Gardening for Beginners: How Do I Start on My Balcony?

Honestly, it’s a lot about experimentation. Grab some seeds or bulbs, which is a fun way to find out what works for you. Starting on your deck or balcony is great since you can manage the conditions better than in a garden bed.

You might want to join local gardening groups online for advice. Start by figuring out how much light your balcony gets, then plan your plants based on what you want—flowers or veggies!

Pick up some rectangular planters and get bags of compost. Choose seeds for vegetables or flowers that you like—things like courgettes or strawberries are great if you can find some pre-grown options! Don't be afraid to dive in!

Before I can give more tailored advice, could you share what you want to grow: edible plants like veggies and herbs, or are you more into flowers? Also, what’s your local climate zone? You can check your hardiness zone online to see what plants will thrive there!

Don’t forget your local library! Many have seed catalogs or local groups that offer classes on getting started with balcony gardening.

When you're starting with seeds, you should use a seed starter mix for the best results. You can use regular dirt, but you need to keep an eye on moisture. A covering, like plastic wrap, can help keep humidity up while they germinate so they don’t dry out too quickly. Once your seeds sprout their first true leaves, they won't need as much moisture, but don’t let them get too dry either! After that, switch to potting mix for bigger pots—it holds moisture better. Adding straw or mulch around your plants later on can help keep the soil moist in summer too!