Flex Your Green Thumb This Spring!

Container gardening is a great way to add some colour to your outdoor space, even if it’s a balcony! With the right knowledge, you can become an urban farmer and grow your own potted fruits, vegetables, herbs or flowers easily. Here are some ideas:

Edibles: Blueberries, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, lettuce and other leafy greens, and herbs do particularly well on balconies.

Flowers: Consider planting chamomile, daffodils, daisies, geraniums, and marigolds, as they’re known to do well in more confined spaces like pots or containers.

Herbs: Basil, oregano, mint and parsley thrive in containers.

Many plants you’d normally find in outdoor gardens do just as well in containers on your balcony, with the right care. Consult your local garden centre for advice tailored to your balcony’s sunlight, wind exposure, and size.

Like all gardening, the secret to success is a combination of good drainage (your containers need rocks or gravel at the bottom and a small outlet for drainage), good soil, sunlight and just the right amount of water. Be careful not to give your downstairs neighbours an unexpected shower when you water your balcony plants. Consider placing pots in trays to prevent unwanted dripping.