When I started gardening five years back, I wanted to grow my own food. But that’s not easy on a balcony. But I keep on trying. One of my favorite experiments is growing leafy greens. I have tried hydroponics, aquaponics, store-bought organic liquid fertilizer. My favorite is still aquaponics.
I will share my experience with 6 plants whose greens I love growing and eating.
Important features of these greens
They all started as seeds.
Were grown in a container
I used aquaponics
Sunlight from the east-facing balcony
Watering is done once daily
They are potted in well-aerated potting mix, with coco peat additionally
How to grow plants at home?
Have you ever wondered about growing vegetable in containers?Have you ever tried getting fresh sald greens from your kitchen garden?If this is something you like ,read on.
Basil
It grows as green lively bushes and has fragrant leaves. Takes about a year to grow. When its flowers pinch the flowers off, otherwise they become stemmy.
Lettuce:
Grows in winter and you can plant many varieties. Ready to pluck baby leaves within two to 3 weeks.
Pumpkin leaf:
Grown from ripe seeds of the pumpkin. Takes about 3 weeks to grow into a sprawling climber. You can wait for the pumpkin, but you can also eat the leaves in a mixed veggie.
Mustard greens :
Best grown in winter and early spring . The microgreens are delicious in salads and the bigger greens make for the sarson kaa sag.
Coriander:
Fresh seeds are needed to grow Coriander. Old seeds will not sprout. Homegrown coriander smell and taste perfect. In salads and vegetable side dish, there’s nothing like fresh coriander
Garlic greens
You can grow them the year around.Use them in salads, in noodles. Quick to grow and delicious to eat.
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I love this for growing greens on the balcony. We will feature your post on the next Blogger’s Pit Stop:) Thank you
Kathleen
Thanks Kathleen.I am honoured.
I have heard about aquaponics but never used it.. These are wonderful ideas espeically for space challenged people in urban areas.. Great post!
Thanks Archana
I love mustard greens! I don’t eat them as often as I should, but they are among my favorite greens.
They are delicious indeed.
WOW lettuce year round, my hubby would love that! I’ll have to give this a try! Thanks Amrita!
It’s worth a thought definitely.
Wonderful ideas.
I use hydroponics inside- right in the kitchen, so I can grab and cook!
I have a beautiful home garden and hydroponics is the way further.
Awesome post that will have more people planting and helping the earth rejuvenate itself for the healthy earth as well people! Nice now to go get some seeds and get the hydrophonics up out of the cellar!
Great tips! I’m not a good plant mother at all. So never tried this.
This is very useful! I have been growing Basil, Tulsi, Mint and Wheatgrass in my balcony for quite some time now. Would definitely try the ones you have additionally mentioned here.
Informative post, Amrita. I never knew that we can grow lettuce in our yard. I’m sure to give it a try this winter. Thank you. Happy A2Zing 🙂
I tried growing coriander from the old seeds in my kitchen and wondered why they wont grow. Well, I know now. Thanks for this very informative post. I really want to start a mini greens garden in my porch
I must try out some of these. I do have a small veg garden with a little bitter gourd, ivy gourd, spinach, and so on.