It took months of quarantine for us all to rediscover ourselves as cultivators, to remind us of the beauty of having a vegetable garden and the satisfaction, at practically no cost, of self- production. Many people have in fact during these months, also thanks in part to the spring season in full flow, have done just that and started to grow something on their balcony, from vegetables and greens to fruits and aromatic herbs. In short, the garden has turned out to be both a super useful and enjoyable pastime, helping us regain that relationship with nature that we often lack in the city. Together let's take a look at what we can cultivate, how and when.
What
Even in the city we can in fact cultivate (almost) anything on our balcony. Among the most common crops grown, also because they are easily adaptable, are aromatic herbs, real must ingredients in any kitchen such as mint, chili pepper, sage, rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano, chives, marjoram, tarragon, parsley, chamomile. In all these cases you can transplant the already grown seedlings or proceed by cutting; try keeping a sprig of mint in water for a few days and you’ll see it produce roots which you can then plant. Secondly, vegetables and greens such as tomatoes, salad, zucchini, cabbage, legumes, which also in this case you can buy already developed or create a seedbed which will certainly give you much more satisfaction. How? It's much simpler than you think. For example, with tomatoes, peppers or chili peppers simply gently remove the seeds, clean them from the pulp, dry them and then let them finish drying in the sun or in the open air. Then, some time between March and April, put the seeds in a container (like Tupperware) at room temperature (without temperature changes) at a distance of at least two centimeters apart, on a cotton or absorbent paper base that should always be slightly damp (not wet!), covered with perforated film for perspiration. After a few days you will see the first sprouts which will then be buried in jars. They’re not however quite ready to be outside, so be sure to keep them indoors, at least during the night. You can’t possibly be missing fruits in the garden either, such as olives, avocados, oranges, apples, strawberry trees (Corbezzolo), pomegranate, wild berries or lemons; in the latter case you simply need to replicate the procedure with the seeds as described above (in fact, lemons also reproduce by air layering, a citrus fruit propagation method that generates new plants identical to the mother from the branch). Bear in mind however that with fruit, the time required extends to years, so you need big pots but above all lots of patience.
How
It’s essential that plants have the right amount of three elements: sunlight, water, and nutrients… just like humans! It’s for this reason that choosing the ideal location so the plant gets natural sunlight is really important. If it’s indoors on a shelf, it needs to be away from any heat sources such as radiators or stoves. With outdoor spaces such as windowsills, terraces or balconies, the exposure needs to be regulated. For example, with a north facing exposure it’s more difficult for plants like peppers and tomatoes because there is less light, but it is also true that there are plants such as berries, salad, herbs, pumpkin, zucchini, cabbage, turnips and carrots which adapt more easily. As far as irrigation is concerned, each plant requires a different amount of water. Generally speaking, it’s always better they receive little water but frequently. Exactly how the irrigation systems work, which are now easy to install and program, perfect for when, hopefully soon, you will be able to leave your homes and travel again. The pots must be large enough for the roots to have room to develop and to support the weight of the plant. To this effect it would be useful, as well as nice to see, old boxes or pots recycled and repurposed. The important thing is that they are not made of toxic materials and remember to make holes in the base to allow excess water to drain. Today an innovative system like hydroponics exists, which can be found at Ikea (krydda kit), where you don't use soil but water (as the word itself says) and is useful also because it doesn't attract insects. In this respect, try to keep invasive insects such as ants as far away as possible, preferably with traps and not with poisons. Finally, if you want to produce your own soil without buying it you can try to make compost with selected waste like fruit and vegetables, foliage, wood, absorbent paper, but be careful because it is not a mere accumulation of waste but a bacterial cultivation that decomposes the waste by following precise rules.
When
Having your own garden on the balcony also allows you to always have seasonal products in, by simply respecting (and being patient) the seasons. This is why self-production also has an educational function, especially for children by teaching them the beauty of waiting and the value of patience. As you may already know, each product has its own cultivation period, which can vary depending on the climate. To plant or sow in spring there’s garlic, onion, potatoes, peas, beans, broad beans, lettuce, spinach, chard, chicory, melon, cucumber, watermelon, zucchini, pepper, eggplant, cabbage, celery, tomatoes, and herbs. Alternatively, in summer; radishes, broccoli, fennel, beetroot, pumpkins, zucchini, thistles, leeks, celery, fennel, beans, carrots, aromatic herbs, radicchio. In autumn it’s the turn of carrots, radicchio, turnip tops, cabbage, beets, broccoli, broad beans, peas, various salads such as lettuce, rocket. Finally, king of the winter garden are cabbages, from broccoli to cauliflower, as well as other varieties that need to be covered in a small greenhouse.
Let's not forget that in summer some plants such as lavender, sage and mint (as well as for mojito’s) are also useful in keeping away mosquitoes, whilst throughout the year their function is to make our houses more beautiful and especially more alive. Also, remember that plants cannot lie, so if you treat them well, they will bear fruit, if not they will leave you high and dry. Finally, having a vegetable garden on the balcony should not only be thought of as something for us and our needs, but also as a way of helping the environment and biodiversity of the many species who depend and live on it, such as all the bees and birds that will come to visit you!