Vegetable gardens on apartment balconies can be a rewarding experience. But there are some things that apartment gardening beginners need to know. If you are considering planting vegetables on your apartment balcony, below your apartment window, this article has some tips for apartment gardening. It also includes a brief description of apartment gardening basics.
The first thing you will need to know is whether or not your balcony garden is allowed by your apartment or condominium corporation. The building codes for most cities and sometimes even for counties vary, so you may have to be careful about what you plant and where you plant it. Some apartment complexes do allow for rooftop gardening in the city limits, as long as you are aware of the laws for your community. For instance, on some high rise apartment buildings there may be a restriction on where you can plant, but you won’t have to worry about a lot of problems if you follow the rules. If you are unsure, call your local building department.
The next thing you will want to know about apartment balcony vegetable garden planting, is how much room you have to dedicate to the project. Some people who have limited space choose to just buy small pots and plant herbs or vegetables in them. Others plant in large pots and use the space for more than just plants. There are those who like to eat their vegetables and others who simply enjoy eating the fruits of their labor. It’s all up to you.
Another thing to consider is what you are going to plant. There are many different types of plants, some easier to grow than others. A good example is tomatoes. But most apartment balcony vegetable gardeners choose herbs because they look nice and are easy to maintain. You can choose pots, planter boxes, hanging baskets and even plastic containers.
One thing we need to mention is watering. Having access to a hose allows you to water your veggies any time of the day, even in the middle of the night when everyone else is sleeping. But this can be very inconvenient and can also possibly get your plants dirty and muddy. So we strongly recommend using water collecting devices. These include:
Now we turn to other things that can contribute to a successful apartment balcony vegetable garden, such as choosing which plants to plant. One of the best plants to grow are leafy greens. They are easy to maintain, don’t need too much care and will add a great touch to any patio. Some of the most popular vegetables, you might consider growing in a balcony apartment include: spinach, kale, mustard greens, brussel sprouts, yellow squash, garlic, beets and strawberries.
As for cooking, one of the most popular gardening ideas for apartment gardens is cooking with containers. Most apartment dwellers don’t have a grill or a outdoor kitchen but using pots and pans on the deck or patio makes it very easy to cook healthy meals that are low maintenance. If you do have a built-in grill, it may be possible to grill without using pots and pans by placing the food directly onto the hot coals. Also, many people like cooking with small tubs of lava rocks (sold at most garden centers) that sit on top of the coals.
If you are more interested in eating than in cooking, there are plenty of options available. Some apartment dwellers still have open kitchens, so you might want to add a simple grill. You can also buy a simple rotisserie grill that will allow you to cook whole chickens, pigs, and squirrels. If you have a larger patio or deck, consider using hanging pots and planters that can easily be moved from one place to another. This will allow you to change your gardening routine frequently and will give you much more flexibility when it comes to what types of vegetables you grow in your apartment.