Balcony Gardening

I've grown lots of things on my little balcony: small trees, berries, lilies, shade-loving perennials and lots of garden center annuals. I wanted to be able to sit on my balcony and be surrounded by plant life. I wasn't too particular about what i was growing as long as it was big and bushy. It takes a lot of sunshine to grow most vegetables and even those that can tolerate a bit of shade will not grow well if at all with lots of it. If your balcony is deeply shaded and you have a desire to grow herbs and vegetables, you will need to seek out an alternative growing space. Find a plot in a community garden. Convince your landlord or condo board to let you garden a patch of the yard. Or find a friend or relatives open to the idea of you setting up a small garden on their property in exchange for some of your harvest. When I think of balcony gardens, the first thing that comes to mind is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Flowers, vegetables, and herbs cascading over railings softening hard angles and providing food to both the gardener and bees. This is how the mind of a gardener works. Dismissing the minor obstacle of space or aspect, a gardener can envision and create a beautiful space with selected plants and a bit of dirt. The balcony garden can be as big or as small as the mind of the gardener, or the size the space permits. It can range from a few railing baskets to multiple pots and vertical gardens covering every inch of wall space. If you share the gardener's creative mind but are new to the concept, the following steps will ensure a great start to beautifying your space. How do you start a garden in an apartment or condo? If you have access to a balcony, rooftop, terrace, or patio, you can grow a wide range of veggies, herbs, perennials, flowers, and vines in containers.