In recent years, the popularity of gardening on the balcony or in containers has been growing. Among the most desired vegetable crops is certainly paradižnik. The reason for the increasing popularity of this form of gardening is mainly its accessibility: time, cost, and the increasing tendency towards self-sufficiency also plays its part. Even if only partially.
For a balcony garden, all you need is a container and a good substrate. We are saved from muddy shoes, tilling the soil and hoeing, and weeds are much easier to control. A small space on a balcony or terrace is enough, and all of this can be a pleasant introduction to more active gardening in the future.
Gardening has thus reached urban areas in addition to rural and suburban areas. Below are some tips that have emerged after several years of gardening (also) on the terrace. Growing in pots has certain specifics that should be taken into account.
When I talk about “balcony paradižniku” we are thinking mainly of:
If paradižnik develops a strong root system in the garden, whose roots can reach quite deep and supply the plant with water even in the hot summer, this is of course not the case in a confined space.
Containers can get quite hot, especially black ones. Evaporation is greater, so special attention should be paid to watering. In warm weather, watering is usually necessary every day. A smaller container means more watering is needed. The nutrients will also be depleted faster. Therefore, choose a larger container if possible.
Any unused space can always be used for basil, some lettuce seedlings, and other herbs or spices. Of course, all containers should have a base to retain moisture.
When growing vegetables in containers, mulch for the purpose of moisture retention and soil protection, crucial. We can use mowed grass, straw or decorative bark.
The mulch gradually breaks down and becomes thinner, so it makes sense to re-apply it after a certain period of time. When the substrate is covered with mulch, it is more difficult to assess the humidity and water needs. This can be easily assessed with your finger. After a week or so of practice, it will be easier to assess the need for watering even without it.
Decorative bark is available in stores in a variety of colors. It may contain artificial dyes that leach into the soil over time. It is better to use natural, uncolored chips.
Provide tomatoes in pots with a nutrient-rich substrate: only in this way will they be able to fulfill their growth and fruiting potential. We recommend purchasing a quality substrate that retains moisture and nutrients well., although they are a bit more expensive, the investment is quickly repaid. We recommend adding mature manure or other organic fertilizers.
If you only provide substrate for paradižniku in a container, without adding manure, it is important to fertilize the soil with a dedicated liquid fertilizer for fruit plants throughout the season. Otherwise, the soil will quickly become depleted of nutrients, and growth and fertility will be reduced.
Diameter and depth of the container 15-20 cm
Such small containers are only intended for “micro” varieties, such as: Micro Tom, Micro Gemma, Hahm's Gelbe Topftomate. With such a small container, extra attention to watering is especially welcome.
Diameter and depth of the bowl 30 cm
The container will be sufficient for most so-called balcony varieties: Gold Nugget, Green Sausage, Koralik, Tumbling Tom Red, Tumbling Tom Yellow, Venus, …
Diameter and depth of the container 40 cm and more
Such a container can be used for practically all paradižnika varieties, even those that are traditionally placed in the garden.
When growing paradižnika seedlings, it often happens that the plants germinate, but quickly become long, thin and weak. This phenomenon is called stretched seedlings. At first glance, it may not seem serious, but such seedlings later: –
Once your paradižnika, pepper or chili seedlings have sprouted, the next important step soon comes – transplanting or picking the seedlings. Many gardeners skip this step or do it too late, which can affect the growth of the plants and the final yield.