Apartments, condos, townhouses… There are many homes in the city, and even in the suburbs, where planting space is scarce, if not nonexistent. To add a touch of greenery to your home, it’s all about balconies, windowsills, or the front entrance.
The first instinct is to grow herbs, and it’s an excellent idea, because aromatic herbs are among the easiest plants for containers. Here are some tips to get started… or to perfect your art.
Right off the bat, virtually all herbs grow quite well on a balcony. As long as the containers are large enough and you choose potting soil suitable for container growing, well enriched with compost or natural fertilizers, you can give free rein to your aromatic desires. In most cases, full sun is a prerequisite, but many herbs perform well in light shade. Most of the growing secrets can be found in the few lines above. As you can see, growing herbs on a balcony is not rocket science.
Herbs for Beginners
For the beginner who really needs to gain confidence, the easiest to succeed are those that tolerate drought. Sage, oregano, marjoram, chives, savory, and mint are among them. Rosemary and thyme are also good candidates for growing in containers, but they must not dry out. The novice will opt to buy plants towards the end of May, and wait until they accumulate a few gardening successes before pushing further their gardening experience with seedlings.
Basil, More Difficult…
Despite appearances, a favorite, basil, is a little more demanding than most herbs. It requires generous watering and is a bit more demanding on fertilizer. For those who obtained poor results with the broad-leaved Genoa basil, you can switch to small-leaved basil or African Blue basil.
Just Can’t Get Enough… of Coriander
Coriander lovers agree that there is never enough coriander, and especially that it has the nasty drawback of going to seed too quickly. In truth, coriander, also known by its spanish name cilantro, should be eaten within one or two weeks of planting on the balcony. For those who are passionate about it, the solution lies in successive sowing; about ten seeds at a time sown in the same hole. Repeat this process once a week. Let a few plants go to seed, however, to build up seed reserves for next summer.
Then there are the interesting discoveries, such as Vietnamese coriander, lemon balm, lemongrass (very water-intensive), the mushroom plant or lemon verbena.
Plant What You Are Going To Use
Too often, when buying plants, we fill the basket by buying one of each kind, making sure to have a nice variety, which isn’t a bad idea in itself. Yes, a full, blooming hyssop plant is really beautiful, but do we really need it? In a space as small as a balcony, it’s better to focus on the herbs we actually use in the kitchen. Better yet, double the quantities for those that are used abundantly. Tabbouleh lovers? Let’s go for four to six curly parsley plants. Always short on pesto? Plant basil by the dozen!
With all those fragrant plants on hand, everything is ready for a seamless transition from balcony to kitchen. A dream come true for many. Because cooking with your own herbs is a great source of pride in itself and a great way to spark conversation during a meal with friends. A wonderful excuse to share your favorite recipes and acquire new growing tips for next spring.
Love the Herb tower idea!