Opening Thoughts

Hello friends! Today I'd like to share with you my recent obsession with balcony gardening. You might not believe it, but I've transformed from someone who could kill even succulents into a "balcony farmer" capable of growing various vegetables and fruits. I want to share with you all the pitfalls I've encountered and the lessons I've learned along the way.

As a post-95 generation, I used to think gardening was far removed from my life. Whenever I saw my parents tending to their plants on the balcony, I found it incredibly boring. That was until one day when I came across a blogger's balcony transformation story on Xiaohongshu. The lush greenery and joy of harvest deeply attracted me. That's when I began my own gardening journey.

Essential Basics

When it comes to gardening, the most important thing is understanding your "battlefield." Just like getting to know a new friend, you need to understand their personality and habits, right?

First is the sunlight issue. My balcony faces south, with abundant sunlight—it's practically a natural greenhouse. When I first started gardening, I specifically downloaded a light meter app on my phone and measured the light intensity at different locations throughout the day. Through repeated observation and recording, I discovered that the east side of the balcony gets the best sunlight from 9 AM to 2 PM, while the west side is more suitable from 2 PM until dusk. These details may seem trivial, but they're incredibly important for plant growth.

If your balcony faces north, don't worry at all. My best friend has a north-facing balcony, and she's growing beautiful pothos, aloe vera, and snake plants. These plants aren't picky about light and are easy to maintain, making them perfect for beginners. However, if you plan to grow vegetables, most of them do need abundant sunlight—at least 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. I suggest placing test plants in different locations on your balcony and observing their growth to find the most suitable growing areas.

Regarding soil, this was something I struggled with initially. The variety of potting soils in the supermarket was overwhelming. Later, I discovered a particularly useful tip: observe the surrounding environment. For instance, the camellias in my community were thriving, and after research, I learned this indicated our soil was slightly acidic. To be more professional, I bought a soil testing meter for just a few dozen yuan that could measure pH, moisture, light, and various other data. This little device has been a huge help, allowing me to mix the most suitable soil for different plants.

My current "soil recipe" is: mixing gardening soil and leaf mold in a 3:1 ratio, then adding appropriate amounts of vermiculite and perlite. Vermiculite retains water, while perlite ensures soil aeration. I adjust the ratio for different plants. For instance, succulents prefer well-draining soil, so I add more perlite; while leafy plants like pothos need more organic matter, so I add more leaf mold.

Climate zone is also crucial. I live in the north, where winter temperatures often drop below -10°C. I learned this lesson the hard way when I first started gardening. Once, I saw a beautiful southern plant online and couldn't resist buying it, only to have it die in the first cold wave. Later, I specifically consulted experts at the local agricultural extension station and learned that we're in a temperate monsoon climate zone, where suitable plant varieties are completely different from the south.

Now, I prepare in advance for seasonal changes. In spring, as temperatures warm up, I gradually move plants outdoors to help them acclimate; before autumn cooling, I bring sensitive plants indoors early. On my balcony, I've set up a simple greenhouse to protect cold-sensitive plants during winter.

Scientific Growing Methods

Choosing the right plants can really help beginners avoid many mistakes. I remember my first time gardening, I went crazy ordering all sorts of exotic seeds on Taobao, but when they arrived, I didn't even know how to sow them, wasting quite a bit of money. After countless failures, I've developed a set of plant selection experiences suitable for beginners.

First, I recommend starting with resilient plants. Tomatoes are an excellent choice as they're adaptable and the entire process is interesting. It takes about a week from sowing to germination, and seeing the first little leaf emerge is more exciting than winning the lottery. After about a month, the small tomatoes will start to vine, and that's when you need to remember to tie them to supports. Once the little yellow flowers bloom, you'll soon see tiny green fruits. When I harvested my first home-grown tomatoes, the taste was definitely 10,000 times better than store-bought ones!

Peppers are also beginner-friendly. They germinate slightly slower than tomatoes, but once they start growing, they're like chives—you can harvest them however you want. I planted several pots of bird's eye chilies on my balcony, and just this summer I harvested several jin (Chinese pounds), completely eliminating the need to buy peppers for cooking.

If you want to see results more quickly, bean sprouts and cilantro are good choices. Bean sprouts only take 3-4 days to harvest and are very rewarding. I use mung beans, first soaking them for 12 hours, then placing them in a special sprouting box, rinsing twice daily, and soon fresh bean sprouts can be harvested. As for cilantro, while many say it's difficult to grow, it's actually not hard if you master the key points. The secret is not to sow too densely, control water well, and most importantly, have patience because it has a longer germination period.

In terms of space planning, it took several rounds of reorganization to find the optimal solution. My balcony is just 60 square meters, and when I first started planting, I just planted wherever I thought of it, resulting in chaos. Later, I had an inspiration and divided the balcony into several areas with colored rope: tall plants like corn and sunflowers along the wall; medium-height plants like tomatoes and peppers in the middle area; and short leafy vegetables in the front row.

To fully utilize vertical space, I installed several trellises on the balcony railings. This way, vining plants like cucumbers and loofah can climb up the railings, not only saving space but also serving as natural sunshades. Recently, I've been trying vertical gardening, using several multi-tier plant stands, so one rack can grow several layers of different plants, which is especially space-efficient.

Practical Tips

Seed sowing is truly a science. At first, I always sowed seeds too densely, resulting in crowded seedlings that I couldn't bear to thin out, leading to weak growth. Later, I learned a particularly useful trick: mix small seeds with fine sand in a 1:10 ratio, which ensures even distribution when sowing.

Planting depth is also crucial. Generally, the size of the seed indicates how deep it should be planted. For example, tomato seeds are about 2mm in size, so they should be planted 2mm deep. However, there are exceptions—like chive seeds, which are small but need to be planted slightly deeper, about 1cm, to grow more robustly after germination.

Now I always disinfect seeds before planting. Soaking seeds in mild salt water for 15 minutes, then rinsing thoroughly with clean water can prevent many diseases. For seeds that are difficult to germinate, I soak them in warm water or gently sand the seed coat with sandpaper to improve germination rates.

Watering is a skill I've pondered for a long time. At first, I would either over-water or under-water, either drowning the plants or letting them dry out. Later, I discovered a convenient method: punch 3-4 small holes in the bottom of empty mineral water bottles, bury them in the pots, and pour water into the bottles when watering. This way, water slowly permeates to the roots, preventing both over and under-watering.

I've also found that watering time is important. In summer, it's best to water early morning or evening, avoiding the intense midday sun, as water droplets can focus sunlight and burn the leaves. In winter, choose to water at noon when temperatures are highest to prevent root freezing. The water temperature should be close to room temperature, as water that's too cool or too warm isn't good for plants.

When it comes to fertilizing, I have quite a few secret recipes. The most common is banana peel water. Cut banana peels into small pieces and soak them in water for a week, stirring frequently. This water is rich in potassium and particularly effective in promoting flowering and fruiting. My roses especially love it, producing new buds within days after each watering.

Coffee grounds are also treasure. I save the grounds from my daily coffee, dry them, and sprinkle them directly on the soil surface. Coffee grounds not only repel insects but also improve soil structure and are rich in nitrogen, making them especially suitable for leafy vegetables. However, note that coffee grounds are acidic, so don't use too much, and they're not suitable for all plants.

Innovative Approaches

Speaking of eco-friendly gardening, I've recently become fascinated with a new practice—kitchen waste composting. I placed a special composting bin in the corner of the balcony, where I throw in vegetable leaves, fruit peels, and coffee grounds. Initially, I worried about odors, but discovered that as long as you control moisture and ventilation, there's no smell at all.

My composting recipe is: mixing green materials (like vegetable leaves and fruit peels) with brown materials (like twigs and fallen leaves) in roughly a 3:7 ratio, turning it every few days, keeping it appropriately moist but not too wet. In about two to three months, you can harvest a bin full of "black gold." This homemade organic fertilizer is not only free but also particularly suitable for plant growth, making plants thrive after use.

For pest control, I have several innovations. Besides traditional chili powder, I also plant pest-repelling plants around others. Marigolds are excellent, as they secrete a special substance that repels underground pests, plus they have beautiful flowers. Mint is also helpful, not only repelling mosquitoes but also great for making tea.

Sometimes birds come foraging, and while they're cute, they peck at fruits and tender shoots. My solution is to stick shiny plastic forks around plants or hang ribbons—animals avoid the reflections. This method is both eco-friendly and harmless to animals, plus quite creative.

Recently, I've been experimenting with hydroponic cultivation. I've used several hydroponic systems to grow lettuce and herbs. While the initial investment is higher, the harvest is very stable and clean—you can eat what you pick immediately. However, I'm still in the exploration phase with this and will share more detailed experiences once I'm more experienced.

Conclusion

Gardening is truly a healing activity. The first thing I do every morning is check on my plants, water them, remove yellow leaves, and watch them grow day by day, flower, and fruit—that sense of achievement is indescribable.

Especially at harvest time, picking your first homegrown tomato or breaking off your first cucumber brings joy beyond compare. And homegrown vegetables and fruits taste especially sweet. Most importantly, through this process, I've learned patience and gained a deeper appreciation for life.

If you want to try, why not start with a pot of cherry tomatoes? Remember, the most important thing in gardening isn't technique, but patience and love. Take it slow, and harvest day will come.

What do you think? Are you tempted to try? Feel free to share your gardening experiences in the comments—we might learn from each other. Now I look forward to getting home early every day to water and fertilize my little garden, watching it thrive. This feeling is truly magical and beautiful.