Gardening without a garden!
Crocuses, Daffodils, and Camellias… at last, we have the first welcome signs that winter is fading and spring is on the way. How lovely it is to see new shoots emerging from the ground, and the first splashes of colour!
Colourful planting isn’t limited to large gardens or public spaces. Pots can produce stunning flowers and even fresh fruit and vegetables, and they don’t have to be confined to a traditional back garden. Balconies, window boxes, and even kitchen windowsills offer ideal shelter and warmth for container-grown plants.
Spring bedding plants such as pansies, primulas, and violas thrive in a sheltered spot with good compost and the right container. There are plenty of options available, from free-standing pots to wall-mounted containers with trailing plants like ivy, or rail-mounted designs that brighten up outdoor spaces. As the weather warms, spring bedding can be replaced with summer choices like geraniums, dianthus, and osteospermums in larger pots, while trailing petunias, lobelia, and creeping jenny work well in hanging baskets and window boxes.
If your balcony has no roof, you’ll only need to water plants when rainfall is scarce or on particularly warm days. Covered plants require regular watering, especially those in hanging baskets, as water drains quickly. Using an all-purpose plant food every two weeks will encourage more blooms, as will dead-heading faded flowers. It’s also important to use containers with proper drainage—without it, soil can become waterlogged, damaging the roots. Ensure pots have drainage holes, and adding a layer of gravel at the base can help with water flow.
Tomatoes grow well in containers with plenty of sun, provided they have enough space for their roots. Choose a pot suitable for the plant’s eventual size and water consistently, particularly in full sun. They can be grown from seed or young plants available at garden centres.
For indoor windowsills, hyacinths offer both beauty and fragrance at this time of year. Keep them in sunlight even after flowering, as their leaves store energy for next year’s blooms. Once the leaves turn brown, they can be removed, and the bulbs stored in a cool, dry place until winter, when they can be replanted for another round of spring flowers.
If you enjoy cooking with fresh herbs, consider growing chilli plants in a pot on your kitchen windowsill. They can yield a generous crop, with excess chillies easily frozen or shared with friends. If you prefer milder flavours, basil, parsley, chives, mint, and rosemary are all well-suited to a warm windowsill or sheltered balcony. Keeping them well-watered will ensure a steady supply, and a miniature greenhouse can offer extra protection if grown outdoors.
There are many ways to enjoy gardening, even without a traditional outdoor space. Next time you pass the gardening aisle or visit a local garden centre, pick up some seeds, a pot, and a bag of compost—then see what you can grow with a little care and attention.
Happy planting!
Ian
