growing herbs on a second floor balcony
September 22nd, 2006
when i lived in a house with a back yard and space for a vegie patch i didn’t have the time to spend gardening, so of course as these things go, now that i’m living in an apartment on the second floor my green thumb has sprouted and now i’d like to make time for such things. alas, its not in my nature to let a few things like a smaller dwelling stop me from trying growing a green thumb and maybe a few herbs along the way.
last weekend i spent some time at the local nursery to get this project in order. i needed the buy some seedlings, potting mix, a watering can, and a herb pot. i also needed something to plant a strawberry plant i had purchased a few weekends ago and i needed to get it right then and there if i ever wanted to see the leaves grow into a patch and (fingers crossed) a few gauntlet strawbs appear from those flowers.
i ended up with herbs which everyone in this two person house-hold would be happy with; even the nay-sayer who thinks this will be a failed project due to my poor memory and bad organisational skills first thing in the morning. herbs which everyone loves and uses is bound to create a few happy participants no?
so with a few seedlings of coriander and a triplet of basil (italian, thai and curly) i was onto a good thing. the boy’s mum gave me a mint plant and a mixture of organic herb food to get me started. however i didn’t get very far, as i still needed a pot; something which could hold everything, and maybe a temporary place for the strawberry plant. the fellow at the nursery saw me tugging at a few planter boxes and suggested the pot you see above; a terracotta creation with little windows for various plants to sprout from. the pot would allow me move it around the balcony, especially an eastern facing spot which has a harsh sun during some parts of the day, and also bring the garden into the kitchen on those crazy windy days sydney has been experiencing recently. perfect and quite cute wouldn’t you say?
with a little help from the boy’s mum, i had the pot half filled with vegetable potting mix and i transferred the seedlings over (after gently squeezing the roots a tad to release them from the soil in their original containers). after packing them in tightly and adding a smaller layer of potting mix i gave my new mini garden a good watering and hoped for the best. a week later they are still alive, and even after pinching a few of the new leaves of the basil plant, it seems to have given it a little growth spurt. hurrah!
next weekend i plan on getting the second herb garden sorted with sturdier plants of parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano and maybe try my hand at a citrus tree or curry leaf tree.
looks wonderful! Funny because I was living in a house recently and had just gotten a good growth out of my tomato sprout but then moved to an apartment… on the 2nd floor. I had no time but will definitely in my spring to get together some planters to grow some basil, tomatoes, etc :)
September 23rd, 2006 at 5:42 amOh I have always wanted a herb garden. So much less stressful when a recipe calls for two leaves of tarragon, or a garnish of lemon thyme. I bought a basil plant once but I think we over-picked it. I think there was an episode on Don Burke once where he recommended regularly repotting basil plants into bigger pots for healthy growth?
September 23rd, 2006 at 6:28 pmHello there.
I’ve always wanted a herb garden too! But I’m living in the 1st floor of my unit, it’s quite tough to get it to the sun. But spring is here and I guess, the sun is all around! Maybe I should start with some basil, coriander, thyme…
September 24th, 2006 at 12:03 amWell, good luck with yours ! :)
Neato! I bought a curry leaf plant for my mum a few weeks ago - it’s thriving! Also a kaffir lime. Nothing like those fresh leaves. I hope they all grow well and provide much happy eating.
September 24th, 2006 at 5:03 pmYou’ve inspired me - I’ve been talking for ages about growing some herbs and now I’m really going to get my act together.
Something I have lots of sucess with is Vietnamese mint. You just shove a cutting (even a bunch from the shops if they still have the roots) in a jar of water on the windowsill. It will keep growing and last for months.
September 25th, 2006 at 12:28 amAn entirely novel concept for a post, but well thought out.
I love the idea of wild food and beleive everybody can grow at least their own herbs - I have many in my small garden.
September 25th, 2006 at 6:57 amLooks really lovely. So fresh and Springy!
September 25th, 2006 at 9:43 amyvo: i’d love to try growing tomatoes. i might give cherry tomatoes a go. i found a good link on how to ferment your own seeds.
helen: yes its great having them close at hand. my mum grew parsely and mint at home which made for quick and easy salads and iced teas in summer. you should give it a go too :)
swee: perhaps you could try a planter box which will sit on a window sill. when you’re at home just have the windows open.
reb: fabulous! i love the smell of a curry leaf tree. i’m hoping i’d be able to graft one from my mum’s tree, but i may just have to source one on my own. where did you buy it from? also that’s a lovely gift… the gift which keeps on giving ;)
kathryn: with the spring now in full force (or is it an early summer?) its hard not to want to do something like this. hope yours works out. thanks for the mint tip… will definitely give it a go :)
scott: its amazing the things we take for granted in our busy lives… i suppose this is my way of slowing things down just a tad. the bonus of fresh herbs is a good thing too ;)
bea: indeed. my favourite season too :)
September 25th, 2006 at 10:48 amWOW impressive, great photo too! I always wished I had a green thumb. You’ve inspired me to try :-)
September 25th, 2006 at 3:42 pmI’m on the 2nd floor as well. You’ve inspired me to grow herbs in a strawberry pot. They’re all potty and piece-meal on my balcony at the moment. Thanks!
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:22 pm