Why grow a vegetable garden on the balcony?

Cultivating the vegetable garden is physically good for us and spending time among the plants relaxes us. If you don't have a garden, you don't have to be discouraged and give up the cultivation of your favorite vegetables or herbs. Even on the smallest of balconies or on the windowsill you can create small gardens and then, why not, also reap the fruits.

The garden can be grown in very small and narrow spaces, the important thing is to use creativity.

What to grow?

There are vegetables that need a few tricks. We thought to help you and with a selection of the easiest vegetables to grow:

All lettuces;

Tomatoes without pole such as Datterino lobello, Datterino Baby Trilly, Tomato Ovale Luana, Cuor Ligure Cuorbenga and all grafted tomatoes;

Carrots and onions

Eggplant;

Beets for cutting and ribs;

Zucchini;

Celery;

Peppers, even spicy ones;

4 seasons strawberries;

Finally, Basil, Parsley, Rocket, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Mint.

The choice of pots and materials

Depending on the space available for your garden, you can choose round or box pots. It is advisable to use pots starting from a diameter of 30 cm. The material of the pots is not important, you can choose plastic, terracotta or wooden pots. The most important aspect in pots is that there are holes in the bottom to facilitate water drainage.

Additionally, you will need:

• Support wires and stakes to help the vertical development of climbing plants;
• Soil, in the shop you will find the complete of Vigorplant or the specific one for the garden of Compo.
• Fertilizer, you can use the universal fertilizer in granules, Bio fertilizer in granules or in liquid to be diluted;
• Gloves;
• Watering can;

The transplant

The vegetable seedlings you will find in Hypergreen they are ready for transplantation. The transfer must be done respecting the distances between the plants, each plant needs its own living space to develop at its best. It would be good to leave at least 50- 70 cm of distance between the zucchini plants, 40 cm for tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, cabbage, 35 cm for chicory, 25 cm for lettuce, chard, celery, fennel, 10 cm for onions , leeks, garlic, rocket, 3 cm for carrots, radishes, parsley. Cut lettuce can be transplanted without spacing the cubes between them, and they grow well even in low light conditions.

Fertilization

Vegetable seedlings need nutrients to grow and bear abundant fruit. Remember to fertilize the plants avoiding placing the fertilizer in contact with the roots. Vegetables usually need a monthly supplement of fertilizer.

Watering

Immediately after transplanting you must carry out a good irrigation, then for the fruit plants (tomatoes, peppers, etc.) we always wait for the soil on the surface to be completely dry before proceeding with a new watering which must never be too abundant. For lettuces the frequency will be higher, but always waiting for a visible, slight surface drying. In summer, the plant should be watered more regularly. In cool periods, when in doubt, we wait for the plants to prove slightly thirsty before irrigating them, rather than exaggerating them by exposing them to the risks of water stagnation, especially if our exposure is not in full sun in the afternoon.

If you need other suggestions, we will be happy to help you!