Start a Balcony Garden
- Apr 24, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 1, 2022
What you put into your body is incredibly important.
My care / realization of that didn't come until my early twenties.
Before that, it was all about losing weight, not being healthy.
Now, health is one of the main areas of interest for me;
our mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
I would love to be so self-sufficient, I wouldn't need a grocery store. Since my husband and I don't have the land for that yet, we started what we could on our apartment balcony. Mainly to figure out how to even start. We had no idea what we were doing, but they always say the best way to learn is by doing, so that is what we did.
We bought a couple pots, cups, and dirt and just planted some seeds. I did a little research here and there to have an idea of what to do, but I mainly wanted to just observe and see how everything works. Day after day I checked on my plants to see how they were doing or what they needed, to ensure they grew healthy and strong. I lost plants from flooding weather, freezing temperatures, reasons I still don't know, and some seeds never sprouted. BUT, when I look outside at my garden right now, about 7 months from starting, I see tomatoes growing nice and plump, beautiful colored flowers, lettuce for days, and quite a few random herbs here and there.
I want to help you start your garden as well. Whether you have a yard to in-ground plant, or just containers for your window sill, you can do it! Amazon has great seed starting options that give you lids for the 'greenhouse effect', but I eventually just started using plastic cups and Ziploc bags on the top....it worked just fine! Most of the things you need, you can grab at the Dollar Store, INCLUDING SEEDS! Keep in mind, some locations don't carry the same products, but Walmart, Target, Lowes, and local home department stores will have it all (I was surprised how many places have small seed sections, just keep your eyes open). If you already have some produce in your kitchen, save your seeds. Half of my garden is from seeds we saved from produce we ate, although my husband and I still have an addiction to grabbing new and different seeds everywhere we go.
Depending on the plant, you should be able to see your seedlings sprout within 3 days - 2 weeks. Make sure they're moist and have plenty of sunlight. I usually let 2 to 4 seedlings grow together, and once their stems are strong I separate them into their own containers. Most of my containers are from Home Depot (or you can recycle containers from your house), which usually come with drainage holes on the bottom already, but if they do not, make sure you make holes yourself! This wasn't a problem for me until we had heavy rains that flooded my plants out because they couldn't drain or couldn't drain enough. Once your seedlings have grown a bit and they're in their own containers, or in the ground (check the best time to plant for each plant), paying attention to them is the KEY to their survival. We all know plants need water and sun, but each plant is different. Some need more or less than others, and over time you'll get to know your plants and what they need.
Be sure to check out "APARTMENT GARDEN UPDATE" in the 'Recent Posts' below!
Comment below to show and share your new garden, or how you started yours!
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