Balcony Gardens: Small Space Solutions
When living in an apartment or condo, growing your own food may seem hard to do. Thankfully, balcony gardens (or tiny patios) can make sure of small space solutions for gardening.
Back when I was doing the apartment life, the idea of growing my own food was not on my mind at all.
We didn’t have a balcony, so anything we grew would be inside by a window.
But, for those people fortunate enough to have a balcony or small patio space adjacent to their unit, you can grow your own food.
The challenge is in determining what to grow and how to maximize the space.
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This post is sponsored by Responsival. All opinions are ours alone.
How to Grow Food in a Balcony Garden
When people think about a garden, they may envision a large plot of land with rows and rows of fruits and vegetables growing.
However, you can make much better use of small spaces by going up with your growing.
Vertical gardens are not new, but are making a comeback. Especially when people are looking to grow food on a balcony or small patio space.
The Garden Tower® is something I have been eyeing up for use at our new home. (I don’t even have a tight restriction for space, but want better control over the growing conditions.)
What appeals to me is the most is that composting is built into the system. Your plants get nutrition on a regular basis as food scraps transform over time.
Additionally, the planter can rotate on the base. This way all the plants get time facing the sun & you can more easily harvest in a tight space.
For those who like the look of wood, there are plant stands that provide some vertical growing space.
You can go for a plant stand with individual pots, acting almost like a bookshelf for plants. Or, you can find a stand that has growing troughs for your plants.
If you have a decent bit of exterior wall space available on the balcony, then a wall planter can provide space for a lot of plants.
Another way to grow more and provide a buffer from the world is to line the railing with planters that fit over the railing.
Foods to Grow in Small Spaces
This is where you first start with an audit of what foods you like to consume on a regular basis.
Herbs are often the first thing that comes to mind for people looking to have a small growing space.
There is something wonderful about harvesting a small bit of herbs to make your dinner.
If using vertical growing techniques for your garden, then you should focus on produce that has short root systems. Or, it could be a plant that likes to climb.
Fresh greens are something many people find work quite well. Lettuce, spinach, or other greens are all excellent choices.
Things like cherry tomatoes and strawberries make an excellent choice for growing, too.
When we lived in Alaska, I had baskets of strawberry plants on the front deck. It was easier to control the growing conditions compared to planting in the rocky ground.
Depending upon the container depth and support for vine structure, there are many plants you can grow in your balcony garden.
Do you garden at your home?
Which approach to having a balcony garden would you take?