You want to start a herb garden on your balcony! You might have been inspired by the fresh herbs at the grocery store, or you're just looking for more ways to save money. Either way, we're here to help with some tips and tricks on how to get started.
Do you have space outside? If not, it's time for a little creativity. Take an old shoe organizer and turn it into a vertical planter box that fits perfectly against any wall in your apartment--just make sure there is enough sunlight coming through the window every day so that these plants can grow!
These vertical boxes are perfect for those who don't want their balcony cluttered with potted plants as well because they take up very little space.
Another option for those with limited outdoor space is to plant your herbs in flowerpots and grow them indoors using a sunny window or under artificial lights, like the ones used by indoor marijuana growers!
You can use an old shoe organizer as well if you want to have some vertical growing plants on hand too.
Whatever you choose, make sure that they are getting plenty of light every day because without it these potted herbs will fail to thrive--and don't forget hardy herbs like thyme (which can withstand cold temperatures) need more water than vulnerable plants such as basil!
There's no better time than now to start planting so get going before summer comes around again next year!
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Gardening is one of the most relaxing hobbies you can take up in your spare time. If you're looking to start a new hobby, or even just something to do to relieve stress, there's nothing like the relaxation of growing your own food. If you have a balcony, it can be a great place to start.
A balcony can be the perfect place to grow a herb garden because it's a small space where you can easily tend to your herbs. The trick is to design your garden so that it's easy for you to tend to, so that you'll want to spend the time to maintain it.
Most people believe herbs are difficult to grow. This is probably because many of us associate herbs with the herbs that are sold at grocery stores. Most of the herbs sold at supermarkets are grown under very artificial conditions.
For example, there are herbs that are grown in greenhouses, or even indoors under artificial lighting. This means that many herbs you buy from the store are picked before they are ripe and are devoid of most of their natural flavor. It's true that growing herbs isn't as easy as picking them up at the grocery store, but with the right growing conditions, almost any herb can be grown.
As you're planning your herb garden, consider how much variety of herbs that you want to have. There are many different kinds of herbs and each type has a slightly different flavor. For example, while some people prefer parsley for cooking because it's hearty and flavorful, others may like rosemary more because it is softer so can be used in dishes such as sauces without being overwhelming.
It's important to note that not all plants will work well with the same growing conditions or together in one pot.
If possible, try buying smaller pots from nurseries instead of large ones so you'll be able to experiment more easily by adding new varieties every year or two when they become available at stores again.
The following are some common herbs and seeds that can be grown indoors on a balcony.
It is possible to grow fresh herbs all year round in the right conditions, so take your time deciding what you want to have and how much variety of herbs that you want to have. It's important to note that not all plants will work well with balconies, so make sure to research the plants and herbs that are best for balconies.
Seeds make a great choice for those who want to start with just one or two pots and experiment more. Live herb plants are also popular because they grow faster, but seeds will be less expensive in the long run if you're not sure how much space on your balcony that you'll need.
How do I know which herbs should go together?
As always when it comes to plant combinations, there is no right answer as every person has their own preferences based on preference of taste and aroma; however, these are some general guidelines: basil goes well with most vegetables and tomatoes (remember this combination from my last blog post?) while parsley can be planted near onion sets since both provide flavor all year round without being too overpowering.
If you are really set on growing an herb garden, but do not have a ton of time or space to work with, it is always possible. There's no need to purchase expensive pots for herbs when something as simple and inexpensive as milk jugs will do the trick.
Simply poke holes in the sides and bottom so that water can drain out; then fill them up with good potting soil before planting seeds inside. The rest of your containers should be open-topped so they can receive plenty of sunlight during daytime hours without burning from too much heat exposure at one time.
The next thing we'll talk about how to start an herb garden on your balcony by describing what size container you'll need:
Small balconies: Use containers that are at least 12 inches deep and have a surface area of approximately six to eight square feet
Large balconies: Use containers that are 18-24 inches deep or 72-96 cubic feet in size, and can be either round, rectangular, hexagonal or octagonal.
Most importantly just remember to make the container as lightproof as possible so it won't get too hot during the day and your plants will thrive!
Using three pots, plant thyme as soon as possible.
Pot A will have cilantro on one side and lemon balm on the other side
Pot B will have oregano near its back edge where it meets with pot C which has parsley planted there in that same spot. The remaining area is for planting onion or garlic cloves (we recommend four--but you can adjust this according to how many plants you want)
Pot C has only parsley planted inside of it because this herb does not grow well when grown next to another type of herb. It's important we give each variety their own space to grow.
Plant chives closer to the top of the container
Plant basil in a clump at one end
Plant dill as soon as possible, with the seeds spaced an inch and a half apart
Plant mint using four pots (one for each variety: spearmint, peppermint, pineapple mint)
The remaining pot is used to plant onions or garlic cloves (we recommend four--but you can adjust this according to how many plants you want). These two will be planted together in one area because they thrive best when grown next to another type of herb.
They might have their own space but often are better off growing near something else that helps them flourish. The other three varieties of herbs do not like being grown around onion or garlic so it's important we give each one its own container/area inside the pot.
The key to growing healthy herbs is plenty of water and nutrients. Herbs are a thirsty bunch, so be sure to keep your containers well-watered and fertilized.
You can use an organic fertilizer such as blood meal or bone meal for this purpose; just make sure it's not too strong because you don't want to kill the plants! If you're using soil in small pots (less than 12 inches), then take care that there isn't any standing water at the bottom of the pot when watering.
This will encourage root rot which can quickly wipe out all of your hard work with one fell swoop.
If possible, set aside time twice per day - once in morning and again in late afternoon/early evening - to water your herbs. This will ensure that they are properly hydrated and can continue to grow and flourish.
If you're using a larger container which needs watering less often, make sure to keep it in an area where the pot is accessible from all sides so water can easily be added if necessary - or else set up a regular schedule for yourself with reminders attached! For example: "water plants before noon on Mondays."
Ensuring adequate care of your herb garden like this makes them more likely to thrive, produce new growths regularly, and put off plenty of delicious blossoms (which could attract friendly pollinators!)
Choose plants that are similar in size and will grow well together - this way as the garden grows bigger, everything will thrive on its own.
