(Photo Source: cookindineout.com)
Easiest and cheapest way to always have something extra with every dish
Growing herbs on your balcony or a terrace is not hard. Actually, it’s rather easy considering most herbs don’t require special treatment. The most popular and well-known herbs are among the herbs you can enjoy on your terrace: from basil, cilantro, marjoram, parsley, chive to perennials like – oregano, lavender, sage, thyme, mint, and rosemary.
If you decide to buy a ready-made herb, plant it a clay pot. Clay is natural, so it’s only soothing both for your mini garden as well as for the plant. Depending on the size of your balcony or a terrace, you choose the size of the pot. Most herbs don’t ask for too much space, apart from mint, oregano, and sage. Do not plant these near sensitive and low growing herbs like basil, marjoram, and rosemary.
Pick the sunny spot, but remember that the sun dries out the herbs quickly, so you’ll need to water them more often. This is especially important for the balconies facing south.
Potted plants also need more fertilization than the garden ones. Use slow-release natural fertilizers in your balcony herb garden, spread them once or twice in a year to get the nutrients gradually.
To make the herbs grow faster, trim them trim on sunny days, early in the morning. During winters, the plants need extra protection, depending on where you live. To avoid freezing, buy a small greenhouse. As for warm summers, move them in the shade and watch if they need extra watering.
If you have enough space, you can create a small, city garden. Just because you don’t have a yard, you’re not limited to herbs and houseplants. Container gardening is an ongoing trend that includes growing your tomatoes, carrots, Lettuce, berries, figs,… Still, the best way to introduce gardening into your home is first via houseplants, then herbs, and after then you can move on to grow whatever your heart desires. Just don’t use the same soil as you would in a garden, and be reasonable with the number of plants. Most do need space to grow and give their best crops.