A blog post about the importance of Gardening and how it can help support your mental health and wellbeing. In this blog post we’re going to talk about the topics covered in the podcast episode 47 with Alex from Alex Penelope Art.
Trigger Warning: This episode and post mentions the topic of baby loss.
Did you know that there is a profound connection between nature and mental health? In this post, and the accompanying podcast episode I want to share with you the benefits of gardening and how it can help you mentally and physically. In the podcast episode – Ep. 47: Roots of Wellbeing: Unearthing the Mental Health Benefits of Gardening I was joined by Alex, an allotment gardener just like me and a passionate advocate for the mental health benefits of gardening. Be sure to check out the episode by searching for The Slow Living Collective wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Get ready to unearth the transformative power of cultivating a green thumb and discover how gardening can nurture not just plants, but also our own wellbeing. Now, let’s explore some of the mental health benefits of gardening in more detail.
Stress Relief and Relaxation
One of the most significant benefits of gardening is its ability to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Engaging in gardening activities, such as planting, weeding, and pruning, allows us to disconnect from the pressures of daily life and immerse ourselves in the present moment. The rhythmic and repetitive nature of these tasks creates a sense of mindfulness, helping to calm the mind, reduce anxiety, and restore inner balance.
Nurturing a Sense of Purpose and Accomplishment
Gardening provides us with a tangible sense of purpose and accomplishment. As we plant seeds or care for young plants, we become custodians of life, fostering growth and vitality. Witnessing the transformation of a tiny seedling into a thriving plant can be immensely fulfilling, boosting self-esteem and instilling a sense of pride and achievement.
Connection with Nature
In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, many of us have become disconnected from the natural world. Living seasonally is something that is embedded into our very make up, but modern society has almost encouraged us to push this aside. But those natural instincts are still there, all we need to do is remember how to tap back into them.
Gardening offers an opportunity to reconnect with nature in a meaningful way. Spending time outdoors, feeling the soil in our hands, and observing the cycle of growth and renewal awakens our senses and grounds us in the present. This connection with nature has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety while fostering a greater appreciation for the beauty and resilience of the natural world.
Mindfulness and Mental Clarity
Engaging in gardening requires focus and attention to detail, which naturally leads to a state of mindfulness. The act of nurturing plants demands our full presence, allowing us to temporarily set aside worries and distractions. We are, when we are in our gardens undertaking tasks, present in the moment. This state of heightened awareness in the garden can bring mental clarity, improve concentration, and promote a sense of calm and inner peace.
Physical Exercise and Wellbeing
Gardening is not just beneficial for our mental health; it also contributes to our physical well-being. The various tasks involved in gardening, such as digging, lifting, and bending, provide a low-impact form of exercise that can improve strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. Regular physical activity in the garden has been associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases, increased energy levels, and improved overall fitness.
Community and Social Connection
Gardening has a remarkable ability to bring people together. Whether it’s participating in a community garden or simply sharing gardening tips and experiences with friends and neighbour’s, cultivating plants can foster social connections and a sense of belonging. Engaging in gardening as a group activity provides opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and a support network that promotes overall wellbeing.
Gardening is a powerful tool for nurturing both plants and our own mental health. As we have discovered through our conversation with Alex on the podcast, cultivating a green thumb can lead to reduced stress, enhanced wellbeing, and a profound sense of connection with nature. These things can help you move through some of the difficult times as Alex discussed in our episode.
Whether you have acres of land or just a few pots on a windowsill, gardening offers a fulfilling and accessible way to improve your mental health. So, grab a trowel, get your hands dirty, and embark on your own gardening journey. Whether you’re growing flowers, herbs, or vegetables, remember that the process itself is just as important as the end result. Take time to appreciate the beauty of nature, be present in the moment, and savor the joys of nurturing life.
Embrace the therapeutic power of gardening and let nature’s gentle embrace guide you towards a healthier, happier, and more grounded state of mind. Remember, our roots are not just in the soil but also in the connections we forge with the natural world. So, let’s continue to cultivate our well-being through the transformative practice of gardening.
A blog post about the importance of growing, harvesting and eating your own homegrown produce. Shownotes for episode 43 of The Slow Living Collective Podcast – From Plot to Plate: The Pleasures of Harvesting and Eating Homegrown Produce.
There is a special kind of joy that comes from growing your own food, tending to plants with care, and eventually harvesting the fruits (or vegetables) of your labour. From plot to plate, the journey of homegrown produce is not only rewarding but also brings a deep connection to nature, a sense of self-sufficiency, and the ultimate satisfaction of enjoying the freshest and most flavorful ingredients. In this blog post, we will explore the many pleasures of harvesting and eating homegrown produce, from the physical and mental benefits to the delectable dishes that can be created from your very own garden.
I want to share with you further, through this post but also in this podcast episode, way’s in which growing your own produce goes far beyond the actual growing and how it might be something you want to try.
Or search for The Slow Living Collective wherever you listen to your podcasts.
The Joy of Growing
There’s something undeniably enchanting and awe-inspiring about the journey of a tiny seed transforming into a thriving plant, bearing the fruits of our labour and nourishing our bodies when it reaches our table. It is like witnessing this miracle unfold before our eyes which allows us to connect with the natural world on a deeper and more profound level. It evokes a sense of wonder and deep appreciation for the intricate cycles of life and the remarkable wonders of nature, and it also allows us to really view our place in the ecosystem more acutely. As we carefully nurture and tend to these plants, we become active participants in their growth and development, experiencing firsthand the sheer power and resilience of the botanical world. It’s a humbling reminder that life, in all its forms, is intricate. Through this process, we not only cultivate a deeper understanding of the natural world but also foster a profound respect for the life-giving forces that sustain us. Whether it’s the first tender shoots emerging from the soil or the luscious fruits ripening on the vine, each stage of growth brings a sense of anticipation, joy, and fulfillment, as we witness the magic of nature unfolding right before our eyes.
Health and Nutrition of Homegrown Produce
If there is something you should know about me it’s this: I am passionate about wellbeing and I approach it as holistically as possible. Homegrown produce is a true treasure trove of nutritional goodness, offering an unparalleled level of nourishment for your body. By growing your own food, you gain full control over the cultivation process, including the choice not to use fertilisers and pesticides (in our case – we’re passionate about what’s in our food). This means instead we opt for organic and natural methods, steering clear of harmful chemicals and synthetic substances that unfortunately is often present in store-bought produce (unless you purchase organic). The result is fresh, vibrant, and nutrient-rich ingredients that contribute to your overall well-being.
One of the significant advantages of homegrown produce is its freshness. By harvesting fruits and vegetables straight from your garden, you can enjoy them at their peak ripeness, ensuring optimal nutrient content. And who doesn’t love that feeling of getting those veggies from your veggie patch and into your plate in a minimal amount of time? Vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants start to decline in produce soon after harvest, so consuming homegrown varieties allows you to maximise your nutrient intake far more than you could from their shop-bought counterparts. This influx of essential nutrients can have a profound impact on your health.
Homegrown produce is teeming with vitamins and minerals essential for your body’s proper functioning. Fruits and vegetables such as kale, spinach, and berries are rich in antioxidants, which help combat oxidative stress and protect your cells from damage. They also contain high levels of vitamins A, C, and E, which support immune function, promote healthy skin, and aid in cellular repair.
Furthermore, homegrown produce can be a fantastic source of dietary fibre. Fibre plays a crucial role in digestion, helping to regulate bowel movements and maintain a healthy gut. It can also assist in managing weight by promoting feelings of fullness and preventing overeating. With homegrown fruits and vegetables, you can easily increase your daily fiber intake and promote digestive health.
In addition to vitamins, minerals, and fibre, homegrown produce often has a higher nutrient density compared to store-bought varieties. Factors such as soil quality, proper irrigation, and harvesting at the right time contribute to the concentration of nutrients in homegrown plants. This means that the same-sized portion of homegrown produce can provide more nutrients than its commercially grown counterparts, maximizing the health benefits you receive from each bite.
Not only does homegrown produce offer an abundance of essential nutrients, but it also encourages a healthier overall lifestyle. The process of tending to your garden promotes physical activity, relaxation, and stress reduction, all of which contribute to better overall well-being. Additionally, the act of growing your own food fosters a deeper connection to nature, bringing you closer to the source of your sustenance and encouraging a greater appreciation for the natural world.
Homegrown produce is a powerhouse of health benefits, offering unparalleled nutritional value. By growing your own food, you have control over the fertilizers and pesticides used, allowing you to ensure that your harvest is fresh, organic, and free from harmful substances. The vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber found in homegrown fruits and vegetables provide a multitude of benefits, from boosting your immune system to supporting proper digestion and promoting overall wellness. So, embrace the joy of cultivating your own garden and reap the incredible health rewards that homegrown produce has to offer.
Connection to the Seasons
If there is something I am passionate about it’s living seasonally and connecting with the seasons. I truly believe we haven’t lost the ability to live to the seasons like our ancestors did, we just need to tap into it a little more. It’s there, and in modern society we naturally still feel those ebbs and flows of the seasons, even if we don’t realise quite what that is. When you embark on the journey of growing your own food, a beautiful and profound connection with the changing seasons is forged. You become acutely attuned to the rhythm of nature and how it influences the growth and development of different crops. Each season brings its own distinctive palette of colors and flavors, offering a diverse and exciting array of produce to savour.
In the spring, as nature awakens from its winter slumber, vibrant greens emerge in abundance. Tender lettuce leaves, crisp asparagus, and delicate herbs grace our gardens and plates, signaling the renewal of life. These fresh and lively ingredients invigorate our meals, providing a burst of vitality after the cold winter months.
As summer arrives, the sun’s warmth intensifies, bringing forth a bountiful harvest of succulent tomatoes, juicy berries, and an assortment of vibrant vegetables. The flavours are robust, the colours are vibrant, and the aromas are intoxicating. It is a time of abundance and culinary exploration, as we embrace the fullness of summer’s offerings and celebrate the natural sweetness and tanginess that the season bestows upon our homegrown produce.
With the arrival of autumn, the focus shifts to the earthy and comforting flavors of root vegetables, squashes, and hearty greens. As the days grow shorter and cooler, we turn to warm soups, roasted vegetables, and comforting casseroles made with the harvest of our own gardens. The autumn harvest represents a time of grounding and nourishment, as we gather the last of nature’s gifts before winter’s arrival.
Eating with the seasons not only satisfies our taste buds but also has ecological and environmental benefits. When we consume foods that are in season, we support local ecosystems by reducing the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation. Eating locally grown, seasonal produce also allows us to reconnect with our local farmers and support sustainable agricultural practices.
Moreover, aligning our diets with the seasons allows us to appreciate the natural rhythms and cycles of life. It reconnects us to the earth’s cycles and reminds us of our interconnectedness with the environment. As we savor the flavors of each season, we become more mindful of the abundance and beauty that nature provides.
Growing your own food brings a heightened awareness of the changing seasons and their impact on different crops. The vibrant colours of spring, the luscious abundance of summer, and the grounding flavors of autumn each offer a unique and delicious harvest. By eating with the seasons, we not only support local ecosystems and reduce our carbon footprint, but we also re-establish a deeper connection with the natural world and savour the diverse flavors and nourishment that each season brings.
Tasting the Difference in homegrown produce
Nothing can quite match the sheer delight of biting into a piece of freshly picked, sun-ripened produce. Homegrown fruits and vegetables have a distinct advantage over their store-bought counterparts: they are harvested at their peak, resulting in an explosion of flavor that tantalises the taste buds and offers a truly remarkable sensory experience. Have your ever bitten into a homegrown tomato and the flavour just floors you? Last year we grew an abundance of tomatoes on the plot and the results were incredible. The flavour, the taste, everything was just incredible. I had tasted nothing like it before. It is a taste that cannot be replicated by the produce found on supermarket shelves, which often pale in comparison to the lusciousness of homegrown varieties.
The beauty of homegrown produce lies not only in its superior taste but also in its ability to offer a diverse range of flavours. Commercially grown fruits and vegetables are often bred for their ability to withstand long-distance transportation and prolonged shelf life, sacrificing flavor along the way. In contrast, homegrown varieties can be selected for taste, allowing for a wider range of heirloom, heritage, and unique cultivars that pack a punch of flavour.
Beyond the taste itself, the act of growing your own food adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the eating experience. The anticipation of waiting for a fruit or vegetable to ripen, the fulfillment of plucking it from the plant, and the satisfaction of knowing you played a role in its growth all contribute to the overall pleasure. There is a deep sense of pride and connection that accompanies consuming something you nurtured from seed to table.
The taste of homegrown produce is simply unmatched. The sweetness, the juiciness, and the distinct flavors of freshly picked, sun-ripened fruits and vegetables are a testament to nature’s bounty. From the explosion of flavor in each bite to the vibrant sensory experience, homegrown produce offers a culinary adventure that store-bought varieties cannot replicate.
Creativity in the Kitchen
Homegrown produce not only nourishes the body but also ignites a creative spark in the kitchen, opening up a world of culinary possibilities. The abundance of your garden serves as a wellspring of inspiration, enticing you to explore new recipes, experiment with flavors, and embark on gastronomic adventures.
With a bounty of homegrown ingredients at your fingertips, you can create dishes that truly showcase the unique taste and freshness of your harvest. A simple salad becomes a symphony of flavours when adorned with vibrant, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant herbs—all straight from your garden. The freshness and quality of homegrown produce elevate even the simplest of dishes, allowing the ingredients to shine and tantalise your taste buds.
As you delve deeper into the culinary realm, you’ll find that your garden offers a treasure trove of possibilities. Freshly picked vegetables can be transformed into delectable stir-fries, hearty soups, or savoury roasted dishes.
Moreover, the satisfaction of preparing and savoring a dish made entirely from your garden is unmatched. The connection you forge with your food—from seed to plate—creates a profound sense of fulfillment and joy. Each ingredient tells a story, reflecting the care, effort, and love you invested in nurturing your garden. There is a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for the flavours and nourishment that nature provides.
Additionally, homegrown produce allows you to explore heirloom and unique varieties that may not be readily available in grocery stores. This opens up a world of flavors and culinary experiences that you might not have encountered otherwise. Discovering the intricate sweetness of a purple heirloom tomato, the earthy notes of a heritage carrot, or the delicate spice of a specialty pepper can be a revelation for your taste buds, sparking creativity and curiosity in the kitchen.
By embracing the culinary possibilities of your garden, you not only expand your culinary repertoire but also develop a deeper appreciation for the connection between food, nature, and the art of cooking. The process of harvesting, preparing, and savoring a meal made entirely from your own garden is a transformative experience. It connects you to the land, nourishes your body and soul, and fills your kitchen with the aromas of pure delight.
Homegrown produce opens up a world of culinary possibilities, allowing you to explore new flavours, experiment with recipes, and create meals that showcase the unique taste and freshness of your garden’s harvest. From simple salads to complex dishes, the abundance of your garden invites you to embark on a culinary adventure like no other. The satisfaction derived from preparing and savouring a meal made entirely from your homegrown ingredients is unparalleled. So, let your garden be your inspiration and relish the joy of creating culinary masterpieces that celebrate the flavors of your harvest.
From the thrill of nurturing plants to the joy of savouring the flavours of your own harvest, the journey from plot to plate is a gratifying and enriching experience. Growing your own food not only provides a deeper connection to nature but also offers numerous health benefits and the chance to explore your culinary creativity. Whether you have a sprawling garden or just a few pots on a balcony, the pleasures of homegrown produce are accessible to everyone willing to embrace the magic of cultivating their own food. So, roll up your sleeves, dig into the soil, and embark on a fulfilling journey from plot to plate.
Don’t let the small size of your balcony keep you from growing your own vegetables and trying balcony gardening. In this post we will show you the best vegetables to grow on a balcony, how to prepare your balcony for a vegetable garden, and what kind of maintenance you need to do to ensure your balcony garden is productive and healthy.
If you live in a flat or apartment with limited outdoor space, you don’t have to settle for a bland or boring balcony. Transform your balcony into a vibrant oasis and grow your own vegetables with balcony gardening! Balcony gardening is easy and efficient, allowing you to fill your balcony with delicious fruits and vegetables in no time. In this article, you’ll learn about the basics of balcony gardening, from choosing the right plants to creating a secure and efficient setup. Plus, we’ll share some great tips and tricks to help you get started and make the most of your balcony garden. With some creativity, commitment and a little bit of know-how, you can create a balcony garden that you can be proud of.
Welcome to my balcony garden
Gardening can be a fun, rewarding activity for those looking to get started growing their own vegetables. Balcony gardens are a great way to optimise the space you have, especially in cities, flats and apartments. Growing your own food is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint and add fresh organic produce to your diet.
It’s hard to imagine that you can grow much on a balcony to make a difference, but you absolutely can. Every single piece of produce you are able to grow can go some way towards helping to feed your family. While you might not be able to achieve self-sufficiency on a balcony alone, I think you will be surprised to find out just how much is possible in a small balcony space.
This post will provide step-by-step instructions on how to design and maintain a successful balcony garden.
Selecting the Perfect Pots: What to Look for in Containers and Pots
When it comes to selecting the perfect pots for your balcony garden, the possibilities are practically endless. You can choose from a wide variety of materials, sizes, shapes, and colours to make your balcony come alive. I am a big fan of making my balcony as colourful as possible too, so all the thumbs up here for anything that brings colour to my little oasis.
You can consider going for terracotta planters that are both classic and elegant, plastic planters for those on a budget, or wooden planters if you want to add texture and richness to your outdoor space. You can also choose to mix different materials and create a unique look that reflects your individual style.
There are so many different kinds of containers and pots that you can use when gardening in a small space, such as a balcony, so let me share what has worked for me.
Hanging pots:
Utilising the space I have on the balcony has always been a huge deal to me so the pots that you can hang over your balcony, either outwards or inwards, have been great for me. These pots enable you to grow a decent amount of produce and/or plants and utilise the space you have available. Our balcony construction includes a metal railing which means I can hang these pots over the top rail but also lower too, almost creating a wall of produce. These rattan planters also work great on a balcony too.
Obviously the pots that are lower are more shaded so it’s worth rotating these to ensure everything gets adequate sunlight, or plant produce that doesn’t need as much sun lower down.
Large floor pots:
As well as utilising the upward space on our balcony I also ensure the floor space is used as well and for that I use a multitude of larger pots that I have gathered over the years. When it comes to things on the floor I always make sure I stand it in some kind of container or saucer to ensure I catch any water upon watering. These saucers are great to stick under any pot with holes to catch the excess. This not only helps the roots soak up water when it needs to but ensure that any water doesn’t drip off the edge of the balcony onto our neighbours below. Trust me, I accidentally watered my neighbour once!
Plant Selection: Choosing the Right Plants for Your Balcony Garden
When it comes to what you can grow in your balcony garden I always like to say that the sky is the limit. Honestly, I really don’t love the idea of limiting myself when it comes to what you can grow in a small space. While it might not be possible to grow everything, and maybe not in the volume that you might do in a ground garden, I think you will be surprised to realise there is so much you can do in a small space.
My favourite things to grow on our balcony have to be herbs and I opt to grow these on our balcony over at our allotment, mainly because of their location to our kitchen. I love to be able to pull herbs from a plant and be able to put them straight into whatever we are cooking. This wouldn’t be so easy if we were bringing it home from the allotment. If you’re growing on balcony you might find herbs a great starter crop. You can utilise the idea of a kitchen garden and you will be able to create delicious meals with the freshest of fresh ingredients.
The salad garden is another great option for balcony gardening and can include things like lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes. Tomatoes are great to grow in pots and on patios, in fact you will find that there are varieties which work better than others. Small cherry tomato varieties are a great option for balcony gardens and whether you purchase plants or grow from seed these are perfect to pick fresh and pop in your salad.
I have also had great success with lettuce, both little gem and salad bowl leaves. These can work great in containers and have used hanging container pots to grow mine.
Cucumbers are also good, especially if like me you have a south-facing balcony because cucumbers really like the heat. I always seem to find cucumbers a little finicky to grow from seed, as gardeners we all have our one nemesis and cucumbers are mine. However, I am determined to keep trying. All you need for a cucumber plant on your balcony is patience, time, the ability to water it enough but not too much and then also some trellis or a bamboo cane to tie it too.
Other vegetables I have grown successfully on my balcony include: Peppers, Pea’s, Beetroot, Radishes, Runner Beans and Potatoes.
If there is one fruit plant that is absolutely perfect for balcony gardening it is the mighty strawberry. I love growing strawberries on my balcony and it’s definitely something I do year after year. If you do nothing else on a balcony, strawberries are a wonderful addition and also a great way to start learning how to garden on your balcony. If you want to try more fruit on the balcony other than strawberries check out some patio fruit trees and see if you can find something small that will work for you.
Balcony Garden Maintenance: Tips and Tricks to Keeping Your Plants Healthy
Keeping your plants healthy on a balcony is much the same as in a regular garden, with a few minor adjustments. In order to keep your plants in top condition, it’s important to give them the care they need. Make sure to water them regularly, and this is especially important on a balcony. Plants that grow in plots can dry out much quicker than those in the ground because they are unable to reach their roots further for water. Therefore it is important to keep your balcony plants watered.
Also, it is important to use the right type of soil for optimal growth. Prune them when necessary, and always use gloves when doing so to protect your hands and the leaves of the plants. Monitor for any pests and use natural methods to get rid of them whenever possible. Make sure to give your plants adequate sunlight but be sure to monitor whether they are in direct sunlight all day and take care of accordingly.
Finally, don’t forget to fertilize your plants to provide them with the nutrients they need to thrive. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to keep your beloved balcony plants looking healthy and vibrant all year round.
Creative Solutions: Ideas for Making the Most of Your Balcony Garden
When it comes to creating your own little garden paradise on your balcony there are many ways you can make the most out of it. Space is obviously at a premium when it comes to growing on the balcony and if you’re anything like me you will want to balance using the space for growing, space for the kids to play and also space for you to enjoy. Here are a few tips for making the most out of the space you have when it comes to growing.
Use vertical space where possible.
Containers on the floor in dishes.
Be sure to keep everything hydrated.
Only plant things that you know you like and will eat. Space is at a premium.
Get yourself a chair and be sure to sit out there and enjoy it all growing around you.
Growing a balcony garden is a great way to be creative, sustainable, and to reap the rewards of fresh vegetables. Balcony gardens can be tailored to whatever space or budget constraints you have, and require just a bit of effort to maintain. Remember to keep in mind the size and weight of the pots you choose, select plants that will bring sun and shade to the space, maintain the plants regularly, and think outside the box for creative solutions. With these tips and tricks for balcony gardening, you can have a beautiful and bountiful garden in no time.
If you’re looking to get inspiration for your own balcony garden, share your gardening successes, or simply find out more about starting a balcony garden, come and follow me over on Instagram where I share my balcony and allotment gardening, and let’s start growing together.
It’s that time, actually, it’s almost past that time, when you can start growing luffas. Luffa’s need a long growing season so if you’re wanting to grow some this year I recommend getting started with your seeds as quickly as humanly possible.
Luffa’s (or Loofahs) are grown from seed and are akin to courgettes. To grow the loofah sponges we all know and love, they need a lot of warmth and a long, long growing season, whereby they will eventually dry out and can be harvested for use around the home, whether that be in personal care, cleaning, washing up, etc.
This year I have been able to germinate many Luffa seeds. They are currently residing in my bathroom, and have had around a 90% germination rate. Luffas can feel like a big deal, being harder to germinate, need a warm temperature inside, not being able to be planted out until June realistically (and I am in the south, so things might even be different where you are).
I want to come on and share a few simple tips as to how I am doing my Luffa’s this year, how I germinated them and how I am growing them on, with the hope of having a great crop this year.
Germinating my Luffa seeds
This year I bought my Luffa seeds but I am hoping, all being well with this year’s plants, that for next year I will be able to harvest the seeds when I harvest this years sponges, perpetually giving me seeds which I can use.
This year I tried a method which I had heard about (I cannot remember where though) whereby you trim the bottom (smooth end) of the seeds, place them in a wet paper towel and keep them warm (I put them on the shelf above my radiator) and leave them a few days/around a week, and they will start to germinate. You can then pot them into some compost, keep them watered, warm and definitely inside and all being well your newly germinated Luffa should start to emerge.
It’s really simple to get started with Luffa’s, and although they are quite temperamental (they need to be kept warm, they don’t go outside until at least the beginning of summer and they take the entire growing season to grow and harvest) with a few easy tips you can’t start them off.
Because they need a long growing season, if you haven’t started them yet (early April) they you are going to want to get them done asap. Like I mentioned, they need a really long season to grow and dry out, but also need the warmth, so you need to be able to give them maximum growing time. If you don’t get them started by mid April then I would probably just wait until next year.
Easy tips for easily germinating your Luffa’s
Take your seeds and on the smooth, rounded end you will want to clip them with some nail clippers, this will help them germinate and helps them grow out of their hard seed casing.
Take some paper towels/kitchen roll and wet.
Place the seeds wrapped in the wet paper towel and place inside a plastic bag (LFT bags work well if you have any leftover, as do sandwich bags. Anything to create a greenhouse kind of effect.
Place in a warm spot (they love heat, so around/above radiators works great.
Leave them a few days/a week to germinate.
When germinated, place them into some peat free compost in a pot. Keep watered and warm, with plenty of light.
Don’t move outside until summer. Harden before leaving outside full time.
If you’re growing Luffa’s this year, how are yours going?
When we took over the plot in October 2021 there was so much to do, the plot itself looked fairly easy as it had been used for growing the previous season and wasn’t completely overgrown, but I soon realised to get it into shape for the current growing season there was a lot I would need to do. We’ve had a solid, productive winter as we cleared the ground, moved our double compost heap, laid out some beds and started to landscape it. These are jobs that (hopefully) only need doing once, so we made sure we made the most of the winter in order to get everything we needed ready for spring.
Beautiful blossoms on the plotCoffee overlooking the plotThe plot at golden hour
Finishing off the plot
Like I said, we achieved so much through the winter in regards to transforming our plot into the workable plot we have now. It’s by no means done but it is slowly getting there. When the hope of spring rolled around as March hit we decided it was time to prepare ourselves for the coming season.
Some of the jobs we did on the plot in March include:
Moving our bean poles and re-erecting them reading for growing our first runner beans.
Laid our shed base – we went for an eco base with pea gravel.
Scored a free 6×4 shed + paid £50 for a smaller storage shed.
Laid weed membrane and play grade wood chip for an area for the kids to play.
A good friend of mine, in clearing her garden, had loads of new and older strawberry plants that she wanted to clear and asked if I wanted some. Of course, always open to more produce I emphatically said yes and rehomed around sixteen plants. Our plot neighbours also gave us 6 plants as a welcome to the allotment kind of gift that I have planted in an old bucket there.
Up on the balcony, I have 7 plants that I have had for the past 5 years, they stopped fruiting last year but gave me 5 runners, which have been overwintering in my mum’s greenhouse. I have decided, with those older plants to see if they will do another season and possibly give me some more runners this coming season. I have repotted them and so far seeing some early signs of life, so stay tuned to see what they do this year. The 5 runner plants are doing amazing and I have recently bought them home to my own greenhouse before planting them out. With the current cold snap, although I am sure they will be fine, I have left them to be planted out until it is slightly warmer. Instead, I have left them in my greenhouse on the balcony.
Last years runners are thriving
Of course, because this isn’t enough strawberry plants for anyone, I couldn’t resist purchasing some strawberry plants from the garden centre when I visited the other week. I purchased 2 early, 2 mid and 2 late-season varieties. I have potted these in hanging pots on the balcony and they are so far doing great.
First up at the plot: Parsnips
As soon as March hit a switch flipped in my brain which made me want to sow all the seeds. I have somehow managed some restraint because I don’t want to go too early when I don’t have a lot of indoor space with adequate light (ie, I’ll end up with leggy plants) or a heated greenhouse, a zip-up greenhouse on the balcony is the extent of it so far. I decided to start a few things off in March, firstly my Luffa’s, which (at the time of writing) aren’t doing too bad. I went for pre-germinating them in wet paper towel, in a plastic bag (LFT bags work a treat if you have leftovers) and putting them on a shelf that sits above a radiator. I also clipped the base of the seedlings before germination too, to help it along. Almost all the seeds I did this germinated and have so far gone on to produce strong-looking seedlings.
You can watch a fun reel I did on my Instagram page about my Luffa’s, which gives you an idea of how it works.
What I did focus on this month, however, was parsnips and some early tomatoes. Parsnips are quite hardy and have been something that is pretty much impossible to grow on a balcony. There isn’t much you can’t do in containers, but parsnips and carrots certainly aren’t easy. As with most things that I am growing this year I have some experience of trialling things on the balcony, so it is just adapting that to the allotment and a much bigger space. That being said I am trying something new this year: sowing in three ways.
I decided to test how well things do, given the space, I have at home for starting off seedlings, a small zip-up greenhouse and no greenhouse at the allotment yet. So I have decided to try and plant/sow three ways.
Direct sow where possible.
Plant in pots or trays either indoors/in the zip-up greenhouse.
Pre-germinate in a wet paper towel before planting.
Using these ways I plan to see what works best and what produces the best plans with the best crops. I am planning out my growing season in my trusty allotment log book & planner*, which I can’t rave about enough.
Parsnips ready to sowBuilt a little fleece protection through the cold
The first rhubarb
We inherited three glorious rhubarb crowns on the plot and they have been ready to harvest for the past couple of weeks, cue lots of rhubarb all around. I am not the greatest fan of rhubarb crumble but I have heard that it will make a wonderful rhubarb and custard cake, so I am off to harvest some as soon as I have finished this blog post.
Rhubarb is flourishing
Propagating a raspberry plant
Something I want for the allotment is some raspberry canes, my mum grows raspberries in her garden and she says they are wonderful. Our plot is very exposed and I am creating almost a wall of growing things to shelter the plot a little, and raspberries are in the plans. After some quick googling I saw that you can have somewhat of success by propagating a cutting from a raspberry plant, so I chopped off the top of one of my mums, popped it into some soil and I am waiting. The ideal way is to split the plant at the bottom and this way is only about 50% successful. However, it’s been 2 weeks and it hasn’t died and I think there might be a new shoot, so it is looking promising. I have been keeping it in the zip-up greenhouse for now until I see how it goes.
March & fools spring on the plot
Fools spring got us good and proper this year didn’t it? 20 degree days, making us feel like it was finally here and it was time to sow and plant everything. Then one week later it’s -2 and snowing. Hello fools spring, you got us again.
The beautiful weather did serve us well and we got our shed up and re-felted. We were lucky enough to score a free 6×4 shed that someone was getting rid of and it’s honestly in such great condition. My original plan was actually going to be for an 8×6 shed so I also picked up a second-hand plastic tool storage shed for £50, and the two together work a treat. I plan to paint the shed when the weather warms up for real.
View from the shedOur free 6×4 shedBeginnings of the kids areaKids area + their bed
Other than that we used fools spring to finish up the plot, dig over some beds (we plan to do no dig after this year but didn’t have enough time to really see it come to life this year), create a play space for the kids (that is still a work in progress) and start laying a makeshift path. We have gone for stepping stones and also grabbed these for free from Facebook Marketplace.
Sowing wise, we have started off some seeds indoors (Luffa’s, Tomatoes, Peppers and sunflowers, started off some parsnips in pots in the zip-up greenhouse but also directly sowed some into our first bed a week ago. Not much can be outside at the moment but it’s a start.
On the balcony
It has also been busy up on the balcony, with lots of seed sowing, planting out some of the early seeds (parsnips, tomatoes and Luffa’s), potting on some of my garden centre purchases (strawberries and some herbs), as well as getting the balcony ready for spring.
My zip-up greenhouse has served me well but had a couple of rips from the storm, so I sorted it out with some weatherproof tape. I have also just ordered myself a second, smaller zip-up greenhouse for the balcony to deal with some of the overflows. I do eventually plan to have something at the allotment but at the moment I don’t know what.
Despite having the allotment I still plan to have a very productive growing season on the balcony. Firstly it will be where I start off most seeds, but also I am still going to be growing an abundance of produce up here too. Our balcony is south facing, beautifully warm and sunny, as well as a wonderful, peaceful oasis. This year I get to decide what I grow and where, so the balcony is going to be full of herbs, salads and strawberries. I am also going to do those things at the allotment too alongside everything else.
The beginnings of the balcony herb garden
I’ve been making a start on my herb garden up on the balcony, and so far have mint, chives, oregano and thyme. I am also waiting on some rosemary to germinate indoors too. I created this fun gutter herb garden on the balcony and I cannot wait to see it thriving.
So that’s been my month on the plot & balcony, it’s been so productive and the season has barely started. I am rolling into April so excited for more sowing, more potting on and even more hours outside.
See you next month & don’t forget to follow along our daily growing adventures, along with living a slow and simple life, on our Instagram page.
I’m going into my sixth season of growing on our balcony and today I wanted to share with you some of the tips and tricks I have learned over that time. We’ve been so lucky to be slowly developing our own allotment this year, but that doesn’t render my balcony useless, the opposite in fact. This year I plan to utilise both the balcony and the allotment to grow a whole host of fruit and veggies to hopefully help us become a little more self-sustainable.
It’s not about the space but the way you use it to grow!
I often hear from people that they don’t have a lot of space so they think that they can’t really do much growing, and trust me, I felt like that the first year I thought about growing on my balcony too. However, it turns out a 1m x 4m balcony is just perfect for growing a whole host of different fruits and veggies. You really don’t need to have a big garden to delve into growing a whole host of things, especially if you think that most people aren’t using the entirety of their gardens for growing like you would an allotment anyway. I’ve put together this fun list of 5 simple things you can grow on your balcony or in a small space this spring/summer season.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a firm favourite in our house to be grown in pots, and there are so many different varieties that we like to try a few different things. Tomatoes work great in pots that you can stand on balconies, patios, in gardens and allotments. They also do great hanging too.
This coming season I plan to do almost all of my tomatoes in pots, both on the balcony, hanging on the balcony and also in pots at the allotment.
Strawberries
Strawberries are one of those fruits that I find so versatile, come back year after year (with the right care) and at the end of their fruiting life give you runners to help your strawberries live on. We bought a few strawberry plants in our first year living here and they have given us an abundance of fruit every year. Last year they lost their steam when it came to fruiting and we were able to get 5 wonderful runners to keep them going. I find them extremely easy to look after, grow and overwinter ahead of next year. We live high up on a hill where the balcony can get particularly weather-beaten but the strawberries always do great. I overwinter my plants just outside as normal and they always come back year after year. This winter I am overwintering my runners in an unheated greenhouse.
You can grow from seed, purchase strawberry plants or find someone giving away runners to start your own little strawberry crop.
This year I am going to be growing strawberries on the balcony in hanging pots, in the ground at the allotment, and also in pots at the allotment. I cannot wait to see what abundance of fruit we can get this year.
Beetroot
You might think this is a weird one to try and grow on a balcony but wait, hear me out. While beetroot probably does better in the ground by its very nature, and you’ll obviously be limited by the amount you can grow on a balcony, beetroot does surprisingly well in pots. In the 2021 growing season, we went all out with our balcony and beetroot was something we really enjoyed growing. The seeds were really easy to raise up, they grew wonderfully out in our little unheated greenhouse and we grew a number of them on in hanging pots.
Peppers
We have grown all kinds of peppers on the balcony over the last 5+ years: Sweet Peppers, Chilli Peppers and Banana peppers being some of our favourites.
(FYI, don’t ever cut a banana pepper and then touch your eye, trust me on that one).
Some you can also overwinter in a greenhouse (not something I have tried yet) to keep your plants going year after year.
Herbs
Herbs are a quick win for me and I love having access to home grown herbs for fun dinners and salads throughout the spring, summer and early autumn. With most herbs you can just cut off what you need and carry on growing the rest to ensure you have ample access to herbs as you need them. I like to grow my herbs outside but you can also grow them on sunny window ledges inside too.
Try anything once
I find growing in a small space such a thrill, it is great to see what works (almost everything) and what doesn’t (carrots and parsnips are a hard one in pots). Above everything else, just check when your seeds can be planted outside to protect from frosts and have fun!
A post about our brand new allotment plot. We’ll be levelling up our growing from Balcony to allotment!
We have news and I am just going to jump straight into it – we have just got our first allotment!
I’ve been a passionate balcony gardener for five summers now, each year trying more and more in our little balcony garden. We live in a small home, by choice, and have absolutely intention of moving. There are a number of reasons for this but most lean towards finances, not wanting to push ourselves beyond our comfort level and actually have money left at the end of the month for savings and to live the life we desire, not constantly reaching for the next bigger and better thing.
Self sufficiency & our allotment
We have a beautiful balcony garden that is absolutely thriving and the perfect space for our little ones to play and grow. As well as our little balcony paradise we are surrounded by open countryside and plenty of ways to spend our time outdoors. With all this, and on the back of a wonderful growing season on our balcony, we are so excited to start work on our allotment. We have had a wonderful growing season every year we have lived here, each year bigger and better than the one before, however even though there are many things we can grow on a balcony having this space will really help us grow more and work on being a little more self-sufficient.
Just one year from application to allotment
We first applied for our allotment just over a year ago, and we’ve been incredibly lucky that spaces at our chosen allotment have come up very quickly. We have a lot of allotments around us, so maybe that is why, but it took little over a year between applying for our allotment to getting the key for our own little space. I know this isn’t the case for everyone and I have heard of some councils having waiting lists of up to 10 years. Feeling very grateful that this wasn’t the case for us.
We had two options in our allotment when it came to picking our patch. One was a square plot which hadn’t really been tended to much and was full of fruit bushes that would have needed to have been pulled up or moved to create any kind of growing space close to what we desired. The other plot, and the one we ultimately went for, was a long narrow plot which had always had a fair amount of growing on there.
Although the chosen plot still needs a lot of TLC this plot was definitely in a better position for being able to create the plot we wanted and being able to achieve some of our little plot goals quite quickly. We were viewing both at the same time as they are at the same allotment and it was difficult to immediately visualise which one was the better option and with more potential. Thankfully, after choosing I can really see that the longer plot was the right decision for us.
We’ve had the plot for a couple of weeks now and have been able to start some work and it’s clear that it has so much potential. There is so much we want to do with it and I can’t wait to document it all as we go.
Less processed, more home grown food
It’s been fun, since we got the allotment, checked it out in greater detail I can see just how much potential it has. A lot of the plans we have will involve the children and their home education, but we’re also passionate about growing our own food and moving away from mass consumed food where we can. We’ve had the plot for a couple of weeks now and it has so much potential. There is so much that we want to do with in and I will of course be documenting it all here, to some extent on my Instagram account, but I have also started an Instagram account that will be solely dedicated to the allotment.
A lot of my plans involve the children, their home education but also being passionate about growing our own food as much as we can, and participating in natural food sources and stepping away as much as possible from the horrendously processed food industry.
First up…getting the fence up!
Our first task has been to install a small fence, having two children under the age of 3 means that working on the allotment is a bit more difficult, especially as we’re trying to keep our children on our little patch. Of course when they are a little older they will understand that they can’t just run off to roam in other peoples patches but for now I want to keep them where they need to be. We’re currently halfway through installing a small, low fence that is just right for keeping them where they need to be without looking too obtrusive.
We decided that the best option was some PVC coated wire fencing. This is an edging fencing so only just over 2ft high, but perfect for keep toddlers where they need to be without being too obtrusive for the plot. We plan to secure it with some chicken wire poles, some garden pins and some cable ties, and hopefully this will keep it secure for a while to come.
All the plans
Next on the agenda is to clear the area at one end of the patch which really lends itself to having a shed, maybe a small decked area, a mud kitchen for the little ones, some cold frames and a small raised bed for the children to grow in too.
I really plan for a lot of our home education to take place at the plot, especially in these early years where being outside, nature and play is of utmost importance to us. The area that I’m looking at putting the shed is very overgrown and empty, and so like I said it really lends itself to be used for this. It might seem like a funny place to start, but actually with the winter ahead of us it gives us a great opportunity to get some of these things in place and sort out some of the beds ahead of the growing season next year.
Once we have cleared the area, put the shed base down and put the shed in I’m happy to see how everything pans out from there, and move my focus onto the beds and what we plan to grow ahead of next spring rolling round. We have a really long plot and currently the opposite end from where we plan to put the shed we have inherited an abundance of rhubarb and a fruit tree. The aim is to plant a few more fruit trees up there, possibly a gooseberry bush.
Next along we have space to have plenty of rows of product (and some paths) and right in the middle of the plot we have a compost heap and a patch that is currently a pumpkin and squash patch, all of which we intend to leave for the next growing season, as this enables us to tackle other, more in need parts of the patch.
On the other side of the pumpkin patch heading towards what will be the shed area is several rows where we can plant produce, create paths and also some canes to grow runner beans. I intend to leave the canes in situ and continue to grow runner beans next year.
Follow along with us
If you would like to follow so our allotment journey I will be documenting it here. I think it would be fantastic to see where it started and where we get with it particularly across the next growing season but also it’s going to be great to see it overall as time goes and how it progresses. We’re not pro gardeners by any stretch of the imagination but a lot of the fun is in learning as we go and I’m really excited about that.
If you would like to follow the allotment journey on Instagram you can follow us @lifeonplot44. The allotment only account will be a real deep dive into what we doing on the allotment and how it’s progressing how things are changing before and afters etc where is my main account is everything about our little life. Can’t wait to see you there!
