There are many fruit trees and other varieties of fruits that can be grown in containers. Growing fruit in containers is a perfect solution for people who want fresh fruit but have limited garden space or live in a city. And with the emphasis on recession gardens and growing you own produce and fruit the small space fruit orchard is catching on. photo credit: Marina Cast.
If you are looking for fruit that will produce the first year soft fruits are you best choice. Strawberries, currents, gooseberries, and grapes work well. These can be bought in compact varieties or dwarf rootstock. But this may not be necessary because the size of the container will usually restrict the size of growth of the plant.
Watermelon, cantaloupe, melons, kiwi and vine peach also grow well in containers, And if you like nuts, try growing peanuts indoors.
And although growing you own fruit is easy and rewarding with fresh fruit with limited chemicals or no chemicals its important to realize that growing fruit in containers will not produce the quantity that will be produced in a garden area. But your crop is usually enough for your needs.
Containers for the Small Fruit Orchard
Half the fun of growing in containers is selecting the container. Consider the pot as an addition of art in your backyard and home. You want the select the right size for your fruit crop but color and a container that adds to your décor or expresses your personality is also important.
The best containers for growing fruit are those only slightly larger than the existing rootball. This would be an additional 2 to 3 inches in diameter.
As a rule of thumb, most fruits do well in a pot that is 18 inches in diameter and at least 16-18 inches deep. Melons will need a larger pot. I prefer to grow them in a planter box so that I can trellis the plants easily and make sure they have enough fertilizer and water. photo credit: allyrose18
Strawberries can be grown in smaller pots and work well in hanging baskets or window boxes. I grow my strawberries in hanging baskets and have a crop of berries that produce all year long.
Container tip: Large pots will get heavy from the soil so set them on casters to make moving them around the patio, balcony in and out of the house easier.
One final consideration in selecting a container for your fruit is to make sure it has adequate drainage and a water tray for catching excess water.
With proper sunlight, fertilizer and watering, you can raise great fruit in a small space garden or orchard area.
You will find it rewarding and you may want to mix a few herbs or flower in your containers for more color and fun.
A free standing garden trellis or flat trellis added to a wall will add growing space, artistic design and pattern to your small backyard design projects. photo credit: greengardenvienna
Bentwood trellises are also fun to make and if you have smaller brush on your property you will have a free supply of material to use. If you don’t have small brush, ask you neighbors. They may have a small overgrown area of property that they would gladly let you trim.
On my property I have a nice supply of hickory, apple (better for small projects), willow and pine. The area needs cleared so I have no problems using the live branches for arbors, arched trellises and flat trellises.
This you tube will give you an idea of how to do make a trellis. I will add the best time for using branches is in the spring before the sap in the wood rises. You can use the branches after spring but it will be best to apply glue where you nail. The reason is that after sap is in the wood the wood will expand. After the wood is cut it will dry and the nail will not be as secure. You can stop this problem with a little glue where you nailed.
Bentwood trellises are fun and easy to make. They make a great family project and are very reasonable to make. And the best reason to make a bentwood trellis is that they add to you garden art and accessories and being handmade you can tailor the size and shape to any location you have. They are perfect for the small balcony garden that needs to utilize every inch of space to its fullest potential.
Flowers and even vegetables add a beauty and oasis feeling to any backyard or indoor living area. They are particularly stunning in small space areas like patios and balconies. The addition of color, fragrance and flora moving in the wind creates a Garden of Eden or Secret garden feel. photo credit: jfeuchter
Possibly you have a small yard or no yard but there is still hope for a lush hanging garden filled with a variety of flowers, herbs and vegetables.
All you need is a deck, or wall or a window–or any combination of those three! And even hanging basket suspended from the ceiling has a great look. Just watch for the weight of hanging baskets when using a ceiling.
When planning for a small space garden area, each plant takes on new meaning. Select only what you want and your indoor lighting will accommodate. You may also consider miniature versions of certain plants like miniature roses, mini pumpkins, or cacti.
Where is the best location for your garden? Window boxes work well if you plan on using sills. You can find flower boxes with grooves to fit on top of deck railings. This will help to ensure the boxes stay in place. With the wide selection of window boxes available you can match and compliment any interior design. And if you’re creative you can make your own window boxes and indoor planters.
I have even seen an entire wall that was turned into a hanging wall garden and it was stunning. This was accomplished with hanging boxes and hanging baskets. And in the corner was a small water fountain.
Decide what will you plant in your small space hanging garden. Annuals? Perennials? Vegetables? Or will you go for color and fragrance? It’s possible to have a few plants of each and mix them in the baskets and boxes.
Annuals, such as begonias, firetail and wave petunias have brilliant flowers that cascade in weeping branches. Alyssum (or “sweet alyssum”) has a wonderful evening fragrance. Perennials include the lilac-colored Molinae and thick, bushy, Trailing Antique Rose. And don’t forget nasturtiums and lavender. Vines will also add color and line to your garden area.
Small vegetable like mini hot peppers, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, and mini squash or pumpkins will easily grow in boxes and hanging baskets. They look colorful mixed with herbs and flowers. photo credit: miss_rogue
Find out which flowers and vegetables will work with your climate if you plan on having your garden outdoors. And many of these plants can be brought indoors or over wintered if you can enclose your patio or balcony area. Your local gardening center should be able to help you with your climate growing information.
One other consideration you may have to make is additional lighting. Plants need six to eight hours of light a day. If you windows are not supplying adequate light you may want to add spotlight or floor lamps.
With planning and a little creativity you can create your own small space mini garden oasis to relax in after a day of work. You will be amazed how the addition of a garden area will give your living space a larger feeling.
You may live in a town or city and have limited space for a garden or outdoor retreat. But by designing your balcony in a country theme, you can create a homey more spacious looking atmosphere in your available space. You will feel like you have brought a small piece of country to your home and it will be the perfect place to relax or entertain friends. photo credit: Infrogmation
As with all balcony designs you really need to analyze your available space and make it work in all levels. You want to utilize the space but not have a crowded look that will make the space look smaller.
Two successful ways to make use out of your space is by layering, or making use of wall and ceiling space. Use of hanging plants, rafters, and displays high on the wall will utilize space often wasted or unused. And the addition of a trellis will make use of the higher space of the balcony.
You can add a small space garden to the balcony with balcony boxes, containers and hanging baskets. When decorating with plants, particularly garden vegetables, remember to grow vertical. Tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and flowering vines will add produce and color to the balcony along with a lush relaxing atmosphere. They will also add privacy to your balcony if placed on the edges of the balcony or next to your neighbor’s balcony space.
Flowers that are more country in feel are, daisy varieties, miniature roses, old-fashioned pinks, geraniums and a variety of herbs, particularly lavender and thyme. The herbs will also compliment your garden vegetables and add to the garden harvest. photo credit: *hoodrat*
Add old wood boards and a few antiques or farm pieces. You may even find an old wood cabinet that will look nice on the patio wall. Most of these times can be found at an auction and often are sold for a dollar or two. Garage sales may also have country items at a reasonable price.
Find an older table or end table with a weathered look and at least one chair. You may be able to add a few chairs depending on your balcony space. And a small water fountain on a table will add the comforting sounds of cascading water.
One other way to make your balcony area feel a little larger is to bring some of the country feel and décor into the adjoining room. By laying down a carpet that flows from the balcony to the inner room you will create more of a feeling of space. And with indoor plants, the outdoor feel will also move indoors.
And last but not least, add lighting to the outdoor balcony oasis area. Lights that look like lanterns or old-fashioned wool lamps will keep the country look, as well as lanterns with candles.
The balcony can easily and quickly be turned into a very inviting backyard oasis area, which will extend your living space. It will also give you a place to escape to and enjoy time away from work and everyday stress.
Balcony gardens can be as lush and as colorful as any backyard garden. They also have the added benefit of having a secret hideaway feel nestled on the side of an apartment or tucked along a city street. And having your own garden paradise right outside you sliding doors is so convenient. photo credit: Ingorrr
You may want to add a mini garden to your balcony this year. It’s really quite simple to do and can be set up and planted in a few hours. By adding planter boxes and a few hanging basket you can change the atmosphere of the balcony, add new color and supply fresh vegetables to your table.
Supplies for your small space balcony garden:
Several long, rectangular planter boxes
Plastic bottoms or trays for the planter boxes
Wired planter-holders and the attachments they come with (screws, etc)
Hanging baskets
Two to three bags of soil
Trowel, for moving soil
Watering can or large empty plastic bottles
Plant food or liquid fertilizer
Flowers or vegetable plants or seed packets
First prepare the planter boxes. Make sure they are clean. I usually rinse them with vinegar to make sure they are disinfected. Make sure there are holes in the planters for drainage and if there are not, carefully make three or four holes.
Place soil mix in planters up to one inch from the top. Dig holes for the plants and plant according to space needed for the plants. Usually the planting marker will give you this information. If you are planting seeds lightly pat the soil and place seeds on top, then cover with ¼ to ½ inch soil depending on the seeds you planted. The seed packet will give you planting depth and seed spacing.
Attach the wired planter holders to the sides of your balcony then place your boxes in them once they are secure. Double-check this step. Planters weigh more when full so make sure the planters will stay in place. The planter holders usually come with screws or an illustration for attaching the planters securely. Make sure to place plastic bottoms or trays under the planters to catch excess water. You may also decide you want to set them on the balcony floor instead.
Fill and plant the hanging baskets in the same manner. The advantage of hanging baskets is that they can make use of corner space and space not being used higher on the balcony. photo credit: crabchick
Now it’s time to water your new garden. A good rule of thumb is to water plants when you feel the soil is beginning to dry. Usually that will be about three days. If you have direct sunlight you may have to water more often.
You can easily grow cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and strawberries in the hanging baskets. You may want to add a few flowers for color and variety. Lettuce, radishes, beans, and herbs will grow nicely in the planters. If you have room for a corner container you may want to grow climbing beans, squash, or something fun like miniature pumpkins. Almost any vegetable can be grown in a container. You just need sunlight and room.
My one friend grew corn, gourds, cotton and malabar spinach on her balcony and it was beautiful. She easily grew enough for two people and had fresh cut flowers all summer.
You may want to add potted small trees or vines against the wall of the balcony for more of a backyard oasis feel. Just make sure they will receive enough sun. You can also put up a trellis for plants to grow up. The trellis would have an added benefit of giving you balcony oasis more privacy.
The balcony is an extension of your living space and by adding plants and a garden you will give a more spacious feel to your home and balcony garden area.
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photo credit: Marina Cast.
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