Creating a Balcony Garden (For Complete Beginners)

[@JD-zb4ve]

That is a huge balcony!

[@arlenesolis024]

That’s me. I have a 6by12 balcony garden I have peppers, tomatoes lettuce, peas , roses, dahlias , zinnias basil 🌿 cilantro 🌿 thyme, and zucchini and my green stalk garden. It my quiet place which I snack. Thx to my epic gardening obsession. I love it helps clear my mind ❤👍🏼

[@TinFoilHativities]

That’s amazing congrats!!! How much sunlight does your balcony get ?

[@arlenesolis024]

@@TinFoilHativities I get a lot of morning light because my balcony face southeast. So they get their morning light and water in the evening

[@TinFoilHativities]

@@arlenesolis024 gotcha just curious, thank you! I’m trying to get into it but my balcony only gets 2-3 hours of sun in the afternoon, so I gotta research a bit

[@arlenesolis024]

@@TinFoilHativities buy flowers, plants,fruits or vegetables seeds that require partial sunlight. That what I do, like lettuce, peas, my tomatoes (especially my grapes tomatoes) are thriving, cucumbers are doing great too. Plants and flower the best ones are hydrangeas and some aster are great too. I grew those last year and they did great. This year my zinnias are doing great. Google partial sun and you will get some great results. I also listen to this channel a lot plus seed company are great resources. Good luck and don’t give up. It’s worth the wait..BEST REWARD

[@growformegardening]

Bethany is our go to expert for container planting! She has the magic touch with hydrangeas in pots!

[@myurbangarden7695]

Thank you for highlighting these SMALL SPACE GARDENERS.

[@Oktopia]

About watering. I didn't use to take wind into consideration when timing my watering. Warm, dry wind will dry out plants, especially in grow-bags, much faster. Now I take note of winds as well as hot days with a lot of sunshine. It has helped me a lot.

[@GrowsGoneWild]

Proof that anyone can grow anywhere you can fit a pot in. Great video!

[@elainemiller9943]

I have five acres of rocks, no dirt, just smaller rocks. So all of my gardening is done in containers. Thank you for the expertise from a fabulous balcony gardener.

[@grambofirstblood]

I've been growing here in Boston for 5-6 years now and the fully paved area behind my building looks like a jungle. Particularly the myriad of hot peppers and hops climbing up to the second floor!

[@samanthabettam]

I've been growing potatoes in a free dryer drum. My squashes and pumpkins are growing in free file cabinets. I have flowers growing in an old desk. The squash is trellised on box spring frames that I also found for free. It's easier to buy something, but you can absolutely find things to grow in for free!

[@fifthfloorgarden]

My 3m2 balcony garden gives me great satisfaction. These days I removed the summer vegetables and planted black cabbage, kale, pak choi and various lettuces. I think I will also add Brussels sprouts and broccoli. Greetings from Italy!

[@m.maclellan7147]

One thing I would point out is I have a TINY stoop garden - basically 2 steps to sidewalk & it's a busy street. I would NOT use wheels as I think my planters would be rolled away ! I had one experience where local idiots tried to steal my large plastic pots, but they are too heavy ! They basically rolled it about 5 feet from my stoop before giving up. I lost some soil & had a few injured plants, but not too bad. I WILL say a stoop garden is a great way to get to know your neighbors ! I have had SO many compliments on my stoop garden. Which is kind of a bonus, as I do it mostly for me ! 😉 So nice to come home to a riot of flowers & veggies taking advantag a very sunny stoop !

[@brihappi693]

I have a small space behind my apartment building. No neighbors use the area. I have pots on the porch itself and off in the grass maybe about a 6x10ft space. There are so many pots of varying sizes, it got difficult to keep up with and difficult to get my finger into every pot that had thick foliage or beefy crowns blocking the soil. So I got a moisture meter. Saved my life tbh. Watering is very quick and accurate now without the added time of guessing. And I learned very quickly the exact amount of water every single plant likes best. A moisture meter is a must of container gardening in my opinion.

[@cinemasianx]

Yay! Finally! 😊 Oh.. but rooftop deck is way bigger than my 8' x 4', west facing balcony. 😔

[@grisespino5342]

I thought the same of my 4” x 8” balcony. A lot of her tips apply.

[@markg454]

Great presentation and content. Bethany is great on camera. She's a great addition to Epic Gardener. Cheers! BTW, I adore those Chicago girls.

[@bad_luna5222]

Im in NYC. I see a video called "Balcony Garden". 16x 19 deck"...... Her deck is larger than the green space in my fathers houses back yard....

[@Grow_a_Little]

The grass will always be greener in someone else's field lol, I feel you :(

[@jackyyrag]

It's still possible with a smaller balcony! I had one in LA. Just can't have as many things growing at one time

[@MindfulLivingA]

Great video and tips! I grow on my balcony with only 84 square feet of space and it’s such a fun and rewarding challenge to grow in a small space!

[@haylee.noelle]

Yes I love this! I have been using my tiny 3x8ft deck to grow things for the past 3 years. It's not even big enough to put a table and chairs out there, it's ridiculously tiny and even tapers off at the end to a tiny little corner where nothing can fit. However, I've managed to grow tomatoes, herbs, peppers, peas, cucumbers, radishes, kale, pak choi, and even mushrooms successfully. I agree with this gardener when she says that you should pick something you really like to eat and grow multiples of them. I've experimented a lot and grown what works best for my particular space. You can grow a lot in a small area! I am definitely going to use wheels for my containers now, thank you for that idea :)

[@lostsemplex]

Love that the watering recommendations assume that a deck/balcony have access to a water spigot. Our rental does not have that, so we have to hand water by filling 2 two gallon jugs upstairs then taking them down a flight of stairs. We do it for the love of gardening but it is hard work.

[@natmccallum8885]

Bethany is awesome! Thanks for sharing. Finally another gardening channel with a no nonsense approach.

[@thecunningkrugereffect]

That's a good-lookin' Canadian Tuxedo! Great to finally have someone doing all container gardening like me❤

[@Grow_a_Little]

Yeah it's awesome that Epic Gardening is bringing in all these new unique gardeners that specialize in specific types of gardening, like container gardening :)

[@Nikki-mx5my]

I’m definitely going to focus more on compact plants next year, hoping to research more varieties. I’ve been trying to grow larger plants that unfortunately don’t work in my space (for instance, indeterminate tomatoes). I’m thinking of focusing more on leafy greens, flowers and herbs next year since that is what I seem to have the most success with. One thing about growing on a balcony garden, you want to consider safety factors such as the weight of all your containers and raised beds and how much weight that balcony can hold.

[@PorchGardeningWithPassion]

I love videos done by fellow Porch Gardens. Bethany is one of my favorites too 👊🏻🌻👊🏻

[@ausfoodgarden]

Wow! What a great video for folks with limited or no garden space. Sorry Bethany this is the first time I've heard of you. I'm in the limited category but have a 6x18ft paved area that could be filled with extra plants. I do have some planters growing already but there's a huge amount of untapped potential there.

[@NorthToSouthChannel]

LOVE this. If I have to move to an apartment, I'll be making sure to ask for a unit with a south facing balcony lol

[@manfredbismark6688]

Hello. Thanks for the tips, advice! Good video! Have a beautiful day. bye. Rudi.

[@someone0222]

What a perfect timing, I just started my balcony garden, Thank you!! This video helped much

[@LizThompson-ds1fl]

I have been balcony gardening for 20+ years on a 5’ x 12’ sheltered balcony on the 14th floor of a high rise. I rarely get winds and have sun from mid morning to mid afternoon. It’s typically 10 degrees warmer than on the ground. My biggest issues are pests - white flies, spider mites, fungus gnats, and aphids. I’ve generally got the water situation sorted (no spigot, no drip system). Banana water usually my friend.

[@LizThompson-ds1fl]

So happy to see balcony/container garden videos. Ya’ll need to get a community gardener on your channel (I am one, but not me).

[@tayjahrivera7156]

Wow that is so awesome! I did not know there were compact trees.

[@ahnanda68]

Mini meyer lemon. Bout to have one :)

[@paulbuffington9709]

Sterilized soil is so worth it. Even more so when planting indoors.

[@danieladeutsch1708]

Thank you Epic Team, I am a balcony gardener, this is exactly the theme I needed....can we have more of these, please? Thank you :*

[@juliehorney995]

Excellent! Wish I would have added more edibles on my 4 x 10 ft balcony garden outside my 3rd floor balcony in Chicagoland. A tall grass was my fav plus planters on the railing. 17 years later I have progressed to digging up 1/3 acre in NE Indiana. With containers of all kinds, a food forest strip, and especially 6 Birdie tall raised beds! :)

[@Snakeskii]

We have dry hot summers in the PNW. I was having a lot of trouble with containers until I discovered Oyas. When our house burned down, my drip system went with it, and I suddenly found myself a container gardener. Drip is absolutely the best option, but finding myself in temporary housing, those Oyas were a game changer. They were also easy to take with us when we moved. If drip isn't an option, they are far superior to hand watering imo.

[@m.maclellan7147]

For folks who may not know, "Oyas" are small ceramic jars you bury in the soil near your plants and fill with water. If I remember correctly, they are an ancient idea from Mexico. They have lids, and you just pop the lids off & fill with water, then snap lid back on. It disperses water slowly.

[@SwapanTerraceGardening]

So beautiful garden and lots of beautiful flowers plants Nice information about us

[@mayasalter1624]

Love this video. My gardening space is a covered 9ft x 5ft balcony without an outdoor water source. Balcony gardens are challenging but fun. I definitely agree with putting large planters on wheels. I am going vertical with a GreenStalk, lol, on a spinning base with wheels, next spring. I am always looking for light weight planters and compact plants.

[@oldguyriders]

Excellent video. Very informative and helpful. Thanks for the great insights!

[@chitrabakshi6356]

So helpful! Love this video and everything was so clear and succinct!

[@FishingForLife28]

I have a bunch of 50 liter containers. All in a very small space. 9 tomato plants, one cucumber and one pumkin (small variety). Also 2 beds made from pallets, both on wheels! one with perennial herbs like thyme, rosmary and oregano. And one I use for stuff like lettuce, raddish and garlic. Found a place a single pallet bed more, that will be for my onions next season. Its all on a rooftop pateo

[@brichter4669]

I have a small backyard with no option for an in-ground garden. I do container gardening only on my large outdoor patio using grow bags and GreenStalk vertical planters. I live in zone 9 and in about as month will be starting my fall garden. Overall, I grow tomatoes, basil, English peas, bell peppers, beets, turnips, kohlrabi, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, green beans, bunching onions, potatoes, carrots and radishes. I wish she would have mentioned where she got her plant rollers. I would like those for some of my larger grow bags.

[@vClooouDz]

Do a video on store-bought vs homemade compost/vermicompost

[@GardenHermitThings]

Always so excited for a new video!!! ❤

[@namehere1861]

Tip for watering a large balcony garden: old plastic storage totes cut down to 8-10" high. Wrap the top with duct tape for the harsh edges. I had a bunch of 30 gallon HDX totes that got the saw. One tote can hold 2 five gallon or seven gallon grow bags. Cut to 8-10" tall and you can have an artificial water table with gallons of extra water for the grow bag. @epic gardening, a no frills high wall plastic or aluminum bin that can fit multiple grow bags would be great product to be able to buy. I call it a "reverse Oola" the water is stored outside the grow bags. Round bags with square bins means you can dump water in a corner and bottom water your grow bags. No mosquito/bug issues, any standing water just means water I don't have to carry from my shower to the balcony in a big bucket that day.

[@namehere1861]

I have 28 types of watermelons and cantaloupe thriving this way, water heavy plants take what they need. Also allows you to do fertigation, no nutrient runoff in a closed system.

[@gypsygirl731]

Here's a tip nettle tea is a good nutrient for nitrogen. The N is a clue to remember. Great tips love the green stalk planter system. You water the top and it goes down nicely

[@terracegardeningislamabad7814]

Thanks for showing us such an informative video ❤

[@jenmv3483]

I use a moisture meter $10 to check my plants everyday. Question on plugging the whole in clay pots, what do you use and what works best please? 😎

[@albertnett7864]

Great info from a fellow Chicagoan.

[@jordanyeager9220]

Very informative segment ❤

[@vsznry]

Awesome vid, Beth!

[@tommytao976]

Do you have a video on your self irrigation system for potted plants in balcony

[@terrivance8750]

Great advice--thank you! 😊

[@hobbygardeninthewoods]

really enjoyed this!

[@gendoll5006]

I have about 30-40 veggies growing right now between grow bags, raised bed and in ground and my biggest struggle now is figuring out and deciding what plants to get going to have done before the first frost! It’s so much pressure, so many varieties, and even things like onions and garlic that I won’t even be able to harvest till Spring, I still have to get planting soon?! I’m in zone 8a and I feel like I’m just paralyzed and can’t move forward and I’m terrified I’m going to be left with nothing come Fall and Winter.

[@pualani4256]

Hi there - what size grow bag would you recommend for growing tomatoes, zucchini & cucumbers?

[@menno1e]

Big up Eric 🤫

[@BorrowedYourHeart]

Yayy new video!!

[@jelatinosa]

Can you make a list of all your favorite compact plant varieties for small space growers, please!?

[@michaelkukula5926]

I wonder what she does during those Chicago winters.

[@lrogers707]

my question is - how do you collect the water runoff from the larger containers

[@thefeckinsqu1b]

“I turned this flower cart into a flower cart”😂

[@NancyAlexander-p6r]

Wonderful video! ❤

[@hamiltonhousedesigns9044]

Love this video Bethany

[@bethsands7665]

Nice advice ! Why am I growing eggplant as I don't like to eat it ??? I want to eat what I grow and consider random vegetables as a trial/ experiment. All around... good advice for us all, thanks.

[@hynnow18]

So we’re not worried about the microplastics from the fabric pots? I never hear anyone mention this tradeoff

[@donnabrooks1173]

There's amendments at yout local landfill. I understand some may not have a truck, but maybe a friend with a truck could be sought out. It's just so much cheaper than buying all potting soil, etc. I have a check Colorado and can fill my truck bed for about $10.00 in NC. It .ay be slightly more, but it is still cheaper than pre mixed. Just add free matures from horse stables. Usually they are happy to get rid of the waste. Just be careful of herbicides if it has been sitting a while. I hope this helps.

[@GoingGreenMom]

I wish we could still get compost and mulch from the county. No longer an option here as after a compost fire after they changed companies they now contract with a local farmer and no one else gets any of it.

[@15BubblesOrigami]

East facing balcony facing adjacent building here... I can even leave my windows open when it rains because the other building blocks any from coming in.

[@saracollum2263]

Ok now talk to me about the transition to winter. I know most of those are annuals but what about the apple trees? Do they survive Chicago winters in containers? Or do they come inside for the winter? I have so many questions

[@Nikki-mx5my]

She has her own channel and I am pretty sure she talked about this recently. She focuses on plants that can survive a zone or two below hers since the fruit trees are in containers. They do not come inside for the winter.

[@chiquibarlow12]

what brand of irrigation system did you get and what additional attachments did you get?

[@OrganicGarden_balcony]

Balcony so big, how can i do it? Thank your videos.

[@LisaRucker-x8k]

I rent a apt in a house cut up into apts.my landlord lets me grow veggies in pots and now the flower bed.i have tomatoes.jahlopinos.rasberry bush .roses.marigolds in pots.this year i planted lettuce.carrots.sunflowers and pumpkins in my flower bed.4ft ny 20 ft.

[@DIYLoveGardening]

Amazing❤❤❤

[@penelopegrier5073]

I just moved into a house with an old balcony. We plan on replacing it with new wood. But for now it’s really damaged. How do you keep your deck from getting ruined from all the pots after they’ve been watered?

[@tessblog3384]

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son whoever believes in Him should not perish but will have everlasting life

[@monafaye6063]

Squirrels keep getting in a diggin in. How do you keep them out?

[@ZoneKei]

Nice, I should get my plants some wheels.

[@Grow_a_Little]

lol

[@LindaBritton-jw5vf]

A deck is different than a balcony

[@anikanele7958]

What about pests or mold? When growing in such a small space its almost impossible to get rid of any disease or pest because its gonna spread easily

[@fifthfloorgarden]

In my experience I don't have many problems of this type, and in case of problems I use nettle macerate, but I repeat, I almost never have problems. Only the zinnias suffered from powdery mildew. I think that on the balcony the situation is more controllable.

[@anikanele7958]

@@fifthfloorgarden I had some type of mildew, aphids, caterpillars and scale insects (dont know if thats the right translation). Now I might have fungus gnats? I really don´t know what I´m doing wrong

[@JessicaCraver-n9w]

Her hat is so cute! Where can I buy it?

[@jenniewolford1631]

how did she get the soil up there? they have elevators in her building? Not all apartment building have that. What is a suggestion for those with no elevator or a team of friends to help?

[@nharber9837]

If you don’t have an answer to this already, Walmart delivered mine to my door on the second floor.

[@jenniewolford1631]

@@nharber9837 sorry I haul mine so I didn't even think about delivery

[@fabianpalacio205]

Your balcony is almost as big as my room

[@margakat]

I'm trying to grow in pots in two metal plant holders hanging off of security bars on my window. Right now, it is basil and lettuce. I think the lettuce is stunted because the plant holder is too small. I wish I had a balcony.

[@stacytompkins9274]

Wow! I tend to do better with lettuce in cooler seasons.

[@margakat]

@@stacytompkins9274 That might be another reason it is stunted.

[@Thuy_Dailylife]

Nice

[@andrewhammill6148]

If you gave up on eggplant and okra, it's because you didn't cook it or prep it right, (and that's okay Bethany - You aren't a Southerner). I've grown and cooked both in LA, TX, CA and NY, and no one has ever not asked for seconds. Other than that, I am impressed with your garden.

[@Mandy-q6c]

Never give either away but HI from SC

[@FrozEnbyWolf150-b9t]

My mother is from the South and she taught me how to cook okra. I've had it breaded in cornmeal and fried, as well as in gumbo and soups. For eggplant, we've done a variety of different recipes, from Chinese, to Middle Eastern, to Greek, to Italian. My favorite is the long Asian eggplant, since it's much easier to grow and cooks more evenly.

[@Mandy-q6c]

@@FrozEnbyWolf150-b9t Sounds like you don’t give any away either. Agree about type of eggplant. I take okra cut to size then lay on parchment covered jelly pan, scramble eggs to cover & flash freeze. Break apart store in freezer until ready to eat- then finish the corn meal/flour process with it still frozen

[@ferdousshiekh4893]

My baranda or deck is 2ft by 7ft😅

[@GoingGreenMom]

Anyone up here in these areas have advice on dealing with water? I have little to no room for containers, and it seems like I deal with too much water than not enough. I have edged most everything now, and water isnt standing on patio and sidewalk anymore (yard is a good 2-3 inches above the concrete, but Im still dealing with stuff not happy about the water.....

[@Grow_a_Little]

You can always just grow plants that like sitting in water. If you want to grow a plant that doesn't like too much water, maybe try installing french drains. You can look up how to make them.

[@GoingGreenMom]

@@Grow_a_Little My preference would be growing plants I can actually use. I do try for options that are good with my growing conditions when I can, but they also change every year with the weather since I grow in ground in an area that gets rain.

[@tory464]

💚👍

[@Mushroom-139]

What about growing garlic on balconies…

[@ChicagoGardener]

I like to grow mine in a grow bag, but it should work in any container type! I plant in fall and leave the grow bag on the deck over winter then I’ll harvest here in Chicago around late June/early July.

[@Mushroom-139]

@@ChicagoGardener thanks

[@fuzzypumpkin7743]

You can! I had a stairwell with just enough room for a tall 10" pot and a couple planters hanging off the rail. Had four garlic in that pot. Just need to make sure you have about 8" of depth.

[@Mushroom-139]

@@fuzzypumpkin7743 thx

[@whothefoxcares]

only the #filthyrichandfamous have *342 sq ft* balconies

[@Neenerella333]

I had a garden on a 6x3foot apartment patio. Don't be sad.

[@polymerica547]

First

[@heyyou4023]

Balcony garden? I don't have a water faucet on my balcony. My irrigation is whatever bucket of water I can carry from my kitchen.

[@Mandy-q6c]

Have systems that use solar power to pull water out of container for irrigation system, so if can catch rain water from gutter system. Or get large rain barrel that you fill up from hose connected to kitchen faucet(have devices to do that too) I’m the worst at watering, great at weeding-love to get hands in soil for therapy.

[@Grow_a_Little]

relatable

[@Mandy-q6c]

@@Grow_a_Little love self water systems, $$ worth it.

[@hellsbellspreparedness2722]

Dude Bethany is hot and well done beautiful!!! Have the same setup and thank you for the video. Thoughts and prayers to you guys in Chicago. That place is going to hell because of the left. Move to Florida where you should be.😁😉👍🏼❤️😎

[@MarkOliver-p4i]

Grow bags are good for growing marijuana.

[@kwuiki23]

😂😂 now she doesn't have a patio Home owners have both. These kids put all their eggs in the condo basket years ago and are secretly regretting it. That's why they make these videos. Cant exactly install an irrigation system on a high rise patio like that. Compost? Yeah nope. How about water collection. Yeah nada. 😂😂 Cool little garden but yeah not the same thing at all. Enjoy watering all that a bucket and water....by hand every day.

[@Grow_a_Little]

Yeah true. But what else can they do? The patio is all she has lol. But I get what u mean. A few plants is fine, but completely filling your patio with plants in small containers requires too much work to maintain. You gotta find a balance I guess.

[@Contractorlove]

Or you can do the balcony gardening like I do - buy what looks tasty, cool and or pretty, put it in a big planting container with lots of soil, fertilize without a concept and whatever you have on hand and love your plants a lot (and talk to them) … my plants getting prettier and better every year 😊

[@Grow_a_Little]

Let's be honest I think we all talk to our plants when no one's looking lol