BALCONY GARDEN IDEAS - Easy to use
Balcony gardens are passion, pleasure, satisfaction, and above all fun. However, in cities vegetable gardens should also have another fundamental characteristic: they should be practical, easy to use and not require too much maintenance.
That said, it is true that a garden’s rhythm is set by nature, and rarely can we force it or speed it up. There is still not very much man can do when it comes to the sun and temperatures,. At least not in a balcony garden where spaces are usually quite confined and where heating or light regulating systems cannot be installed.
EASY TO USE
Vegetable gardens are not necessarily always functional and easy to maintain. Plants need to be tended to and the soil must be prepared before sowing or before seedlings are transplanted. As everyone knows, pots need to be irrigated and placed in the sunniest corner of the balcony, terrace or patio.
In addition, the overall environment itself should be pleasant so as to motivate you and instil the passion and drive to get to work and achieve the desired result.
As a result, all this will satisfy the effort and dedication you put into it.
BALCONY GARDEN - PREPARATION IS KEY
In order to ensure a more gratifying experience and optimum management of your gardening on the balcony, it is important to invest in the construction of the balcony garden itself.
Without doubt these three basic elements should not be underestimated:
- Pots
- Soil
- Seeds
It is hard to say in what percentage each one is vital. Anyway, starting with a good selection of all three guarantees a positive result from the outset, if not an excellent one.
In this sense there are many similarities with sports activities, particularly with those disciplines that require the use of a tool or of sophisticated materials. Excellence in every aspect improves overall performance and consequently also guarantees a quality end-result.
SEEDS
We often think seeds are all the same. In fact, there are different qualities, and some are even rare. It is also important to know which are the most suitable for planting according to:
- the different latitudes
- exposure to the sun of the terrace/balcony
- temperatures
SOIL
Soil is another element the importance of which is often underestimated and probably the most common one. The degree of nourishment and acidity levels are often fundamental factors in determining the success of the crop.
For example, coconut, perlite, earthworm humus are the preferred choices by the most committed, experienced and result-conscious growers.
Balcony Garden Ideas: POTS
Pots are another utensil which can be underestimated and in which all too often we do not want to invest. As a result we find ourselves with a receptacle with is inadequate from the point of view of the materials and size.
Plastic containers do not allow the soil to breathe which means the plant will suffer. Also, their colour will tend to fade, making them an aesthetically poor choice for a balcony.
Clay pots are undoubtedly more suitable in this sense however with time weathering will probably cause them to crack and break.
White ceramic pots look very nice aesthetically when they are new but tend to progressively blacken and are hard to clean.
Many of these containers are cumbersome and once full they will be too heavy to move. Indeed in most cases they are not equipped with wheels.
Pots and vases are also an important element from a furnishing and design point of view. Therefore they should be selected carefully when planning and building a garden.
WHAT ABOUT SMART POTS?
As a matter of fact we need to envisage a modern container with the following features:
- easy to use
- made of recyclable plastic with an external covering
- easy to clean and to replace
It also would be great if it comes in a variety of colours in order to give your terrace ad added versatility. As well as you paint a room or change your sofa covering.
In addition, containers should in many ways become autonomous. In the technology era this means having self watering planters, or even smart pots, providing useful information to the owner, from the outside temperature to the humidity of the air and the soil.
Ultimately, the pot represents the hardware – the ‘communication’ element - of the vegetable garden system. And as such it could function all year round, which is why it needs to be both practical and beautiful to look at.
