Having a balcony garden is a great way to grow your own veggies, herbs, and flowers even if you live in an apartment. And raised garden beds are perfect for balcony gardening since they take up minimal space while allowing you to grow a variety of plants
In this complete guide, we will look at everything you need to know about creating and maintaining raised balcony garden beds, from choosing the right materials and size to taking care of your plants.
Benefits of Raised Beds on Balconies
Here are some of the main advantages of having raised balcony garden beds
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Efficient use of limited space – Raised beds allow you to grow more plants in a compact vertical area.
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Good drainage – With built-in drainage, raised beds prevent waterlogging.
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Reduced weeds – Weeds are unable to take root as easily in raised beds.
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Convenience – Raised heights make gardening and plant care easier on the back.
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Better growth – The excellent drainage and aeration promotes faster growth.
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Design flexibility – You can customize beds to perfectly fit your balcony space.
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Portability – Smaller raised beds can be shifted easily to get optimal sun.
Choosing Materials for Balcony Raised Beds
You can make raised balcony planter boxes from a variety of materials:
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Wood – Cedar and redwood are naturally rot-resistant woods ideal for raised beds. Avoid treated lumber.
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Plastic – Recycled plastic boxes are lightweight, portable, and weatherproof.
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Metal – Galvanized steel beds are sturdy and durable though they tend to heat up in summer.
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Concrete – Concrete planter walls provide good insulation for plant roots.
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Fabric – Flexible fabric beds are extremely light and can be folded up when not in use.
Consider portability, weight-bearing capacity of the balcony, cost, and aesthetics when selecting a material.
##Ideal Size for Balcony Raised Beds
The ideal size for your balcony raised bed will depend on the space available. Here are some standard sizes to choose from:
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Mini raised beds – 2 to 3 feet long and 1 to 2 feet wide. Great for herbs and leafy greens.
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Small raised beds – 3 to 4 feet long by 2 to 3 feet wide. For herbs and a few compact vegetables.
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Medium raised beds – 4 to 6 feet long by 2 to 4 feet wide. Allows growing veggies like tomatoes and peppers.
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Large raised beds – 6 to 8 feet long by 3 to 4 feet wide. For a more expansive vegetable garden.
Make sure to account for easy access from all sides when deciding on the dimensions. Place beds against walls or railings to maximize footage.
Choosing the Right Soil Mix
A good quality soil mix is vital for the success of your balcony raised bed garden. Here are some tips for picking the right soil:
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Choose a lightweight soilless potting mix rather than heavier garden soil to reduce weight load on the balcony.
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Look for a mix specially formulated for containers and raised beds as these allow for good drainage.
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The ideal mix will be loose, well-aerated, and rich in organic matter like compost or peat moss.
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You can make your own mix by combining equal parts of compost, perlite or vermiculite, and coco peat or composted bark.
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For added nutrition, you can also mix in a balanced organic fertilizer or slow-release granular fertilizer.
Setting up the Raised Garden Beds
Follow this simple process to set up your balcony raised bed:
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Make sure the bed dimensions match the space available and allow easy access.
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Line the bottom of the bed with landscape fabric to prevent soil leaching.
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Add a 2-3 inch layer of coarse gravel at the base for drainage.
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Fill three-fourths of the bed with the soil mix.
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Level and lightly compress the soil, leaving about 2 inches from the rim.
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Consider installing an irrigation system if feasible.
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Place the bed in the optimal spot for sunlight exposure.
Choosing the Right Plants
When selecting plants, opt for compact, bushy varieties that will thrive in the confined raised bed space:
Vegetables – Leafy greens, radishes, peppers, eggplant, beans, peas, tomatoes, carrots, beets, Swiss chard.
Herbs – Oregano, thyme, sage, parsley, basil, rosemary, cilantro, dill, mint.
Flowers – Marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, nasturtiums, violas, petunias, million bells, snapdragons.
Caring for Raised Balcony Beds
Raised beds require relatively minimal maintenance but you need to provide plants with regular:
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Watering – Check soil moisture frequently and water when the top inch feels dry. Consider installing drip irrigation.
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Fertilization – Apply organic fertilizer or compost tea monthly to nourish plants.
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Weeding – Check for weeds weekly and pull them out while roots are still small.
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Pruning and training – Trim overgrown veggies and train vines. Pinch back leggy annuals.
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Insect and disease control – Remove pests by hand and use organic sprays if infestation is severe.
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Seasonal soil replenishment – Mix in 1-2 inches of finished compost or worm castings each spring and fall.
With the right setup and care, it is easy to enjoy a thriving raised bed balcony garden! Try out some of these tips to create your own beautiful and bountiful balcony garden.
Enjoy Gardening, Even Without the Backyard
Whether you live in an apartment or a house without a yard, you can turn your balcony into a beautiful space with lovely plants, flowers, and salad greens. With our easy-to-maintain balcony garden boxes, ideas for an at-home garden are limitless.
Fill our small planters with different types of soil to grow vegetables right outside your door. If you enjoy cooking and frequently create new meal ideas, why not have a balcony garden box and grow many types of herbs within your reach? The herbs and vegetables you grow on balconies in durable garden boxes with raised beds will provide plenty of fresh ingredients.
No matter your gardening ideas, you can grow healthy food and beautiful plants without a backyard. However, you dont have to sacrifice your balconys space for your new plants, flowers, and vegetables. Customize your balcony garden with our many balcony planter options, including raised bed planters on wheels and small planters for confined spaces.
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We build our balcony garden boxes to last. Whether you choose a raised garden bed or a rolling planter from us, rest assured the product consists of quality materials with natural rot resistance. We also ensure every kit is easy to assemble so you can quickly start growing vegetables and planting your favorite flowers to adorn your balcony.
Because we focus on easy-to-assemble balcony garden boxes and planters with raised beds, most of our kits have everything youll need to build your boxes. Assembly is so straightforward that most kits dont require tools. The only exception is the raised bed planters with legs, yet it wont take much time or effort to put everything together.
A balcony garden box with a raised bed is the perfect alternative to a traditional garden if you dont have enough yard space to accommodate it. Balconies serve as a fine outdoor living space. If youre looking for ideas and ways to enhance your balcony, our durable, low-maintenance balcony garden beds are an ideal fit.
Using our balcony garden boxes for your outdoor space will help you discover many ideas to enhance your balcony and add beauty to the space. Even if you have a small balcony, our durable raised bed garden boxes help maximize the available room.
Elevated Container Garden Mini Raised Bed Planter for Balcony Deck Urban Outdoor & Indoor & No Water
FAQ
How do I turn my balcony into a garden?
Turn your balcony into a vertical garden. Attach pots, shelves, or trellises to the walls; and if your balcony has a ceiling, add a few hooks for hanging plants. Cover the railings of your balcony with chicken wire to support climbing plants, or purchase plant hangers that can be attached to the top of a railing.
What vegetables should not be grown in a raised bed?
- Potatoes.
- Asparagus.
- Artichokes.
- Rhubarb.
- Corn.
- Wheat.
- Rice.
- Winter Squash.
What are the disadvantages of a raised garden bed?
While generally minor, raised beds do have some disadvantages. Raised beds dry out faster than level garden sites. Accordingly, they have to be watered more frequently in dry weather. Initial construction of the raised bed may take more effort than maintenance of the conventional garden.
What is a raised bed garden for balcony?
Her areas of expertise include DIY project planning, sustainable garden design, and content creation. Raised Bed Gardens for Balcony are perfect for growing vegetables or herbs of your choice in a limited space. They are also great for older people!
Can a balcony raised garden bed grow vegetables?
If you live in an urban apartment and want to grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers easily in a small space, then you can take ideas from these Balcony Raised Garden Bed pictures! 1. Raised Bed to Salad Greens and Other Plants 2. Wooden Raised Vegetable Garden With Sections 3. Mini Raised Bed 4. An Elegant Raised Garden Planter 5.
How to make a raised bed on a balcony?
However, it’s not difficult to create your own raised bed on a balcony. Generally, a simplewooden box is the easiest way to go. The depth of the box depends on what you want to grow, but with a depth of 8 inches (20 cm.), you can grow vegetables like radishes, chard, lettuce, spinach, green onions, and most herbs.
Who is raised bed gardens for balcony?
A Pinterest favorite, Sherin is committed to eco-friendly solutions and has contributed to various home and garden publications. Her areas of expertise include DIY project planning, sustainable garden design, and content creation. Raised Bed Gardens for Balcony are perfect for growing vegetables or herbs of your choice in a limited space.
What is a raised garden bed?
Raised Bed Gardens for Balcony are perfect for growing vegetables or herbs of your choice in a limited space. They are also great for older people! If you live in an urban apartment and want to grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers easily in a small space, then you can take ideas from these Balcony Raised Garden Bed pictures! 1.
How to choose a raised garden bed?
For a new look, opt for a square raised garden bed with wheels. It can be placed on your deck, patio, balcony or even indoors. Choose high quality wheels made from premium material, like polyurethane. This will ensure that your hard floors are not scratched when rolling the raised garden bed. 18. Raised Garden Beds of Unique Design