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I used to live in the city before relocating to the countryside. My previous apartment did not even have a balcony, which was a massive inconvenience because I enjoy gardening, living a green lifestyle, and basking in the sun. The one thing that does keep me upbeat and positive is growing my own herbs and vegetables so I've always been able to find a solution. Even though I was in a small apartment, it did not stop me from producing my herbs and salad leaves indoors.
In reality, as long as you have some light in your apartment, you should be able to do the same, and even if you aren't growing a lot of crops, picking those few lettuce leaves or herbs, or snipping some cress to put on your boiled egg, is still a pleasurable experience.
How to grow an edible garden in a small apartment
Balcony Edible Garden
I love plants and have a lot of them, especially orchids. Still, these days I'm primarily interested in cultivating culinary plants, such as edible flowers to sprinkle on salads and use as garnish.
I have plenty of areas to produce vegetables on my three balconies, but I still have little pots of microgreens all around the home, as well as hanging baskets of lettuce and herbs.
If you have a sun-drenched balcony, you've hit the jackpot. Wall gardens, hanging baskets, and pots are all possibilities. You can grow various herbs, potted veggies, microgreens, and colourful edible flowers, just like I do.
Windowsill Edible Garden
You might be able to put planter boxes on your windowsill if you have one (these days, you can get planters that hook over the windowsill). You'll need some sunlight, and you don't want to water over pedestrians because that won't go over well. Trust me I know.
If your planter boxes are hanging over a sidewalk, make sure to water them while the weather is clear.
Herbs, lettuce, and edible flowers thrive in planter boxes on the windowsill ledge, equipped with a proper tray to prevent overflow.
Indoor Gardening
Young citrus trees, such as kumquats or Meyer lemons, can be grown indoors, believe it or not. Another citrus, such as blood oranges, are also available in dwarf types at some nurseries. Your citrus tree will require an enormous container, plenty of water, sunlight, and a sturdy base that prevents water from spilling onto the floor.
Vertical Garden
There are many options for creating a vertical garden. You can either buy a ready-made vertical garden for your plants or use one of the following alternatives:
Cut a hole in plastic drink bottles, fill with soil and a plant, tie each end together with rope, and hang them from ropes linked to hooks near the ceiling.
Hang clay pots on the balcony, a few of them tied together.
Affix some steel mesh to a wall and hang plants in baskets from it.
Place pots on top of a step ladder.
Plant in a plastic shoe organiser and hang it on the wall.
The list goes on and on; all you have to do now is utilize your imagination to develop your fantastic ideas.
Planter Trolley
Because planter trolleys can quickly be relocated around to follow the premises to follow the sun. Planter trolleys are ideal for growing plants indoors. Just make sure the bottom is lined with PVC and the potting mix is of good quality.
Hydroponics
Hydroponic kits are available at most hardware stores and nurseries. Begin with a tiny, low-cost hydroponic system to see if growing plants this method is suitable for you.
If you enjoy it, you can move on to greater and better things. Hydroponic gardening is the practice of growing plants without the use of soil. Because the roots of the plants do not need to search for nutrients to survive, they develop swiftly.
Supplementing the water with particular nutrients to feed the plants will help them to flourish.
Light
Because light is necessary for growing plants, you can use artificial light if you live in a very dark flat. You can buy artificial lights and have some success with them.
Maintenance
Plants in pots dry out quickly, so check on them every day to see if they require water.
Fertilise every two weeks with a liquid fertiliser like Fish Emulsion. If you use an Urban Compost Bin as I do, the diluted liquid is an excellent fertilizer.
Don't wait for the plants to mature before picking the leaves you need. Continue the cycle by planting more plants in various pots as some become larger, so you always have a supply, and then repeat the process as they begin to grow.
Even if you grow a few herb pots, just being able to add a little something homegrown is a satisfying feeling of achievement and brings inner-city living that little bit closer to nature.