Keys to success

Fabian’s secrets to a bountiful balcony garden include smart choices and plant care

CHOOSING A POT

Two requirements: the container must have holes for drainage and must be able to hold soil. Plant pots are readily available in hardware stores, supermarkets or even two-dollar shops, but it is best to go and support your local nursery. You can also, if you wish to be creative, upcycle other containers, such as yoghurt tubs, polystyrene boxes, cans and tins. This is also a great way to make your place a talking point for people out on their morning stroll.

CHOOSING A POTTING MEDIUM

Your plants need soil to grow in – unless you want to get into hydroponics, though truthfully it’s a method that’s too hard for my liking (and no-one ever believes you when you say that you are just growing tomatoes). As with many things in life, you get what you pay for, so don’t buy a cheap bag of potting mix; spend the money on a good-quality potting mix, preferably one that is certified organic. The cost difference relates to the fertiliser within the product, which will either be poor or non-existent. Potting mix is predominantly made up of peat or coir to help absorb moisture; pine bark to stop the soil from compacting; fertiliser to help feed the plants; sand for drainage; and coal to make the soil black, as we consumers have been conditioned to believe that soil has to be black in order for it to be any good. (I really have no idea where this notion stems from.)

CHOOSING A PLANT

Plant selection is important, as some varieties do better in pots than others. The great thing is that the majority of herbs grow well in pots: rosemary, thyme, oregano, mint, parsley and basil, to name just a few. I think it is best to obtain these as seedlings, rather than trying to grow them from seeds or cuttings. You will only need one plant per pot, if you are going to allow them enough room to mature and reach their full potential. Some vegetables also grow well in pots, including bush beans, chillies, eggplants, bush tomatoes and even potatoes. There’s a start...

FEEDING & WATERING

Like us, plants require food in order to grow well – but it’s important not to overdo the fertiliser, or you’ll create a new set of problems that will need fixing. A good-quality potting mix will already have fertiliser in it, so there’s no need to add any to begin with. Over time, this food will either be taken up by the plant or leached out when watered. I like to feed once every season; use this as a guide. If needed you can top them up with some snacks along the way, such as seaweed extract or some worm castings, which will give them the boost they need.

How much should you water your pots? Well, how long is a piece of string? You’ll have to use your discretion. Try to harden your plants, so they don’t require as much water. I like to use a technique that I call ‘the touch test’: I touch the top of the soil with my finger, and if no dirt sticks to it, the plant requires water. You can place old carpet under the pot to help it retain moisture, but whether this is needed will depend on the kind of surface you are placing the pot on; concrete and tiles can hold a lot of heat so I recommend it in these instances. I don’t understand saucers for pots that are outside, but I do recommend feet that will raise the pot off the surface. This improves drainage, and ensures that the surface won’t mark or rot.

The great thing about pots is that you can move them. If a plant doesn’t like a particular location, you can move it. Should you move, you can move it! Keep experimenting until you find a plant that works for a specific location, and a location that works for a specific plant.