balcony garden

Antu601 · Jun 17, 2009

hi jils,
thanks for your appreciationBow
first i started growing basil in a small 1 litre yoghurt container and when this container had no sufficient place then i replaced it into a more bigger yoghurt container-a 2 litre one and then after some few months i again felt that it is not having a sufficent place, i took a bucket and made many holes at the bottom and shifted the basil into it but this time i added a little more soil and also fixed a small bamboo stick in the centre and again i felt that this keeps on growing but needs more height and support and so for the support i thrusted an alluminium wire from an old hanger and for the height i kept a centre table in the corner of the balcony and i have made it a habit to water it twice daily..
and for the tips, i have done is keep adding tea water and keep checking the leaves and, if some of them start to wilt, i remove only those i.e. the wilted ones....
i am sure you too will get the basil like this one and only thing is dont lose heart if in beginning your basil doest grow and dont you give up.
:cheers Cheers !!

jils · Jun 17, 2009

thats nice Antu601
lot of hard work and love needed to nourish it .
what kind of soil did u use?

Antu601 · Jun 18, 2009

I bought the soil from city centre...

clinto · Jun 29, 2009

Hey guys. how about bougainvillea in the balcony in dubai. i think its the ideal bet, since it suits the climate here so well and we can enjoy a full bloom most time. but any ideas any one on proper prowing these?

beaudiy · Jun 29, 2009

I bought soil for my moneyplant from the nursery in sharjah near to the fish market and gold souk.. u can find em on the road side itself.Pretty gud collection of plants they have there.

jils · Sep 7, 2009

It is necessary to have the knowledge of the climaic conditions first, before setting up a garden ........

i m going to share some information on gardening in UAE
and expect others to share their experiences and successes also!!

HERE WE GO........

jils · Sep 7, 2009

Now first little about UAE

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cmkm%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><style>  </style> UAE has a semi-tropical dry climate and temperature varies between warm in winter and hot during summer. Days are clear and sunny most of the year, and rainfall is relatively low. The weather is moderate during the months from December (22.3 degrees Celsius) till March (22.4 degrees Celsius). Temperature starts to gradually rise to 34.9 degrees Celsius in August, which is considered the hottest month of the year in the UAE. The weather tends to slowly cool down from September (32.5 degrees Celsius) to average (24.4 degrees Celsius) in November.

Now we need to check what all plants grow in this climate and how to grow them
i would be adding more information ........

jils · Sep 7, 2009

CONTAINER GARDENING !!!

Many people are directly interested in container gardening:

People in desert-like areas or in the drylands.

People without garden space or with bad soil in their garden.

Urban people living in apartments or studios.

People with limited time for gardening.

Elderly or disabled people with limited mobility.

Flowers or herb lovers.

A well-planned container garden can be attractive (ornamentals) as well as useful (vegetables, fruits, herbs), e.g. to produce fresh food in the drylands or to combat desertification.

Choice of containers

Almost any type of container can be used for growing plants:

flower pots, planter boxes, pails,
buckets, bushel baskets, wire baskets,
bushel baskets, wooden boxes, drums,
nursery flats, gallon cans, window planters,
washtubs, strawberry pots, tubs, plastic bottles and bags,
large food cans,
an old discarded wheelbarrow with soil and
drain holes in the bottom or any number of other things.

<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cmkm%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><style>  </style> Consider the following guidelines when choosing your container:

Generally, avoid containers with narrow openings.

Plastic containers are lighter weight, but can become brittle in lower temperatures or they may deteriorate in UV of the sunlight. They are not porous and keep water over a longer period, but this may be an advantage in dry areas

Terracotta containers are porous, but heavy; they break easily and tend to dry out more rapidly.

Glazed ceramic pots require several drainage holes.

Wooden containers can be built to sizes and shapes suiting the location. However, many are susceptible to rot. Redwood and cedar are relatively rot resistant.

Hanging baskets, often made of wood or wire, can drizzle onto furniture or the floor.

Metal containers heat up rapidly which can cause root damage. Using a clay or plastic pot as a liner can help.

Wrought-iron stands can minimize wood rot.

Window boxes are usually made of wood or plastic.

Stone containers create a natural effect, are often difficult to move and break easily.

Sunken containers work well for plants that spread easily. One can either bury the whole container or embed the rim to restrain the plant.

Use containers with sufficient capacity, according to the size and number of plants to be grown in them. Small pots restrict the root area and dry out very quickly. Deep-rooted vegetables require deeper containers. For larger vegetables like tomatoes and eggplants, use a five-gallon container for each plant.

Generally, most plant species can be grown in containers, as long as enough space to develop roots is provided. Shallow-rooted crops need a container at least 15 cm (6 inches) in diameter with a 20 cm (8-inch) soil depth.

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cmkm%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><style>  </style> Drainage is very important. Every container should have holes at the base or in the bottom to permit drainage of excess water, to prevent waterlogged soil and rotting roots. Waterlogged containers always end up with root rot. Line their base with a layer of coarse gravel, a piece of newspaper etc. to prevent soil loss through the drainage hole.

TO BE CONT .........

jils · Sep 7, 2009

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cmkm%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><style>  </style> Growing media

A lightweight, well-draining, porous growing medium is needed, but it should also retain sufficient moisture because roots require both air and water. One can use successfully a soil conditioning compound like TerraCottem
The growing medium should contain sufficient organic matter (for microbiological activities).

Outside garden soil should preferably not be used, because it is mostly too heavy, compacting when drying and then pulling away from the container wall. Heavy soils normally have high clay content and a low permeability, which makes them slow to absorb water. Once wet, they drain poorly. They are slow to dry out, insufficiently aerated and plants may not thrive in them (lack of oxygen for root respiration).

Peat-based mixes, containing peat and vermiculite, are excellent. They are relatively sterile and pH adjusted. They also allow the plants to get enough air and water. Some gardeners do not recommend peat, because it is getting overexploited.

Commercial potting mixes are relatively lightweight, but often slightly acidic; adding some lime may help to grow certain plant species (soil test: pH around 6.5-7.0).

You can also mix your own: one part loamy garden soil, one part peat moss, one part coarse (sharp) sand, and a slow-release fertilizer (14-14-14) in the right dosage per volume. Some gardeners do not recommend peat moss (environmental concern), but compost. I would certainly recommend to use a small dosage of the TerraCottem soil conditioner to enhance the water retaining capacity an the nutrient content of the growing medium. TerraCottem also contains root stimulating agents, which make the plants growing better, even in very dry conditions.

Synthetic “soil” suits very well for vegetable container gardening. This mix may contain a number of different materials: peat moss, sawdust, wood chips, coir (coconut fibers), bark products, perlite, vermiculite, …

According to many gardeners a “soilless” potting mix (from a garden center) works best for container gardening. It drains quickly, is lightweight, designed specifically to deter insects and soil-borne diseases and is free from weed seeds.

jils · Sep 9, 2009

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cmkm%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><style>  </style> Sunlight Requirements

Where to put a container, is governed by the growing requirements of the plants it contains. Most vegetables grow better in full sunlight than in shade.

Plants that normally grow in full sun may well benefit from a bit of afternoon shade, especially in places where they can heat up very quickly. However, it is possible to position each of the containers in places where they have the best possible growing conditions.

It is also better to foresee a source of water close to the containers for easy watering.

The amount of light the container plants will need varies with the plant species. It will determine which crops can be grown.

Leafy vegetables (lettuce, parsley, spinach, cabbage,) tolerate shady places, while root crops (radish, turnip, beetroot,) and
fruiting vegetables (tomato, peppers, cucumber, eggplant,) need more sun.

Most plants require a minimum of 5-6 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Some gardeners use reflective materials, like aluminum foil or white-painted surfaces (even glass or marble chips) around containers to increase somewhat the available light.