Tomatoes
With enough sunlight, you can easily grow pots of cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes on your balcony. Since these plants have short, easy-to-manage stems and a high fruit-bearing capacity, you don’t need to spend too much time or effort to enjoy your very own daily harvest of delicious, home-grown tomatoes.
When growing tomatoes in pots, you can use the seed germination method from readily available fruits due to their high germination rate. Once you have seedlings, place them in a sunny spot, and within about a month, you’ll see your plants grow to a height of 20-25 cm. By the second month, your balcony tomatoes may start blooming and bearing tasty, safe fruits.
As tomatoes love water, remember to water them daily for healthy growth. However, their stems tend to be soft, so provide additional support to prevent them from toppling over during strong winds or heavy rain. Also, regularly trim any damaged or yellowing leaves to allow the plant to focus its energy on fruit production. Once your tomatoes start bearing fruit, reduce the frequency of watering and avoid overwatering to prevent root rot, leaf yellowing, and fruit drop.
Strawberries
The cool weather of autumn creates the perfect environment for growing fruiting plants like strawberries. If you’re short on space, you can easily cultivate these delicious berries on your balcony or rooftop. Not only do they make for beautiful decorations, but they’re also easy to grow and will reward you with sweet, fresh treats for your entire family.
When selecting strawberry plants, opt for those with a height between 10 and 15 cm, free of pests and diseases, and displaying healthy, even growth. Strawberries thrive in humid conditions, so a daily dose of sunlight for half a day is sufficient. Thus, place your pots in areas that receive direct sunlight for a portion of the day.
Water your strawberries twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening after the sun has set. Use clean water and avoid sources that may introduce pests or diseases to your plants. However, be careful not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot and the eventual death of your plants. For the best results, use a mixture of garden soil and nutrient-rich potting soil, as strawberries thrive in well-aerated, water-retentive soil.
Fig Trees
Fig trees thrive in sunny conditions, making them ideal for sunny spots like balconies and rooftops. In feng shui, the fig tree is also associated with abundance and wealth, which may explain its popularity as a houseplant. If you opt for smaller fig trees, they will likely start bearing fruit in their second year. However, if you’re eager for an earlier harvest, choose larger trees with more substantial roots.
Due to their love of sunlight, fig trees can remain outdoors even during the summer. Just ensure they receive adequate water and that the soil in their pots doesn’t dry out completely. For optimal growth, use well-aerated, nutrient-rich soil with excellent drainage. Additionally, you can boost the health and fruit production of your trees by incorporating compost or NPK fertilizer into their care regimen.