Small-scale gardens

You don't need a large plot of land to grow food. With a little creativity, it is possible to set up small-scale vegetable gardens on a terrace, balcony or patio. In addition, if we use local varieties, we ensure that the plants are well adapted to our climate and we promote agricultural biodiversity.

Here's everything you need to know to get started:

🧺 1. Choose the space and observe the light

Sunlight is key to the success of your garden:

Direct sun (minimum 5-6 h/day): ideal for tomato plants, peppers, eggplants and fruit plants.
Partial shade (3-4 h/day): perfect for lettuce, spinach, parsley.

Tip: observe the path of the sun throughout the day and take advantage of the walls facing south or southeast.

🪴 2. Containers and vessels: everything can be a flowerpot

You can reuse almost any container, as long as it has drainage:

Clay pots, planters, fruit boxes, old buckets or growing bags.
For plants with deep roots (like tomato plants or carrots), use containers of at least 30 cm deep.
For watering, use saucers under the pots to prevent water from being lost too quickly, but empty them if it rains a lot.

🌱 3. The substrate: the heart of your garden

Since the culture is in containers, a substrate is needed light, rich and with good water retention:

Basic mix: 50% compost, 30% coconut fiber or topsoil, 20% worm humus.
Mix a little of perlite, coarse sand or small gravel to improve drainage.

Partially renew the substrate each season, especially if you have had pests or demanding crops.

🌼 4. What can you grow?

The crops more suitable for small spaces are onions, lettuce, spinach, parsley, carrot, alphabet, flowers like perpetualyes…

Those that require a little more space are the eggplants, tomatoes i peppers, although its growth can be controlled somewhat to reduce the space used.

The crops that they cannot to sleep melons, watermelons, many beans, and some cabbages and cauliflowers, since they are plants that tend to spread out a lot or occupy a lot of surface area to develop.

💧 5. Irrigation and maintenance

Regular watering: in summer, you need to water almost every day. Better early in the morning or in the evening.
Avoid excess water: check that the substrate dries out a little between waterings.
Contribute liquid worm humus or compost infusion every 2-3 weeks to maintain nutrients.

🐛 6. Pests and cures

Even on a balcony, pests can appear:

Aphids, whitefly or fungi → spray with potassium soap or horsetail extract.
Mosquitoes in the substrate → let the top layer dry before watering again.
You can plant calendula, basil or mint to protect other plants.

🪴 7. Take advantage of vertical space

Hang planters on the wall.
Use recycled shelves or pallets.
Add stakes for climbing plants like beans or miniature cucumbers.

🌞 8. Enjoy the process.

Creating a vegetable garden on your balcony or patio is a way to connect with the natural cycle, reduce waste and have fresh food on hand. It also allows you to experiment with traditional varieties and rediscover authentic flavors.