your seedlings are 1 month old, transplant them permanently into a deep and spacious pot. Keep in mind that for the full growth of a low-growing tomato, you need 1.5 liters of soil. For cucumbers, more soil is needed, on average about five liters. When the seedlings have 5 - 7 leaves, tear off the growth bud.
Tips for growing plants on the balcony
- In case your balcony is oriented to the street with active traffic of cars, then leave the growing vegetables in the apartment.
- Move the vegetable containers to the open balcony when the frost threat has passed.
- So that the plants do not stop growing, water them constantly with warm, settled water.
- For intensive growth, use organic fertilizers (infusion of onion peels).
- Protect plants from burns on sunny summer days. Use gauze curtains, tulle, paper or special protective screens to create shading.
What to grow a balcony garden
Pots and trays
It is recommended to grow herbs and herbs in shallow trays. With rapid growth, greens form bushes, so leave at least 20 cm between plants. If the distance is less, they will begin to darken each other and weaken due to lack of nutrients. In one container, you can grow plants of different types, such as parsley and dill. When planting a plant in a pot, make sure that the height of the substrate is at least 20 cm. If the pot is large, then you can plant several plants, forming a beautiful composition of undersized forms. In addition, basil can be sown with dwarf peppers or eggplant.
Vegetables are grown in pots using different soil compositions as a substrate, which can be purchased at a garden store. For one sprout of a cucumber or tomato, you need a capacity of 5 - 10 liters.
Peat bag
The original way would be to use a bag of peat substrate. Make holes in the bag where you plant the seedlings. Be sure to make holes at the bottom to drain excess moisture.
Balcony garden care
Priming
Balcony vegetables are planted only in fertile land. Choose universal soil or special humus soil for potted vegetables. To renew plantings with short growing seasons, renew the topsoil. Consider placing long-lasting fertilizers in the ground. This action will save you from the need for constant feeding in the future. To grow strawberries, you need a soil with a slightly acidic environment, in this case, a soil mixture for hydrangeas is suitable in composition.
Lighting
There is plenty of daylight on the balcony in summer. As autumn approaches, be prepared to use artificial lighting. Fluorescent lamps can act as such light.
Watering and irrigation
The key to a good balcony harvest is watering on time. For watering, use the evening or early morning, water only at the root. If you are often not at home, then install an automatic drip irrigation system. Additional irrigation as spraying does not hurt.
Pest control
No matter how protected the plants on the glazed balcony, you will sometimes have to deal with pests. To avoid toxicity, do not use chemicals. Use a laundry soap solution or tobacco tincture to fight mold or aphids.
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