Apartment Balcony Gardening Ideas
If you live in an apartment with a balcony, you too can grow a functional garden; here are some apartment balcony gardening ideas to help get you started. There's no need for a large amount of space to enjoy flowers, plants and vegetables. In fact, balcony gardening is easy if you've researched plants suited to your light conditions and climate.
Potted Plants
Add color to a plain balcony with potted flowers. Buy pots of different sizes and materials like terra cotta, ceramic or plastic. Fill them with various annuals, plants that flower for 3 to 4 months a year. Ask for recommendations from a local nursery about which flowers are best for your area. One popular flower that does well in very sunny conditions is the Grandiflora Petunia. If you've got a narrow space, display trays planted with a variety of succulents. They require little soil or water to thrive, and they add texture and interest to a garden.
Container Vegetables
Stock your dinner table with fresh vegetables and herbs grown in your own garden. Many vegetables, such as tomatoes, radish, carrots, cucumber, peppers, eggplant, squash, and lettuce, are easy to grow in containers. Be sure to use deeper containers for bigger plants and fill with lightweight peat soils. Ensure proper water drainage; you'll need containers with holes in the bottom and drip trays to collect the water. Be careful that water does not leak onto neighbors' spaces.
Vertical Gardening
Hanging baskets, trellises, and lattices are great options for greenery that takes up space vertically. Popular flowering and fruiting vines that easily grow upwards include sweet pea and star jasmine. For shady areas, use impatiens or browalilia. Tomato and strawberry plants can also be grown in space saving hanging containers.
Remember, before creating an apartment balcony, get approval from your apartment management, as there might be weight restrictions.
