Growing our own food offers many advantages. People in cities can connect more with nature and can enjoy better seasonal food. Gardening reduces stress and offers a soothing hobby after work. Here are a few tips for a successful garden on your balcony!

Use suitable planters

Any planter is suitable, as long as it has at least ten litres of capacity. You can use raised planter tables, balcony boxes, hanging planters, standing planters and more. In short, as long as there is enough room in your vessel for your plants to grow, you're good!

Which plants grow best on balconies?

Not all plants like to grow in small spaces, but the following plants are great for balcony planters:

• Chillies
• Peas
• Strawberries
• Eggplant
• Peppers
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini
• Herbs

These plants all love a south-facing balcony.

Use enough soil

The most important requirement for successful balcony cultivation is that you use enough soil for your seeds. High-quality potting soil or rich compost soil make great options. The soil should not absorb too much water for the best growing conditions.

Heavier soil also prevents the pots from falling over, avoiding any damage to our plants.

Water your plants!

Make sure to water your plants regularly for a good yield. In the heat of the summer, you may need to water them twice a day. Rainwater is best if its available.

Fertilise

Don't forget to fertilise your garden! Since the soil in the pots does not have infinite nutrients, we sometimes have to help out with some fertiliser. This promotes growth and makes the plants more resilient.

Support

Some plants need more space than others, especially those that climb or grow upwards. Make sure that tomatoes and peas get enough climbing help or support from stakes.

Fruit

You can also easily grow fruit on your balcony. Pear and apple trees tend to grow up instead of outwards and still have a nice harvest yield.