Homegrown: a guide to growing vegetables on your balcony

Growing your own vegetables on a balcony can be a fun and rewarding experience, even if you live in an apartment or have limited outdoor space. Here are a few tips for growing vegetables on a balcony in Europe:

1. Choose the right plants: Not all vegetables are suitable for growing on a balcony. Some good choices for small spaces include tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, radishes, and herbs. You can either start from seed or buy plugs of organically grown vegetables from your local garden center.
2. Containers: Choose containers that are large enough to accommodate the roots of your plants and that have drainage holes to prevent excess water from pooling. Many vegetables require containers that are quite large in order to gain sufficient size in order to be harvested.
3. Soil: The growing medium is very important, vegetables like nutrient-rich well-draining soil to grow in. Many garden centers stock ready-made soil mixes to use for your vegetables.
4. Provide proper light: Most vegetables need plenty of sunlight to grow properly. If your balcony doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, consider using grow lights to supplement the natural light.
5. Water regularly: It’s important to keep your plants well-watered, but be careful not to overwater them. Check the soil regularly and only water when the top inch or so is dry.
6. Fertilize regularly: To ensure that your plants have all the nutrients they need to grow, use a balanced fertilizer every few weeks. I love to use organic natural fertilizers like kelp and worm castings to boost the growth of my vegetables.
7. Pest control: Pests can be a problem when growing vegetables on a balcony. Keep an eye out for common garden pests and use organic methods to control them, such as releasing beneficial insects or using homemade pest repellents. A mixture of dishwashing liquid and water sprayed every 5–7 days during a pest infestation is a good way of controlling pests naturally.

By following these tips, you can successfully grow a variety of vegetables on your balcony and enjoy the rewards of homegrown produce all season long. The most important thing is to have fun and experiment with different types of vegetables and herbs you want to incorporate into your diet.

Corbin