In South Africa, we have 300 days of sunshine every year. It’s a wonder that everyone is not growing their own fruits, veggies and herbs. Even in a small space, it is possible to have a thriving veggie patch using containers. Many edible plants will grow quite happily in pots and containers on a balcony or patio. This includes tomatoes, peas, peppers, spinach and even garlic.
If your balcony gets 8 hours of sunlight every day (from September to April), you can do patio gardening! Here are a few simple steps that can get you from A to Salad in a few weeks.
Choose your containers.
You may want a uniform and utilitarian design, or something more eclectic. Choose your containers keeping in mind what you want your veggie patch to look like. Give some thought to where you will position them!
Fill them up.
Fill containers with a layer of small rocks at the base for drainage. Tthen a good mix of potting soil and compost. Your local garden shop should be able to supply this, and can advise you about soil types. However, most plants will grow happily in many types of soil given enough sunlight and water!
Seeds vs seedlings
It is fairly cheap and easy to germinate seeds indoors and transplant them into soil once they have 2 or more leaves. However some plants do not handle transplanting very well (mainly squash-like plants). For these you are better off planting directly into the containers. You may prefer to buy seedling plants from a nursery, at a higher cost than seeds, but this will save you 4-6 weeks in germination time.
Planting
When you plant or transplant your baby veggies, make sure to do so in the late afternoon and water thoroughly. In the early days you can treat them with a mixture of Epsom salts and water about once a week. The ratio should be 1 teaspoon to 500ml water. Check seed packaging for appropriate planting depth and spacing!
Water
Water your plants regularly. Watering is best in the mornings, as evening watering can cause rot and attract pests. Only water your plants when they need it – the soil should remain damp but not soggy. Once a day is generally enough, unless it has been particularly hot! Smaller plants generally require less water, so take care not to drown your seedlings!
Feed
Feed your plants with a liquid fertiliser (easiest for small gardens) once every 4 – 6 weeks in spring and summer, or as long as the plant is flowering. Don’t pick the flowers, as these will be fertilised by bugs and turn into fruits and veggies.
Enjoy
Only harvest your fruits and veggies when they reach peak ripeness, and eat them as soon as possible for maximum flavour and nutrients.
