Hey everyone! I'm new to gardening and living in an apartment, and I'm eager to start my own little balcony garden. I'm particularly interested in growing useful plants. I've heard about Calendula and mint, and I'd like to know if I can grow these in pots on my balcony. Do I need to start them inside first, or can I just plant them directly outside? Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
1 Answer
You can totally grow plants on your balcony as long as they can thrive in pots! Just keep a couple of things in mind: First, check how much sunlight your balcony gets. Some plants need full sun, while others do better in the shade. Second, think about your weather; if you're in a place with harsh winters, better to choose plants that can handle cold or go with annuals since they won't have to survive the winter. If you’re starting from seeds, consider doing it indoors, especially since seedlings need lots of light to grow strong. But if that's tricky, buying small starter plants when they're in season can be a great alternative, especially for specific mints like peppermint which are sometimes hard to find as seeds.
Thanks for the tips! I live in northern Illinois, not too far from Chicago, so I definitely have to think about those winter chills. About the sunlight – does having an overhang on my balcony count as being shaded? It's less than half of the balcony, so there's still a decent amount of direct sun.