RAISING THE STAKES AND THE CROPS
How can a condo building be a net contributor to our urban green space?
The answer is: When residents maximize the green value of their balconies.
If you add up the square footage of every balcony on a residential highrise in the GTA, it will likely exceed the footprint of the building itself.
Under the City of Toronto Green Roof Bylaw - which requires all new construction over 2,000 square metres to have a green roof - buildings now possess tremendous potential to increase the overall green space in our cities while doing their job of providing housing for a growing population.
The greening possibilities can only be realized when residents take advantage of their outdoor space and grow plants on their balconies.
But note that plants with the ability to thrive on a balcony must enjoy wind and harsh sunlight - especially with a south and west exposure. Not all plants fit this bill.
Our tips to make the most of your balcony garden experience: Hanging baskets and planters are a great place to start since they don’t take precious floorspace. Plant selection is important.
For sunny locations, we recommend nasturtium, dwarf nicotiana, petunias, calibrachoa, short zinnias, marigolds, geraniums and pansies.
In part shade - such as a northor east-facing balcony - plant wax begonia, sweet alyssum, coleus, sunshine impatiens and lobelia.
Ben always has an eye for growing food. He uses hanging baskets filled with strawberries and leaf lettuce, arugula or mesclun mix in sunny locations.
Plant three to six plants per basket, and water frequently. An ever-bearing variety of strawberry will provide you with a longer harvest season.
With less soil mass in containers versus growing in the ground, be sure to add a generous amount of compost and fertilize the baskets once a month, all season.
Pro Mix makes two excellent new organic-based plant foods: liquid
concentrate and water soluble powder. Window boxes are another good
option. Always put them on the inside of the railing for safety.
Window boxes are good for growing herbs. Meal prep does not get any simpler than stepping out onto the balcony to cut a few fresh sprigs of basil, thyme or oregano.
To store your harvest, dry your excess herb crop in the oven (with the door open, 150 F, until crispy). Put them in air-tight mason jars and enjoy the garden-fresh flavour all year round. Allow the scent of home-grown herbs from the mason jar to take you back to the warm evenings in July when you enjoyed premium views from your outdoor balcony-farm.
Raised beds. These continue to grow in popularity. A great reference book is Tara Nolan’s 2016 Raised Bed Revolution. You can build a raised bed to suit your exact needs or opt for one of the many pre-fabricated models.
Raised beds warm up quickly in the spring, produce fewer weeds than growing in-ground and can be raised to whatever height you need for accessibility. This is particularly useful for gardeners in wheel chairs, or people who simply enjoy the luxury of not having to bend over.
Tomatoes and peppers are the No. 1 and No. 2 most popular containergrown vegetables. Be sure to check with your building management regarding weight restrictions. Build a “flower tower” or green wall. These maximize vertical space and can be built by stacking pots and planting them with colourful annuals. There is an ever-growing number of specialized wall-hanging pots to design green walls. As well as squeezing in a lot of plant material, green walls improve privacy. Check out your options at local retailers.
Vines to cool and enclose. Plant a vine for fast growth up a wall, with the support of a trellis. Annual hyacinth bean, morning glories and runner beans all work well.
For a permanent solution, plant a winter-hardy vine like Virginia creeper, honeysuckle, bittersweet or clematis in a deep container with lots of soil to insulate the roots throughout the winter.
With a bit of imagination, it’s not hard to see the growing opportunities for above-ground gardeners - pun intended!