Garden on the balcony Bashny.Net

How to create, cherish container mini garden told the magazine Modern Farmer founder of Love & Carrots Meredith shepherd.

If you offer the average citizen to plant a vegetable garden in a container, he will treat this idea with a grain of salt. And very vain. Containers have their advantages: they are light and cheap; easy to place in the most unexpected place – from the balcony to the fire escape to the roof. Of course, they also need certain conditions, which are very often home gardeners don't suspect, and therefore disappointed when they collect long-awaited harvest. But it's not as difficult as it may seem at first glance.





The sun – our szemeredi shepherd says: "When I help someone plant a vegetable garden in containers, the first thing I notice is the sunlight. This is one of the key factors." Your ally will be the South side. Her attack has sun in the morning when the rays of the assets, but at the same time gentle. Do not believe those who say that the more sun in the garden, the better. A large portion of the afternoon sun will burn your plants and dry the soil. Container gardens are especially vulnerable, because land there is less and the moisture evaporates faster.

Choose containerready expensive ceramic, terracotta or steel pot has no tangible advantages over the cheap plastic. All of these materials the same good (although shepherd mentions that the terracotta a few years starts to crack). A regular plastic bucket is quite suitable as a container and is able to perform many other tasks.

Much more important is not the material of the container and its size. The correct size of container is the second fundamental key to successful urban gardener. The rule is simple: the more, the better. Large containers hold more soil and therefore more root mass. It can keep nutrients and water.

Small decorative pots look cute when they peek out only the seedlings, but they significantly reduce the possibility of growth. Seedlings will be seedlings. “I am very often in homes where you can see the size of pots with cooking Cup, where he planted pumpkin seeds! – laughs Meredith shepherd. – And then the owners wonder why they are not growing, neither one pumpkin”.

Different plants have different needs. For example, herbs, green vegetables and lettuce require for growth in minimal space. A small box on the windowsill is quite suitable for the job. But tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers and beans – the plants are capricious: for their carefree maturation containers need a lot more. The rider of such a plant appears in a private house size of 19 liters. Maybe when you'll only plant a tiny tomato seed in a bucket of epic proportions, you would think this idea is absolutely stupid, but not in a hurry to stay on track, the place will pay for itself – you will see this at the finish line. The reward will be a greater number of fruits as well as a pleasant bonus – healthy strong plant that requires much less care.

Usually seeds are sold in packs of two, three or four, but that does not mean that you have to put them in the same container. They will fight with each other, trying to win a water and nutrients, and eventually, the pot will be two weak plants instead of one strong. So follow the rider capricious stars at your balcony.

Upgrade containeritem, you finally decided on the size of your container. But the case remained for small – sorry. Now your normal container needs to turn into a super – container. Ms. shepherd shares his simple tricks, like from the coach us to a pumpkin: the best place to buy those kinds of pots that come without drainage holes, and this includes many types of pots, designed specifically for distribution of plants. It is preferable to make the drain hole itself: the retreat from the bottom 5-10 cm and drill out some holes on the sides of the container. Cover them with a small hill of gravel, then put a layer of the special fabric that blocks the growth of bad weeds (it can be easy to find in specialized shops), and then start the soil. Thus, you create a reservoir of water throughout the day is able to irrigate your plant, and you rarely have to run the sprinkler system. Gravel at the bottom leaves room for air, which subsequently will be filled with water, the fabric of weeds among other things, soil protection from free fall in these vacant seats for the water. So simple and inexpensive, in the home can make a real water tank.

Start pocillovy the principle of organic farming is caring for the soil, which must be maintained in living condition and healthy spirits. So, she just can't splurge on a delicious harvest. Of course, container uslazhnyaesh this task, and the organic soil of high quality is not easy to find. But do not despair, but should include the full readiness to build from scratch an entire eco-system on your balcony or wherever you're already going to have your mini-garden. Ms. shepherd advised not even to consider inorganic soil. "For example, soil, which is sold in packages with the beautiful name MIRACLE GRO, will delight you for a year and then she'll die," says shepherd. She has developed a recipe for the soil mix the coconut shell, cow dung and all sorts of other things, but you can get yours from more affordable materials. Find a good organic soil and mix it with a good organic fertilizer.

“Dr. Earth produces organic fertilizer of good quality. For example, they have a fertilizer with guano, says Meredith shepherd. And, please, precisely follow the instructions when you add the fertilizer. You may find that if you fill a little more, then Your soil will be even more magical, but in fact, it will have a completely different result,” she adds. Remember too salty soup. If you pour into the soil of fertilizers, it turns out the same salty food plants do not favor. So don't overdo it with the fertilizer in the pursuit of fertility. But if you still want to do everything to the maximum, buy compost, or even worms, can improve your soil. But it is only suitable for a vegetable garden, which can give not less than 10 sq. m. in this case, the soil with the compost and worms are incredibly fertile.

What to plant-nodemanager can become a comfortable home for most crops. It is easier to list those that do not germinate than those that do not know the difference between a country station and a plastic container. The first stop on landing is, of course, space. So pay attention to those plants which are ready to please you with its fruits only on one square meter. Such plants usually give one harvest more than one tasty unit. Root vegetables, for example carrots, beets, radishes and onions – not a good idea, because one seed is equal to one fruit and can be harvested only once a year. But the tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and herbs are suitable for container garden much more, because to rejoice in their harvest several times per season. The growing Basil can be a good workout for the novice gardener. It is incredibly easy to grow: it feels comfortable in both a small and a large container, does not wither without sunlight, and requires only a little attention of course, if your plans are not worth the pesto party.

What about climbing plants?Climbing plants are very convenient for the urban garden, as they don't take up much space, because developing vertically. Zucchini, cucumbers, beans and tomatoes – just the very plants that should smyvatsya to the skies (well, we believe in you) and not take up precious square meters on the ground. Although they put forward some requirements for a comfortable stay: they need something they can hang on or around what they can curl, and in the case of tomatoes, the plants need something to lean on. “Don't be a victim of marketers, don't buy all these little pieces in a beautiful package, which should solve the problem of climbing plants, warns Meredith shepherd. Now the trend in the lattice. People often buy thin bamboo sticks or special cages for tomatoes, and then observe how their healthy plant just fills up this weak design. It is necessary to threaten on the bigger. For example, fencing in the form of a thin, but large mesh that is intended for other purposes, will last much longer. And plants love it very much: they are willing to squirm around them; plus – this construction is really cheap.

Politenkova not pour the water on top of plants – the leaves should always be dry, otherwise they start to rot. Do not create the conditions of incessant rain — soaked plants syndrome can result in bigger troubles. To properly feed the plant at the soil level. It is important to remember that a vegetable garden in containers often need watering, as the water in it evaporates faster. But if you want to skip town for the weekend and do not wish to find your green children dead from thirst, need organizovati them access to self-irrigation. For example, if you pour water into the container to the level with gravel and water the soil, food for a couple of days they provided.

So, living in an apartment, you can still feel like a real farmer and serve vegetables and herbs from the garden. Remember, it is not always in the conditions, and the desire.published

Translation Margarita Kamenskaya

 

P. S. And remember, only by changing their consumption — together we change the world! ©

 

Join us in Facebook and Vkontakte, and we're Classmates

Source: lavkagazeta.com/fermery/ogorod-na-balkone