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April 19, 2016

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Home » District » Minhang

How to create your own ‘farm’ on a home balcony

By Lu Feiran | April 19, 2016, Tuesday | Print Edition

WITH public anxiety over food safety running high, it’s small wonder that some people secretly yearn to live on a farm where they could grow their own food. But in a city like Shanghai, where most people don’t even have yard space, that’s a pipe dream.

Well, not completely. For Minhang resident Liu Mengying, her balcony became her “farmland.”

“With a little creative thinking, a balcony can be turned into a pretty substantial vegetable producer,” said Liu.

After several hospital stays due to ill health, Liu, 27, decided to change her lifestyle. A bit part of that was growing her own healthy vegetables.

We sought her advice on how that can be done in an apartment block.

Q: What kind of the balcony do you need to grow vegetable successfully?

 

A: It needs two things: good ventilation and adequate sunshine. If you have an enclosed balcony, you need to ensure that the windows are open for at least three to four hours a day, even longer in summer. Plants won’t grow without good ventilation.

The amount of sunshine required depends on the vegetables you want to grow. If your balcony has a northern exposure, you have to pick vegetable types that don’t need sun all the time. That limits the range, of course, but it doesn’t mean you can’t grow anything. Some plants prefer a cooler environment.

 

Q: What species of vegetables grow well on a balcony?

 

A: With suitable pots, almost all vegetables. I have successfully grown lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers and turnips, and also fruits like strawberries and raspberries.

Certain herbs, like rosemary and basil, also grow well. I have yet to try other herbs.

Q: What about insects?

A: Many people worry too much about insects, which are a natural part of a healthy ecological system. I wouldn’t use pesticides on a balcony vegetable garden.

There are natural ways to protect the plants from being eaten — natural pesticides like pepper water, garlic juice and salt.

Color can also be a good weapon against insects. Take the whitefly, for example. If you hang a luminous yellow sticky pad above the pots, whiteflies will be caught easily on the pad because they are attracted to anything yellow.

Some fragrances also deter insects. For example, if you plant basil with tomatoes or cabbages with chamomile, the mixture of the fragrance is a natural pesticide.

If worse comes to worse, you can just erect some fine netting to keep insects out.

Q: How do you increase the productivity of balcony vegetables?

 

A: By using maximum space efficiently. Also, by taking advantage of the growth cycle of vegetables. You need to plan plantings so that your supply of vegetables doesn’t stop when one batch of plants is spent.

Q: Can a balcony still be a pleasant space if it is used for vegetable cultivation?

A: It’s important to make sure that you leave some walkways for moving around, so that you can easily tend the plants. You don’t want a balcony to look overly crowded. Vegetables can be planted close together to give the balcony a look of space. I recommend using different planting vessels, including hanging pots and vine frames to give the garden a three-dimensional appearance. It’s also nice to make sure that the colors of the vessels are color coordinated.

To add to the décor, you can put cobblestones or quartzite on the balcony floor to give it the feeling of an outdoor garden.

WHERE to shop for home garden supplies in Minhang

THE center provides seeds, vessels and decorations of all styles for gardens. The quality of the products is good and discounts are offered to frequent shoppers.

Address: 5/F, Shanghai Sky Mall, 5001 Dushi Rd

Located in the Minhang Sports Park, this garden center focuses mainly on succulents, but it hosts periodic lectures for people who want to learn to grow seasonal plants, including vegetables. It also has workshop to show how to turn vegetables into creative dishes.

Address: 55 Nongnan Rd (Gate 3)

The store provides seeds and seedlings for common vegetables, including leafy greens, white gourds and pumpkins. Prices are reasonable and this shop is popular with gardeners.

Address: 2 Sanba Rd, Qibao Town

Minhang


 

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