c/balcony-vegetable-gardens

Remember when everyone said to use deep pots for tomatoes?

I started my balcony garden in 2019 with two tomato plants in huge, heavy pots. They barely produced anything. Last year, I switched to a compact determinate variety called 'Tiny Tim' in a standard 12-inch pot, and I got more fruit than I could eat! I think a lot of people still push for big containers without considering the plant type. Has anyone else had better luck with smaller plants in smaller spaces?

Warning: My balcony tomatoes needed way more water than I ever guessed

I read a fact from a local gardening group that a single tomato plant in a container can drink over a gallon of water on a hot summer day. I found this out after my plants in Chicago wilted badly last July, even though I was watering them every morning. I started measuring with a gallon jug and sure enough, they were finishing it all by the afternoon. It completely changed my routine from one small watering can to two big ones split between morning and evening. Has anyone else had to double their watering for pots on a sunny, windy balcony?

My tomato plants were a mess until I switched up my watering game

For the first two years on my west-facing balcony, I'd just give my tomatoes a quick splash from a watering can every evening. They grew, but they were always a bit sad and I'd get maybe a dozen cherry tomatoes total. Last spring, after the third plant got blossom end rot, my friend in Tucson, who grows amazing peppers, told me to try deep watering. So I got a cheap plastic bottle, poked a few holes in the cap, and buried it neck-down next to each plant. Now I fill those bottles up twice a week, and the water goes straight down to the roots. The difference is crazy. The plants are way bushier, no more rot, and I'm picking handfuls every few days. It's like they were just thirsty the whole time. Has anyone else tried something like this with bigger pots, maybe for peppers or eggplants?

My balcony lettuce forced me to choose between more plants or a chair

I had a 3-foot space left and picked a second planter box over keeping my little stool. Got a whole extra harvest of buttercrunch before it got too hot. Anyone try those compact stacking planters to save floor space?

My balcony peppers thrived after I started saving eggshells

Crushed eggshells in the soil made my peppers grow twice as big.

I grab fallen seeds from city gardens for my balcony starts.

Call it URBAN foraging, not theft, when seeds are on the ground.

Flowers with veggies on my balcony. Worth it or waste of space?

Setting up my balcony garden. Some say add flowers for looks, others say focus only on veggies. What's your take on decorating a small grow space?

Self-watering pot overflow is killing my balcony lettuce

I bought these self-watering containers for my balcony garden, but the water reservoir overflows every time it rains. My lettuce plants are turning yellow and soggy from too much water. I expected an easier watering system, but now I'm dealing with a mess. Has anyone found a fix for this or recommend better containers?

Rant: My balcony zucchini is all bloom and no fruit

I'm considering taking up a new hobby as a pollinator.

I used to stress over reports, now I just worry about aphids on my peppers.

My balcony tomatoes improved after I stopped fertilizing weekly.

I thought more food meant more fruit, but they got tall and thin. Now I feed them every other week, and they're strong with lots of flowers.

Showerthought: Found an old pic of my dad's balcony tomatoes

I was sorting through some boxes and saw a photo of my dad's balcony from when I was a kid. He grew tomatoes in old coffee cans with holes poked in the bottom. Now, I have fancy self-watering pots and watch videos to fix every little leaf spot. It's funny how we both wanted fresh veggies but did it so different. Back then, he just winged it and still got a few good salads. I spend more time planning but maybe miss that simple joy. How have your balcony garden habits changed from past to present?

Big pot tips ruin small balcony grows

Most veggie guides push for deep containers that take up all my floor space. My tomatoes got rootbound and died last season because I listened. It's time advice matched our actual setup.

My balcony tomatoes are causing a bee scare with my neighbor

My cherry tomatoes bring in lots of bees, but my neighbor has a bad allergy and is really worried. I'm torn between growing my own food and keeping the peace next door. How do you handle stuff like this?