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Being able to grow your own food even just a curry plant is one of the most pleasing things you can do. Because when you sow seeds, when they germinate then you cut them use these plants for for cooking or any other purpose, it gives a sense of attainment. Majority of human population lives in apartments and skyscrapers. But living without a garden space does not mean you cannot grow your own food, you can do it by considering your balcony or patio. Because these places are very suitable for growing vegetables or any kind of gardening. A lush vegetable or fruit garden is only as accessible to those living in the apartments as it is to those who live away from the city. Gardening on a balcony or patio is possible by growing fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants in containers or pots. Every single vegetable or fruit that you ever grow in your garden can be grown in your balcony container garden. Although container-grown things require more attention and it's quite tricky than growing them in a garden, your vegetables or fruits thrive well in containers until you provide them the proper care they need. Best Balcony Choices: Be careful while selecting the vegetables or fruits, selection should be based on the size of your container and the room that roots require to grow well. In this article, we will tell you about the vegetables and fruits that grow best on your balcony which provides you satisfaction as well as beautify your house. Radishes: Radishes grow quickly and they do not require much attention, which means you won’t have to wait months until you can use your homegrown vegetables in the kitchen. Select a pot that is deeper as radishes grow downward. The ideal soil mixture for their growth is red soil, fertilizer (compost or manure), and coco peat. Sow each seed about half an inch deep, and cover it with soil. Place one or more seeds per pot depending on the size of the container. Thin the seedling when they grow to prevent rot which can be occurred by collapsing of leaves. Radishes get mature within very few days after planting mostly between 24-60 days. The edible part of radishes is the roots so harvest them as they attain a viable size. Tomatoes: Whether hereditary, cherry or exotic different varieties of tomatoes are not a railing to grow this fruit in your balcony vegetable garden. If you have a spot on your balcony with proper sunlight you can think of growing tomatoes, because Tomatoes require a minimum of six hours of sunlight, tomatoes can be grown in a balcony container garden with ease. Tomatoes can be grown from seeds as well as from other tomatoes. The easiest way to get started is to cut a healthy tomato into pieces and places it in a pot then sprinkle some soil on it. When it germinates you can transplant the seedlings into a larger pots or thin the seedling so the remaining ones get the proper nutrition. When you grow anything in a pot try to grow dwarf varieties so that they cannot overgrow by your container. Tomatoes that you can easily grow in your balcony garden are Big Boy bush tomato, Tumbling tom cherry tomatoes, and Glacier. Bell Peppers: Bell peppers which are commonly known as capsicum are very common in Indian, European, and Chinese foods. You can easily grow them in your balcony vegetable garden because they are worth growing, not only they are very delicious but they also come in a range of colors. They grow in different types of pots unless they have a well-draining system like clay, terracotta, etc. size of the pot is also very important, select a pot that is large enough to fulfill the nutrient values of a mature bell pepper plant. Place dried seeds minimum at a distance of two to three cm. Upon production of flowers start feeding your plant until it produces fruits. Suitable choices for balcony containers are jalapeno, Yellow spice jalapeno, Early Jalapeno, Poblano, and Devil’s tongue peppers. If your spot is in access to kids then avoid growing hot peppers. Spinach: You can easily grow spinach in containers from seeds or scratch. Smaller varieties are preferable for pots and containers. Place seeds in a container minimum at a distance of one inch. When you grow spinach from seeds, after a few days when they germinate you can transplant them, while doing this place your transplants at a minimum of five to six inches apart. Frequently water your plants because spinach requires an adequate amount of moisture to grow. Spinach becomes able to harvest after 40-45 days of the plantation. It is truly very satisfying using your own homegrown; because you feed your plants according to your own will either organically or chemically. Pumpkins: You can grow pumpkins in pots and containers and with proper care, you can get yield. However, you will benefit from a container that is 3 feet wide to hold pumpkins plants. When these plants grow they need a support system as well so provide them support with bamboo sticks. Pumpkins are heavy feeders so a layer of fertilizer is essential because it provides the nutrients that the plant requires to thrive well. Place the seeds in pots according to their size, two or more seeds per pot or a single seed per pot. Strawberries: Strawberries can be grown in a variety of pots like hanging baskets, and wooden or plastic barrels. Start growing strawberries in winter so you can get the harvest in spring. Strawberries require proper sunlight, watering, and be fertilized on time to grow well. After every two to three years remove the unproductive woods or cans to enhance the productivity. After fruiting strawberries produce many runners (long leafed stem). It is best to prune these runners. Moreover, they can be used as starters for new plants. Strawberries become able harvested within 75 to 90 days. Strawberries are susceptible to many kinds of snails and slugs so regularly check them to avoid loss. Lemon Tree: You can grow lemons in your balcony garden. Choose to dwarf lemon varieties as they are much more fragrant and produce high yields. Container-grown lemons have similar needs as they grow in the garden. Select a larger pot with a proper draining system and deep enough to provide full room to plant roots. Place the pot in a sunny spot. Apply a small amount of lemon juice from time to time from august to march or apply fertilizers in spring when the plant grows vigorously. Dwarf plants grow a maximum of 1-2 meters high, they produce maximum yield and can be easily manageable. Potatoes: Yes, potatoes. They can be grown in a container, or even in a big bag! Select a larger pot and fill it with soil, then place the potato seeds (take a healthy potato to start, you can use a pre-sprouted potato as well it will take less time to grow)). Then cover them with soil. The best time to plant is from March to May. When potatoes twigs emerge add some more soil around it as it enhances the plant growth. Potato plants produce a harvest in 5-6 months and then die. For large potatoes, water well until the plant wither, potatoes are ready to harvest 10-14 days after the death of leaves. It is worth growing because a single plant can produce 1 or 1.5 kg of potatoes. Mint: Mint is often grown in a container to limit its spread because it can grow through runners and cover up much of the space. It prefers moisture and bears some shade as well. Care involves regular watering and liquid feeding as it promotes growth. Mint is susceptible to small green caterpillars. Check the chewed leaves and squeeze out the caterpillars. Mint dies in winter but regrows again in favorable conditions. Parsley: It can be easily grown from seeds or seedlings. Parsley will tolerate a bit of shade. But it will do best when it has at least five hours of sun. Take a container that is at least 20-25cm in diameter, fill it with a good quality potting mix and sprinkle the seeds over it. Then water it regularly as it loves moisture. Also, keep your pot in a sunny spot. Plants that dry out may bolt to flower. When the seeds get germinate start feeding your plants with liquid fertilizers. And harvest the leaves according to your need. Keep in mind that first harvests the outer leaves than the inner ones. Oregano: This is a fast and easy-growing herb, which gives you harvest year around. Choose a container according to the variety and fill it with equal parts potting soil and peat moss and perlite. When you planted make sure that only the root ball is buried and the main stem is not immersed in soil. It thrives well in full sunlight but can tolerate some afternoon shade as well. Grow it to spill beautifully from a pot or trough, in a hanging basket or vertical garden. These plants do not require extra feeding as others. Water your plant regularly. Plucks leaves based upon your need and use them to add taste to homemade dishes including pasta, roast meats, sauces, and bread. Carrots: Carrots are easy to grow in containers as long as you select the right varieties. While growing in pots keep in mind that you have selected the dwarf varieties instead of standard ones, as they require more place to grow. Plant the seeds 8-12 inches deep, about three inches apart. Also, make sure to select a container that is deep enough to support their long taproots. Fill the container with light well-drained soil, and it will take about two and a half months for carrots to fully form. Avoid overwatering as it can cause mildew. The best carrot varieties for pots are Romeo, Tonda di Parigi, and Little Finger. Peas: Almost all types of peas are good for container gardening, but if you have limited space in your balcony or patio select dwarf or bush varieties. The selection of containers largely depends upon the crop. They like moist soil. If your container is at least one foot in diameter, you can comfortably place four to six pea plants in it. The best peas for container gardening are Peas in a Pot, Tom Thumb, Snowbird, and Little Snap Pee Crunch. Eggplants: Eggplants are great vegetables, and they can be easily grown in containers as long as you provide a container that is large enough to meet the plant requirements. Regular fertilizing and minimum exposure of six hours of sunlight is needed by eggplants. Eggplant plants produce fruit that has heavy weight so it is best to provide a support system to plant in the form of stakes. The best varieties of eggplant for container gardening are Fairy tale, Bambino, Crescent Moon, Hansel, and Gretel. Beans: Different types of beans like pole beans or shrub beans both are acceptable for container gardening. It is very easy to grow the things you need in a sunny spot and a container at least eight inches deep and a trail-like structure or any other support for vines to grow (for climbing species), by fulfilling all these needs you can expect a good yield. Beans become ready to harvest in just a few days. Varieties of Bush Bean that grow well in containers include Bush Blue Lake. For pole beans that are suitable for containers, try the Cherokee Trail of Tears. For well-grown green beans in Pots, try Mascotte Green Beans. Beets: Growing beetroots in containers is fun and very easy because these plants do not require much larger pots and care to grow. Choose a container that has a full draining system and a minimum of 8-10 inches in diameter. It is a moist-loving and shade-tolerant crop. It grows well in a spot that gets 4-5 hours of sun per day. It grows very quickly, baby beats appear at least 7 days after plantation, and mature roots develop within 12-14 days. Varieties that grow best in containers are Bull's Blood, Detroit Dark Red, and Early Wonder. Apple: It’s not strange to grow apples on your balcony. You can beautify your balcony garden by growing apples, to do so select a dwarf apple variety. When you grow apples on your balcony or patio it is recommended to select a self-fertile plants rather than cross fertile, as the space is limited and then there is no need of growing two different ones. Initially grow your apple tree in a small pot and when it grows transfer it to the larger one. A standard size to start with is a pot that is 12 inches wide. Pomegranate: Pomegranate is one of the most nutritious, healthy, and beneficial fruit to grow. It can be easily grown in pots why? The reason is that these plants have shallow root systems as compared to others. If you can grow citrus in a pot, growing pomegranates in containers can’t be difficult for you. Moreover, pomegranate is cold-hardy than a lemon tree. It can be grown from seeds or easily available in nurseries. So take a healthy pomegranate separate its seeds and sprinkle them in the pot. Pour some soil on it and place the pot in a sunny spot. Regularly water your soil to keep it moist. Germination of seeds largely depends on the variety you select to grow. Watermelons: Growing watermelons in pots are much easier. The thing you need is a pot with a good potting mix and a proper support system. Select a sunny spot for your container. You can get enormous of harvest by growing them on grille because they grow well on them. The grille should be 4 feet tall and enough strong to carry out the weight of melons. Growing watermelon is similar to cucumber. Blueberries: Blueberries do not grow much taller so they are very suitable to grow in pots. Select the container according to the verities you are going to grow. A container minimum of 16-20 inches is enough for growing this. The suitable time to plant them is spring and autumn. They love well-drained and acidic soil so providing a potting mix for Azaleas and camellias or other acid-loving plants. A suitable pot is necessary so that your plant grows well and you can get harvest for so many years. Cherry: Bush cherry cultivars are worthy for container gardening. A large container at least 14 inches in diameter is required, they can also grow in a toy tub as well. Make sure that the container has proper drainage holes as cherry do not like soggy or wet soil, as well as make sure that there is a proper gap between watering. Temperature fluctuations can cause serious damage to plants. Drought is also harmful but they survive well in cold climates. Use light soil that is composed of organic matter and rich in nutrients. Cherry trees make a lovely addition to your house because they have a pleasant smell and showy colors. Tips For Balcony Gardening: Follow the following tips to make a beautiful garden on your balcony. Soil condition: Do not use soil from your garden when growing in containers, as this soil may contain microscopic insects that cause damage to your crop. Moreover, garden soil can also cause drainage problems as it is heavy so always use lightweight soils. Use potting soil that is specially prepared for vegetables. Sunlight accessibility: As sunlight is the basic need that plants require to thrive. So it is compulsory that your balcony have full exposure to the sun. But if your balcony does not get adequate sunlight it's okay, there is no need for disappointment. You can grow vegetables that grow in shade or prefer low light. Most of the vegetables, like carrots and radishes, as well as leafy greens like lettuce, chard, and kale, require a minimum of six hours of full sunlight. There are some vegetables and fruits that need more than six hours of light so you must have a sunny spot to grow these vegetables and fruits in your balcony. Water source: Container-grown vegetables or fruits have less soil around them as compared to the vegetables and fruits grown in the garden, so they require regular or frequent watering to meet the moisture requirements. Moreover, vegetables are thirsty plants they require plenty of water to thrive well in containers. So make sure you have a water source near your container. Having a water source near your containers will help you in a way that minimizes the effort to bring water from a long distance. Size of container: Pick containers that are large enough to fulfill the needs of plants. Also select the one that has lightweight, which makes it easy to move around. While selecting containers also consider the texture and color that match your interior. Make sure the containers that you choose have a proper draining system. Because most the plants do not like wet or soggy soil, moreover it can be a reason for root rot. Is it worth growing vegetables and fruits on the balcony? It is worth growing vegetables and fruits in a balcony garden because they give a high yield, as well as their nutrient content, are much higher than the vegetables and fruits bought from supermarkets. Be sure to harvest your crop when they are at its peak of ripeness because if you pick them early they are not much tastier. Balcony gardening makes sure that you will eat fresh and healthy vegetables and fruits as you can access them at any time. Also, you have complete control over their feeding which makes them superior.

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