Those who live in an apartment sometimes do not even know the real taste of fresh homemade vegetables. What grows in your own garden is always tastier and more aromatic than what you can buy at the supermarket. But do not be upset if there is no garden or summer cottage, because it is quite possible to grow delicious vegetables for cooking right on your balcony. Just a few simple tips will help you cope with this unusual task.
1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes can be grown not only easily at home, but also done in an unusual way. Even in the limited space of an apartment, they will grow and delight with a rich harvest. To do this, you just need to hang them upside down. Container gardening is ideal for beginners and also a great space saver. Nothing beats fresh tomatoes straight from your balcony. It is best to grow vegetables in an apartment on a balcony or patio. Handmade tomatoes taste much better than store bought ones, they are more aromatic and have a rich taste.
For planting tomatoes on the balcony, plastic or metal buckets are suitable. In the center of the bottom, it is necessary to make a hole with a diameter of 7-8 cm so that the stem of the tomato can easily grow down, and a seedling can be placed through this hole. Also, on the top of a pot, bucket or other container for planting, four holes are drilled for hooks, into which a rope or chain is then threaded for hanging. So that the earth does not wake up through the bottom hole and the roots remain inside, on the inside of the pot it is necessary to fix a fine mesh like the one on the windows with strong adhesive tape. A cut must be made in the middle of the grid so that a seedling can be held there when planting.
The planting container is half filled with earth. The top of the pot can be left open or with a lid for better moisture retention. If there is a cover, it will be convenient to make a hole in it for watering and fertilizing. Once the plant is in place, the pot can be hung on the balcony. During the growing season, fertilizers are added every 2 weeks. Tomatoes need 6-8 hours of time with direct light for good growth and ripening. Watering is necessary as the earth dries up.
2. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a very tasty and healthy vegetable. It's great for fresh homemade salads. Growing it at home means providing yourself with a safe and always fresh product. The secret life hack for growing cucumbers is their optimal compatibility with the sunflower. These two plants like the same soil, the stems of the sunflower become a natural support for the cucumbers, and their taste becomes sweeter due to this proximity.
Cucumbers like hot sun and slightly darkened light. If you plan to plant several plants, then there should be a distance of at least 7-8 cm between them. Watering the cucumbers on the balcony should be several times a week. It is important to constantly maintain optimal soil moisture and not let them dry out. A soil pH of 6 to 7 is considered the best for planting. Cucumbers require periodic fertilization. A great way to tell when the time is right is to look at the leaves: if they turn yellow, they need more nitrogen. You also need to take care of the destruction of pests. If the cucumbers are planted without a sunflower, then as the branchy stem grows, you need to make a support that goes up, for example, from a wire.
Useful advice from Novate.ru: The more often you pick cucumbers, the more new ones will grow and the higher the overall yield will be.
3. Cauliflower
Growing potted cauliflower at home is pretty easy. And thanks to this, you can enjoy a fresh crop without chemicals all year round. The cauliflower pot must be at least 30 cm deep and 25 cm in diameter to fully accommodate the plant. If you want to grow two or three plants, you can use an old wooden box or barrel. Cauliflower grows best in temperate climates and is a cold season crop. The ideal temperature for her growth is 10-30 degrees. When cauliflower is almost fully grown, the ideal ripening temperature ranges from 15 to 20 degrees. That is why it is better to germinate the seeds of this culture in the fall, in order to plant the plants in winter, and the ripening period fell on the summer.
In terms of soil, cauliflower is not picky. Even clay soil is suitable for her. The main thing is that it is wet. Ideally, the pH should be around 6.5-6.8. Cauliflower will require regular watering, especially if grown indoors with the heaters on. If the soil is dry not only from above, but also at a depth of 2.5 cm, then it's time to water the plant.
With good care of the plant, the crop will be ready 3-4 months after planting the seeds. When the cauliflower head is fully developed and has a diameter of about 15-30 cm, depending on the variety, it must be tied up. The upper leaves are collected up and tied neatly for a week. This allows the plant to become beautiful and delicate, and also helps it develop its scent to its fullest.
And some they even add coffee or milk to seedlings so that the yield is higher.