Page 21 - IFV Issue 12 December 2023

Gardening

vegetables (which can be grown from scraps and waste), herbs can safely carry. Large ceramic containers filled with soil may be
and micro greens. These are young vegetable seedlings that can too heavy for your balcony so you may have to choose smaller
be harvested soon after sprouting and used as an extra fresh containers made from lighter materials.
touch in salads and sandwiches. Indoor kitchen gardens can After checking the rules and regulations, take note of the
be planted in a single container placed on a windowsill, or in wind, sun and shade your balcony receives. Set aside a day when
multiple containers placed around the kitchen wherever you you are at home and pay careful attention to the following:
have space. • Where does the sunlight fall on your balcony?
Vegetable, herb and micro green seeds can be purchased • How many hours of sunlight does your balcony receive?
from garden centres or supermarkets. Your garden centre can • What time of day does it receive sunlight?
advise on the most suitable containers for your space as well • How hot is it on the balcony?
as a flowering indoor plant to add to your food crop collection. Visit your garden centre armed with this information to
ensure that you get the best recommendations for plants suited
TOP TIP: Harvesting vegetables, herb sprigs or micro to these conditions.
greens by hand can cause damaging rips and tears or pull
up the roots of the plant. Use a specialised cutting tool TOP TIP: Maximising space is crucial in a balcony garden
when harvesting to ensure precise and clean cuts with and planting vertically is one way of doing this. Lightweight
minimal impact on your plant growth. planters can be assembled in different configurations along
a wall or in a corner space. They can also stand on the floor
BALCONY GARDENS or be mounted against a wall.
You can create a
lush outdoor oasis TOWNHOUSE GARDENS
right on your Some people feel
doorstep with that townhouse
a well-planned gardens are too
balcony garden. small to enjoy,
Start small and while those who
add pot by pot believe they don’t
throughout the have green fingers
season, as you find the size already
learn what works in your particular balcony space. too daunting. If you
Before starting, find out if your building has any rules and live in a townhouse
regulations regarding balcony gardens. There may be restrictions complex with a courtyard-type garden or small backyard
on hanging planters from railings and walls, or guidelines for garden that you have been avoiding, now is the to get outside
watering systems to ensure you don’t cause problems for the and claim that space.
neighbours next to or below you. It’s also important to check Layout of a small garden space is often the biggest obstacle
in with the building manager about the weight your balcony to getting started, especially if you want to balance your
planting space with outdoor entertainment and leisure space.
Our ReTh!nk pledge is built on the foundation of the Thankfully, the internet abounds with clever ideas suited to
circular R’s: reduce, repair, recycle. This helps us quantify different lifestyles, aesthetic preferences and maintenance
and qualify how sustainable each of our products really requirements. An important factor to consider in your planning
is and in turn, how sustainable your gardening can be. is irrigation. Dragging splashing hosepipes across a small area
We aim to become the sustainable choice in gardening isn’t ideal and the wrong type of sprinkler may trap you inside.
tools and are already working on several new circular Precision irrigation is best to prevent your outdoor area from
innovations to help you make better, more conscious and being unnecessarily soaked.
sustainable decisions.
We want to inspire all passionate gardeners to learn TOP TIP: Choose an irrigation system that can be
about sustainable gardening practices and how they can permanently installed and delivers water directly where it is
contribute to a healthy ecosystem. At Gardena, we believe needed. Drip irrigation systems are a water-smart option that
now is the time to ReTh!nk. can be easily connected to your outdoor tap and extended
all around your garden space. The system can be automated
https://www.gardena.com/za/about/gardena-sustainability/rethink/ and can run while you sit outside and soak up the sun.

The Villager • Issue 12 2023 • 19