How to Grow Tomatoes on a Balcony: My Small Garden Update #2
If you would like to grow your own veggies but don't know where to start, growing a tomato plant is one of the easiest ways to start.
Read my previous blog post on gardening to see how I started. A lot has changed in my small balcony garden since the last update. Let's start gardening while the growing season still lasts!
A Cheap Start with Cherry Tomatoes
In May, I started growing cherry tomatoes on my small balcony. I found some small tomato plants in plastic pots for a super cheap price at my local market, and they already had some tiny tomatoes growing!
I took them home, checked the bottom, and saw that they already had roots coming out, so I repotted them in a bigger pot immediately. Since a month ago, I have managed to harvest a few tomatoes every week, and new ones are growing all the time!
I am dehydrating all ripe tomatoes that are harvested, and I'm in the process of making sun-dried tomatoes from scratch. 🍅
Growing Tomatoes from Seed
Aside from the ready-to-plant cherry tomatoes, I also ordered heirloom tomato seeds.
The first thing I did was use a DIY seed tray (egg carton) and plant seeds to grow tomato seedlings in garden soil covered in plastic. I sprayed the plastic every day to accelerate germination, and I let tomato seedlings grow under direct sunlight.
Once they were sturdy enough, I transferred each tomato seedling to containers with drainage holes to provide good drainage to drain excess water. This minimized the risk of root rot and allowed the plants to develop strong roots.
Tomato Fruit - Growing Conditions for Maximum Production
I used small sticks to provide extra support and manage the plant's growth. In the future, I plan to get tomato cages for even more support. Good soil is also important. I ordered potting soil online and have been using it for both my veggies and indoor plants.
To give these heavy feeders essential nutrients, I put leftover banana peels in a watering can (put banana peels inside of the fruit bag to prevent clogging the watering can!) for 24 hours and water it thoroughly once a week.
Banana peel releases nutrients like potassium and calcium into the water and becomes an inexpensive, homemade liquid fertilizer.
And one last thing: be sure that your balcony, small garden, or even your window (if growing inside) faces south to get as many hours of sunlight as possible. Usually, plants like warm temperatures; that is not the case where I live, but they still grow a lot, so do not feel discouraged by the windy conditions or lower temperatures!
Rest of my Outdoor Space Balcony Garden
My balcony garden is not just limited to tomatoes. I've also planted zucchini, basil, carrots, bell peppers and strawberries. For now, all thrive in container gardening:
Zucchini: I planted it in planting bags to give it space to grow. It loves lots of sun and regular watering, and it grows like crazy!
Basil thrives in a smaller pot with good drainage and frequent sun exposure. I bought it from the grocery store and repotted it immediately.
Carrots: They are still super small but could already be repotted in bigger containers to give them space to grow.
Bell Peppers: My mom gave me this tip: Plant a few seedlings next to each other, as they like to "compete." This will make them grow faster!
Strawberries: I had so many strawberries ready to harvest, but I was not the one who harvested them, those dang birds. 🤡
Conclusion
Overall, my balcony garden is doing wonderfully, and starting with tomatoes has been the right choice. Seeing those little cherry tomatoes grow has been so rewarding and encouraging for me!
I find them to be low maintenance, but they again give so much in return.
Gardening can still be incredibly fulfilling, even if you have small spaces in your apartment. With the right techniques and care, you can achieve the best results and enjoy a variety of fresh produce.
I hope my journey inspires you to start your own balcony garden and experience the joy of homegrown vegetables and herbs. Good luck!