How to solve the problem of soil and fertilizer for planting vegetables on the balcony
Today, I will introduce some related content about solving the problem of soil and fertilizer for planting vegetables on the balcony in terms of green plants. Let's go into the details below.
How to solve the problem of soil and fertilizer for planting vegetables on the balcony
The issue of pot size caused by the thickness of the soil for planting vegetables on the balcony. Most vegetables need relatively deep root systems, and the deeper the soil thickness for planting vegetables, the better the vegetables grow. Since vegetables are for consumption, the preferred choice is organic fertilizer. Add three to four centimeters of soil to the bottom of the flowerpot, then add well-rotted organic fertilizer, cover it with soil, and wait for播种 or planting vegetable seedlings.
Leeks planted on the balcony
Because my colleague planted leeks and scallions, apart from the first harvest, they feel weak after cutting, and the seedlings are not strong enough. The peppers planted often have flowers falling off and do not bear peppers, mainly due to insufficient fertilizer and insufficient sunlight.
I would like to share with you the importance of soil and fertilizer for planting vegetables, how to choose, and how to solve the problem of reduced soil fertility for planting vegetables on the balcony. There are also some other issues to pay attention to when planting vegetables.
① The pot for planting vegetablesBefore talking about soil and fertilizer, I would like to discuss a very important prerequisite for planting vegetables on the balcony: the issue of pot size caused by the thickness of the soil. Most vegetables need relatively deep root systems, and the deeper the soil thickness for planting vegetables, the better the vegetables grow.
General leafy vegetables and peppers need at least 20 cm deep pots, corn needs more than 30 cm, pumpkins 35 cm, tomatoes more than 25 cm, and melons 25 cm. The width of the pot is also important, so that the roots can be more extensive, and the smaller the pot, the worse the fruits grow.
I use 20-liter oil drums, large foam boxes, or deepened foam boxes to plant corn and sunflowers, which are very effective, while 3 small pots for seedlings are weak and the fruits are small.
② Soil1. Choosing soil types based on the load-bearing capacity of the balcony
Most of the buildings now are apartment buildings, and it is not safe to have too much load on the balcony. I suggest choosing a soil mixture ratio of: peat soil : perlite : vermiculite : pine needle soil/garden soil = 4:1:1:4.
Among them, the proportion of garden soil can be reduced but cannot be completely eliminated, otherwise the soil will be too loose and the roots will not be stable enough.
2. Considering economy
If the house is very solid, like my terrace planting, my planting soil ratio is as follows:
Peat soil : Perlite : Vermiculite : Pine Needle Soil = 1:1:1:7. I use as much pine needle soil and garden soil as possible, which is cheaper, and using peat soil for planting vegetables is too expensive.
③ Fertilizer1. Organic fertilizer
Since vegetables are for consumption, the preferred choice is organic fertilizer. Add three to four centimeters of soil to the bottom of the flowerpot, then add well-rotted organic fertilizer, cover it with soil, and wait for播种 or planting vegetable seedlings.
Types of organic fertilizer that can be obtained at home include: well-rotted chicken manure, sheep manure, oilcake, etc. I usually add enough base fertilizer, and there is no need for topdressing in the first two months of growth.
After the vegetables have grown for two months, topdressing is needed. Dig a hole on the side of the flowerpot, stuff organic fertilizer into it, cover it with soil, and do this at least once a month, as long as you are planting, you need to keep topping up fertilizer.
2. Chemical fertilizer
Usually 70-80% organic fertilizer is used for planting vegetables, which I think is enough. Of course, if you have time to take care of them, using all organic fertilizer is even better.
If the vegetables and fruits are short of fertilizer due to insufficient care from time to time, you need to quickly supplement the fertilizer by spraying foliage, and the growth of the vegetables will quickly catch up.
④ VentilationVentilation is a problem when planting vegetables on the balcony. Poor ventilation can easily lead to pests, powdery mildew, and other pathogens. If you don't spray pesticides, you will have to pull them out and replant, or even change the soil.
⑤ SunlightFor example, when planting tomatoes, from the time the tomatoes grow to their largest size, the fruits are green, and it takes nearly a month to turn from green to white, and another month to turn from white to red. If there is insufficient sunlight, tomatoes will turn red even slower. Leafy vegetables and leeks will become weak and not robust without enough sunlight.
Therefore, try to plant vegetables and fruits on a balcony with plenty of sunlight. If there is not enough sunlight, only three to four hours, plant leafy vegetables, and if there is only one to two hours, plant vegetables like malabar spinach.
The above is a comprehensive explanation of how to solve the soil and fertilizer problems for planting vegetables on the balcony. I hope it can serve as a starting point to solve your green plant problems.