Don't have a huge garden, but still want to harvest fresh vegetables and herbs? No problem: with the following self-sufficiency tips, you can achieve sustainable organic gardening on your balcony or patio. Your balcony is also the perfect spot to set your next betting odds.
HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL SELF-GARDENER
1. good gardeners see space differently
You typically don't have much space, especially on balconies and patios! That's why many hobby gardeners hang their boxes outside. Good idea - but there's another option: you could also place your plants inside and then have two rows of greenery!
The walls of balconies and terraces don't have to be empty either: you can use vertical plant pockets there.
Similar to vertical gardens, trellises, hanging baskets or pallets can also turn a small space into a large organic nursery.
Not only do you create more growing space and landing spots for insects such as wild bees and bumblebees, but you also beautify your balcony and patio.
2. the right plants for self-sufficient gardeners
Not all plants are suitable for the balcony. Self-sufficient gardeners have always had good experiences with tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, strawberries, and radishes.
When it comes to herbs, basil and parsley are suitable for shady areas on the balcony, while thyme, rosemary, and lavender prefer the sun. Chives prefer sunny to semi-shady locations, but can also thrive in the shade.
Think about what you want beforehand: experience has shown that sage becomes a little unsightly after a while - if you don't need it for tea or cooking, lavender is a nice alternative.
Beans are great if you have large, sunny wall surfaces and a trellis. Cucumbers, zucchinis, and pumpkins can also be planted in a small space - but they are more fun in a larger garden.
For every plant, whether flower or vegetable, there are certain months of the year when the climatic conditions are best for it. They grow and thrive particularly well during this time and you can look forward to a rich harvest later on.
A calendar that shows you when the best time is for what is helpful here - a so-called sowing calendar.
3. organic gardening with sensible planting partners
Monocultures are bad - this applies to agriculture as well as organic gardening on balconies and patios. By planting different plant species next to each other, you can combine their advantages. A few examples:
Tomatoes cast a lot of shade and are therefore a good partner for lettuce, rocket, parsley, or basil.
Basil is useful because it can keep aphids away. Tomatoes in particular benefit from this neighbor, as they are heavy feeders - whereas basil is very modest and gets by with few nutrients.
Garlic acts as a natural pest repellent, warding off fungal diseases and pests - for example, those that could attack strawberries. That's why what wouldn't be so tasty on the plate belongs together in the bed.
Carrots attract carrot flies, leeks are attacked by the leek moth. However, if you plant them next to each other, they help to keep the respective pests away from each other, as the smells of the two plants repel the pests of the other.
Onions can protect cucumbers from pests because their strong odor keeps many insects away. Onions also help to keep the soil loose, which prevents waterlogging - which cucumbers are happy about because they cannot tolerate wetness.
Depending on what you want to plant, it's worth looking into the ideal "planting partners" for your favorite vegetables.
4. on the balcony: water sparingly
Your plants will suffer if they get too much or too little water. It's all about balance: It is best to water in the morning or evening, but not during the blazing midday sun. Avoid waterlogging, as this usually causes the roots to rot, and dryness, as causes the plants to wilt (remove wilted leaves early).
This tip has already saved many plants: stick your finger in the soil before watering (!) - that way you can see whether they need water again.
Also, check the weather forecast: if rain is forecast anyway, you can often save yourself the trouble of watering-and the plants won't be overwatered.
On balconies and terraces, you should temporarily move the containers into the dry during prolonged periods of rain, if this is possible. Alternatively, make sure tubs and containers have a drain for excess water to prevent waterlogging.
5. combating pests and diseases
Plants on the balcony can also be attacked by pests such as aphids or snails and get diseases such as mildew or gray mold. Some people then immediately resort to chemical pesticides - organic gardeners don't need any of that.
To prevent pests and diseases, you can, for example, make sure there is sufficient space between the pots and remove wilted leaves and unwanted plants immediately. Natural remedies such as garlic spray help against ants, aphids, caterpillars, and snails.
Another herbal remedy is neem oil, which helps against pests such as aphids, caterpillars, snails, and mites. Nettle liquid manure also helps well against aphids and is also a good natural plant fertilizer that can be added to the irrigation water from time to time.