How to set up an urban garden on your balcony or a container garden

Setting up an urban garden on your home's balcony might seem like a crazy idea. However, if you know how to do it (and how to maintain it), you'll be able to enjoy your own fruits and vegetables in a few months.

In addition to yielding harvests, growing plants on your balcony has become a very popular trend due to the increasing need for green spaces in cities. If you also feel this need, we encourage you to set up your own urban garden on the balcony with the steps we explain in this new Gardenweb post.

Things to consider before setting up an urban garden on the balcony

Before you get started, it's important to keep these two important aspects in mind:

The orientation of your balcony or terrace

If this space in your home faces east or west, congratulations, it's the best arrangement for setting up an urban garden. However, if it faces north or south, your plants may either receive too much direct light per day, or too many hours of shade. Plants (or most of them in general) need at least 6 hours of direct sun per day to develop properly.

Water installation

Does your balcony have a water tap to install an automatic irrigation system? This would be ideal as irrigation systems help control both the frequency and amount of water when watering. If you don't have a water tap, don't worry, you can also keep a watering can handy to water your plants. 

The most important thing regarding irrigation is to know how much water your plants need, as, for example, overwatering can cause root rot, thus killing them.

How to set up an urban garden on the balcony: plant seeds in seedbeds

A house cannot be started from the roof. Neither can a garden. The first thing we'll need to do for our garden to thrive is to plant. To do this, we can either collect seeds from a tomato, pepper, or other vegetable we have in the pantry, or buy them directly. To plant seeds effectively, I recommend you consider these tips:

• Use cell trays for seedbeds: seedbeds are the ideal tool for novice gardeners as they help seeds germinate properly. At Gardenweb you can find very affordable seedbeds such as forest trays and Teku trays.
• How to plant seeds: for seeds to develop well, you'll need to fill the seedbed with soil and then place them on top of it. Finally, add a little more soil to cover the seeds.
• How to maintain seeds: for seeds to grow correctly, it's advisable to keep them in a place without direct light, at a constant temperature of 20ºC, and water them with a spray diffuser once a day.
• What species should I grow?: Although it's important to check planting calendars, novice gardeners should always start their adventure with easy-to-grow species such as lettuce, cherry tomatoes, or aromatic herbs like rosemary, thyme, or parsley.

What pots should I choose?

Once your seeds have germinated, you'll need a container for them to continue growing healthily. To choose the right pot, we'll need to know what size and material will be most suitable for the plants in our urban garden. 

You'll also need to consider that some species, such as climbing and vining plants, will need a support like bamboo canes to develop correctly. In our online store, you can find different sizes of bamboo canes and stakes for your plants.

How to set up an urban garden on the balcony: what substrate should I choose for my plants?

A quality substrate will help the plant roots better absorb both the nutrients and water they need to grow. To have a well-enriched soil, at Gardenweb we recommend a mix with our coconut fiber blocks and worm castings, which we explain how to make in the following article. You can also try our universal substrate, which contains all the necessary nutrients for plants to grow healthily.

At GARDEN WEB we have everything you need to set up your pot garden on your home's balcony

Substrate, pots, bamboo canes... and more than 1000 products focused on gardening and nursery. Visit our online store and get all the materials you need for your urban balcony garden to thrive properly.

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