Where is the perfect place and position to grow good vegetables?
West facing positions are highly exposed to rain and wind during thunderstorms. Balcony boxes hanging on the outside of railings are also subjected to heavy rain during a storm. Water is good for all vegetables, but not in excess and it will cause diseases in leaves or fruit. Downy mildew (caused by too much water) will affect vegetables such as lettuce and cucumbers wile foot and root rot infest tomatoes. Do not grow vegetables sensitive to water in positions that are highly exposed to rain.
Balconies near heavy traffic
Vegetables will not thrive on a balcony that is close to a busy road. This is because the soot and pollution by the vehicles will enter the vegetable tissue and makes them become toxic.
Plant containers for mobile garden
Vegetables containers and pots come in different shapes, materials and sizes. There are clay, wooden, plastic, basket and cellulose fiber containers.
Clay
These are very common and can be glazed or unglazed. Pottery bowl, terracotta urns and simple clay pots are very beautiful even when they have no plants in them. Lettuce and herbs can be planted in pockets amphoras made of clay, creating a visually pleasing design.
Wood
It insulates quiet well and is used for balcony tubs, large plant containers and planting boxes. However wood is very sensitive to moisture and slowly decays. Protect the wood against rooting by treating in environmentally friendly biological agents.
Basket work containers
These can be hung on a wall or placed on the ground and usually look marvelous when they are filled with vegetables and herbs. Line the base and sides of the basket with polythene to protect them from damps and mould.
Reconstituted concrete containers are very durable, although they are very difficult to move due to their weight.
Plastic containers
They come in different colours in green, brown, grey, black and white. They are very light and store a lot of water (when compared to clay pots which are porous). There are also terracotta plastic containers which are stunningly beautiful.
Cellulose fiber containers
They come in a lot of different shapes and sizes and are environmentally friendly. They normally carry a two year guarantee.
Pot holders
Plastic containers which are not so attractive can be hidden away in beautiful pot holders. However they normally do not have a drainage hole and have to be manually emptied of water.
The right size of container
Vegetables plants require a lot of space for them to grow and as such it is advisable to select a large pot when purchasing. Large pots are more stable and will stop the pot from tipping over due to weight of the soil and vegetable roots. Large containers hold more water and nutrients when compared to small containers.
Balcony boxes should not be too heavy and ideal length is between 75-80 cm. containers with a carrying capacity of 5-15 liters will be the right size for tomatoes, cucumbers or maize. Buy a rolling palette to move your containers around.
Drainage
It is essential for all plant containers to have drainage holes to allow extra water to run away and avoid water logging. Drainage holes should be covered with pot shards or large pieces of stone to prevent them from becoming clogged up with compost. Most vegetable containers have plant saucers to prevent the formation of water puddles around the pots.
How to save space when installing containers?
Metal plant steps allow you to stand a lot of large containers together without taking up too much space. They come in various sizes and can be purchased from most garden shops. The step-like design allows all plants to receive adequate light.