The opening picture was taken earlier today (26 August 2010.) As you can see from the second picture, this area was empty and is of what the balcony looked like back in March and April when I was planning and building the wooden containers. The first images are the left side of the balcony in which the plan was to create a chicken wire, jute and wood frame which would support vines.
There are also pictures of the right side of the balcony which has a more complex raised bed with different levels. This side has a number of plants and the backdrop is a stuf (reed) panel that helps to reduce the intensity of the sun in the later part of the day. This picture was taken in early July 2010. It is much fuller now.
The right side with the stuf panel now has the following plants – tomatoes, red cabbage, nicotinia, hydrangea, sage, basil, peppers, dicentra, clematis, black eyed susan vine, yellow coneflower, white daisy and coleus. The overall size of the container is 215 cm width by 120 cm depth and is tiered to provide for plants. This container was made from some new wood, but the majority of wood used was left over from a previous years project.
On the left side the width of the box is also a little over 215 cm and the depth is 85 cm. Plants on the left side include budleia (butterfly bush), 3 vines (morning glory, sweet pea vines, clematis,) lantana, dahlia, paper flowers (unknown name), delphinium, peony and one of my favorite garden delights – the fountain.
Before the frost in late October or early November there will be another photo update of the growth on the balcony. For now, hope you are enjoying your balcony!
Happy Balcony Gardening!
A pleasant surprise – Christmas Cactus Plant flowering in May!
Some of your indoor plants can be moved outside now. Be cautious with placement especially if your balcony is facing south. You do not want to shock them and the radical change may burn the leaves. Since my door to the balcony and windows are left open as the weather permits, my indoor plants are acclimated to the outdoors now. However, most of them will remain in the apartment, perhaps some of the most tolerant varieties will be moved out later – jades, cactus and any other succulents are good candidates for the heat that is thrown off the building and the tiled floor of the balcony.
The vining type indoor plant was grown from a cutting taken from a plant out of doors. It took quite awhile to root. Once transplanted it went crazy with growth.
This little plant above has been with me for 3 years and has had difficulties, this year however it seems to be making a comeback. Initially it seemed that the placement was off – maybe it was not getting enough light, maybe too much – so it moved from place to place and mostly that did not make much of a difference. It seems instead that the problem was that it needed to be repotted last year and finally this year its wish came true – more space in a larger pot.
In all of the excitement of spring gardening, on a rainy day when you have the itch to do some gardening and the weather is not cooperating, repot your indoor plants, dust off their leaves or wash their leaves in the shower, give them some tender loving care – they love it!
8 MAY 2010 UPDATE PICTURE
Box with soil
21 APRIL 2010 ORIGINAL POST
Building raised garden beds on your balcony is not a very difficult task, not that I am sexist or anything but hey I am a girl and was not taught how to use tools. The point is that it is pretty easy to do, and if I can do it so can you. Continue reading How to: Make a wooden raised planter for your balcony (any size)
Recent Comments