A common misconception is that you need a large yard to have a beautiful garden. Fortunately, the rise in the urban gardening trend has made it easier for people living in apartments to enjoy the benefits of a luscious garden.
Many people who want the benefits of a garden along with the necessity of a city apartment often rely on the real estate agents Langwarrin residents use to find the best spots. To enjoy a garden in your apartment, always request an apartment with a balcony.
A Few Good Reasons to Add a Garden to Your City Apartment
Many people prefer the atmosphere of the cold, modern concrete jungle. However, others yearn for a touch of nature, without the inconvenience of having to find the local park.
The good news is that if you’re moving to an apartment, creating your own garden isn’t impossible! All you have to do is choose an apartment with enough balcony space for a few raised bed gardens, pots or containers. If you’re still on the fence about whether or not you should create a balcony garden, here are some reasons that will help you decide!
1. Grow Organic Food
There are many reasons why growing organic food is a brilliant idea. For starters, growing vegetables can easily be done in a container, tall pot or even hanging baskets that don’t take up too much space.
A few top benefits of growing organic food include the following:
- Organic foods and herbs contain little or no chemicals such as pesticides.
- Homegrown food is more nutritious.
- Doesn’t contain any genetically modified ingredients.
- You can save money growing the three veggies or herbs you use the most such as tomatoes, carrots and onions.
2. Connect with Nature
Connecting with nature is one of the most significant ways to deal with stress and anxiety. Creating a small garden made up of potted plants, raised bed vegetable stands or even vertical gardens for creepers and vines is the perfect way to create a little greenery in an otherwise concrete space.
Some of the plus points to including nature in your space are:
- Improves your overall mood.
- Reduces stress levels.
- Certain types of plants filter stale or polluted air so it doesn’t enter the apartment.
3. Create a New Hobby
Gardening is an excellent hobby to have, especially if you’re stuck behind a desk or in an office all day. Not only will it give you something to do, but you’ll feel better for doing it. Here are some reasons to consider it.
- It encourages mindfulness, which means you’re more focused on the present moment and spend less time thinking about problems.
- Boosts your immune system by getting you to spend some time in the sun.
- Improves your quality of life since it’s a stress-free activity.
- Gives you the satisfaction of growing your own food.
4. Reduce Food Insecurity
When you’re speaking to the leasing consultant Langwarrin agents recommend, another top reason to ask for a balcony apartment has to do with food insecurity. Since climate change is starting to affect fresh food availability in many areas, it’s an excellent time to start growing your own food.
Not only will you save money at the grocery store, but you may actually even consider selling your produce, creating a secondary source of income for yourself. With certain gardening processes, you’ll even be able to grow food on your balcony all year round!
Common Types of Vegetables and Herbs to Grow on Your Balcony
Aside from luscious greens and beautiful flowers, the more common food options to grow on your balcony include:
- Tomatoes: One of the more common food plants to grow on a balcony is tomatoes because they’re so easy to grow! Simply plant them in the late summer for an autumn harvest.
- Potatoes: Another top vegetable to grow in a container—or large bag—are potatoes. Plant them in the late winter.
- Strawberries: Planting strawberries in winter will ensure you can harvest in spring. An advantage of planting strawberries is that they can be planted in hanging baskets which add a beautiful ambience to your garden space.
- Chillies: If you enjoy spicy food, then you can grow your chillies in pots as small as 20 cm. Unlike other vegetables, chillies aren’t annual crops but can grow and be harvested for years. Additionally, their beautiful, bright colours will add character to your balcony garden.
Final Thought
Apartment balconies are excellent for sitting on when you just want some fresh air. No matter how small your balcony is, you can set up a garden and enjoy all the benefits associated with gardening.
Get creative using hang baskets, vertical stands and even shelves along the wall so you can add herb pots and grow vine vegetables. Always opt for your favourite herbs, veggies and salad greens to stay motivated and love the outcome!