What plants can be grown on the balcony in winter?

With the onset of cold weather on the balconies it becomes boring and deserted. Summer plants have faded and only empty pots remind of greenery. But this is not a reason to abandon the balcony until spring, you can equip a winter garden and admire its beauty in the harsh cold weather.It is hardly possible to equip a winter garden on an open balcony if it is located in a cold climatic zone. The maximum that can be done is to decorate it with fir compositions. But on closed, glazed loggias there are much more opportunities. Snow does not cover them. Temperature can fluctuate. If the thermometer drops to minus 10 ° behind the glass, it will be positive on the balcony. When it is severe frost outside up to 25 - 30 °, the temperature on the insulated balcony will be up to minus 5 °. There are plant species that do well in this temperature regime.

Winter plants for the balcony

Winter plants for the balcony should be selected depending on your location, climatic conditions and conditions of detention.

Citrus fruits can winter at a temperature of + 7 °.
Cacti are very adaptable plants. They can tolerate not only drought, but most species do well at a temperature of +5, and some of them are not even afraid of frost.
Plants such as laurel, pelargonium (geranium), fuchsia, hydrangea, chrysanthemums, boxwood are adapted for temperatures of + 5-6 °.
Camellias can become a decoration of the balcony in winter, they tolerate temperatures up to minus 5 °. The ideal conditions for her are a balcony, where the temperature is from 0 to 15 °.
Conifers araucaria, thuja, cypress, cryptomeria. The temperature of the content for them in winter is + 6-10 °.

Each flower or shrub requires individual conditions, so we will consider how to care for the most popular frost-hardy winter plants.

Heather and Erica

Heather is a low, unpretentious shrub that does not wither when cold weather sets in, and in frost it simply freezes, but does not change its decorative appearance. Common heather (Caluna vulgaris) and Erica (Erica carnea) are suitable for balconies. You can buy the plant in garden stores or in the market. From August to November, the heather is strewn with flowers, small flowers resemble bells, and on the branches-inflorescences there are double flowers, similar to roses.

Shrubs are usually planted in pots, heather loves acidic soil, you can add peat to the soil or buy a ready-made potting mix. With the onset of frost, the shrub actually dies, but does not lose its magnificent appearance. Therefore, watering is carried out before the onset of severe cold weather.

Erica and Heather are very similar at first glance. Erica is also a frost-hardy shrub, but blooms from January to April. For autumn bloom, from September to November, it is recommended to plant the species Erika gracilis. The optimum temperature of the content is from 7 to 15 °. During flowering + 8 °. Water Erica 2 times a week. The plant needs good lighting.

Related article: How to grow a hellebore on the balcony

Juniper

Junipers, one of the few coniferous plants, perfectly tolerate wintering in containers - with complete freezing of the earthen coma. Juniper is not picky about the composition of the soil, but it is still better to add peat and sand.Very often a bonsai or bonsai tree is formed from the plant. To enhance the effect, they are sometimes planted on stones. The plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture, so intensive watering is not required. In the cold season, watering is rarely done.

Euonymus

The euonymus (Euonymus fortunei) can grow up to 60 cm and up to 2 meters near the wall. In winter, the leaves turn purple-red. After frost, the plant takes on its usual color. Preferred temperatures for euonymus in summer are + 18-20 °. In winter + 6 °. It can tolerate lower temperatures, but for this it is necessary to strengthen the roots: put a wooden plank or foam under the pot and wrap the pot with batting. In the summer, the plant is watered abundantly, and in the winter, it is significantly reduced. Euonymus is one of the most popular plants for winter gardening of the balcony.

Boxwood

Boxwood is an original green decor element. Without human intervention, the plant can reach impressive sizes, but skillful hands make bonsai out of it, create magnificent green sculptures. The plant can overwinter on the balcony, provided that the temperature does not drop below + 10 °.

Small conifers

Dwarf conifers are frequent guests on balconies. Having planted such plants as araucaria, cypress, yew, thuja, you can enjoy the healing tart smell without leaving the forest. Such plants calmly tolerate the temperature on the balcony up to minus five degrees. In autumn, it will not be difficult to buy these plants in pots or tubs. Dwarf plants grow very slowly, add one centimeter per year and do not like a haircut. Therefore, some winter plants for the balcony can be purchased in advance and kept all year round.

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Do you have a summer cottage or a vegetable garden? How not? Do you have a balcony and a windowsill? Yes! So you have a vegetable garden! Today I will tell you about what vegetables can be planted on the balcony.

Growing vegetables with your own hands on a balcony garden is a fascinating and useful activity

The balcony can be given over to flowers, but it is much more interesting to grow healthy and tasty vegetables. This can be braided beans, crispy cucumbers, tomatoes, a whole lawn of fragrant herbs, and peppers with a twinkle. But let's talk about everything in order.

Balcony gardening has a significant advantage - at home, vegetables are protected from low temperatures, pests and diseases.

We grow vegetables vertically in "pots" from plastic pipes

If you plan on growing vegetables year-round, consider additional lighting. Fluorescent lamps will perfectly cope with this role.

What to grow?

Are you wondering what vegetables to plant on the balcony? Cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, beans, lettuce and aromatic herbs are not a complete list of balcony vegetables.

The simplest and earliest is leafy greens: lettuce, cilantro, dill, basil, celery, parsley, green onions.

Eggplants, peppers and tomatoes belong to the category of perennial plants that can be grown year-round in the warmth. With proper care, individual plants can bear fruit for up to 4-5 years.

The most unpretentious for home growing is greens.

For a home garden, it is advisable to use undersized varieties of vegetables, but there are no restrictions on the choice of a variety of greens.

Many breeding and seed companies have developed special varieties for fans of balcony gardens, which have moderate growth, shade tolerance, abundant long-term fruiting and short internodes.

Technical equipment

Growing vegetables on the balcony starts with seedlings

For modest-sized beds with greenery, you can use boxes with a depth of 10 cm and a capacity of 5-10 liters.
For pepper, tomato, cucumber and eggplant, I recommend choosing individual pots of 3-5 liters.
Ampel tomatoes can be placed in hanging pots.
In the matter of land selection, give preference to loose fertile neutral soil, peat, compost, various peat-soil mixtures. In this case, the acidity of the soil should vary from 6.0 to 6.8.

Pepper

Is it possible to grow a crop of peppers on the balcony? It is possible if you provide him with comfortable conditions.

Both sweet and hot peppers can be grown in a balcony. The latter will require a warm and bright place. I recommend taking a closer look at the varieties:

Flint;
"Carmen";
"Ryabinushka";
"Ogonyok";
"Indian summer";
"Bride".

Providing comfortable growth conditions, up to 60 fruits can be set on one plant. Growing temperature - 26-27 ° С.

If you have passed the choice in favor of sweet pepper, pay attention to the varieties with medium-sized fruits, for example, "Bucharest", "Kuzya", "Aquarelle".

Bitter and sweet peppers can grow on the balcony at the same time, but in this case they must be placed at a distance of 3-4 meters from each other. Otherwise, as a result of cross-pollination, all the pepper will be bitter.

Tomatoes

If the area allows you, you can plant tall varieties.

The cultivar chosen should be early maturing, compact and growing in the least amount of natural light.

I recommend paying attention to:

Pinocchio;
Balcony Miracle;
Bonsai;
Little Red Riding Hood;
Baby.

These varieties do not require pinning, shaping and support. They have an amazing decorative quality due to the large number of bright red, round, medium-sized fruits.

When choosing a variety, pay attention to the color of the tomatoes. It is great if among the red cherries there is a place for varieties with orange and yellow fruits.

In the photo ampelny tomatoes

Unfortunately, there are not so many ampel varieties grown in suspended containers. Rowan beads, Golden bunch, Ampelny and Zhemchuzhinka are presented for your judgment.

If you do not like small cherries, take a look at the larger varieties, for example, "Betta" and "Alaska", the weight of their fruits can reach 80 grams.

The optimum temperature for growing tomatoes is 23-25 ° C.

Carrot

What vegetables can be grown at home? Of course, carrots!

What other vegetables can you grow on the balcony? Carrot! When choosing seeds, be guided by the above rule - the variety must be dwarf. From personal experience I can recommend Sophie and Parmex. They do not require large areas, and you can crunch the first carvinka in 80-90 days.

Carrots are extremely demanding on the quality of the soil. The latter should be well drained.

For growing, it is not necessary to build a box with your own hands, cut off plastic bottles will be enough. The optimum temperature is 13-24 ° C.

Green onions

Before growing green onions, carefully check the planting material.

Green onions are the simplest plant to grow on a balcony. When choosing a bulb for planting, pay attention to the quality; there should be no traces of rot in it.

After planting, place the onions in a dark, cool place for quick root formation. But Peru will need a well-lit area. Temperature range - 18-20 ° С.

Cucumbers

For planting cucumbers, choose self-pollinating varieties marked with F1. In comfortable conditions, 30-40 cucumbers can be collected from one bush.

Recommended varieties:

"Stresa";
"Biryusa";
Barnaulets;
"Gribovsky";
"Dubrovsky";
"Courage".

Plants are planted in containers with a volume of 5 liters and over and watered constantly. The optimum temperature is 22-24 ° C.

Ginger

Is it possible to grow vegetables that grow in exotic countries like Jamaica? Yes, if it's ginger.

Much has been said about the benefits of ginger, but few people know that it can be successfully grown at home. For planting, use pieces of ginger root in 3-4 sections with live buds.

If the root is a little dry, soak it in warm water for several hours to awaken the kidneys.

The planting is carried out in an individual pot at a shallow depth. Before the first shoots appear, watering should be moderate. The optimal temperature regime is 21-25 ° С.

Murava grass

Grasses are the most unpretentious among balcony residents

What a vegetable garden without fragrant greenery!

Name	Growing instructions	Optimum t °
Mint	It is quite unpretentious, and can grow on the balcony all year round. Planting is carried out by seeds or cuttings. The latter method is preferable as seedmint is less well accepted and takes time to harvest. Mint cannot do without good watering and quality lighting.	20-25 ° C.
Basil	Basil, regardless of the variety, feels great in a flower pot or box. For a fragrant balcony dweller, the sunny part of the balcony is allocated, thoroughly watered and provide good drainage. Planting is carried out by seeds or cuttings. Cuttings can produce a quick harvest, but they are short-lived and also give color quickly. The basilica needs a 3-4 hour increase in daylight hours, so provide additional light sources.	20-25 ° C
Sorrel	It is notable for the fact that it feels great with a lack of light, therefore it does not pretend to be the sunny part of the balcony. For planting, you can use rhizomes with buds at the age of 2-4 years or seeds. I recommend taking a closer look at the varieties "Odessa broadleaf" and "Altai". Sorrel is undemanding to temperature and can survive even minor frosts (seasoned guy).	from +5 ° С
Thyme	In nature, the plant grows in dry areas on poor soil. In order to take his life at home, you will have to make a lot of effort. The main requirement of thyme is an abundance of light. It can be left even in direct sunlight, which other balcony plants will not tolerate. Planting is done by seeds or cuttings.	25-30 ° C
Salad	Prefers moderate shade and regular soil moisture. If these requirements are met, after 18-22 days you will be able to harvest the first salad harvest.	below 18 ° C

Five secrets of a rich harvest

Separate pots, moderate lighting and watering are all that is required for a comfortable garden setting

Choose small-fruited but high-yielding hybrids and varieties. The thing is that in a limited area it is difficult for plants to feed large fruits, they are few or they ripen for a long time.
Make sure that the soil does not dry out. In response to ignoring the need for watering, the plant may shed leaves and flowers.

If you don't want to turn a cucumber into a desert cactus, set up a watering system. To do this, a plastic bottle with several holes is dug into the ground, into which water is poured.

The roots will gradually receive moisture, and the ground from above will not be covered with a crust.

Rare balcony residents will thank you for direct sunlight. To ensure comfortable conditions, "tint" the balcony windows with white paper.
Don't overdo it with fertilizer. Folk wisdom about porridge and butter will be inappropriate here.

Divide the rate indicated in the instructions by 2 times, first water the plant with water, then with diluted fertilizer. The cost of your "generosity" is too high - the plants can burn the root system and die.

If you plant two bushes in one pot, you will not get twice the yield. Most likely, the fruits will be small and insignificant.

Summing up

Now you know what vegetables to plant on the balcony and how to properly care for them, I just have to offer novice gardeners an interesting video in this article.

And what grows on your balcony or in a pot on the windowsill, perhaps pineapple or fragrant strawberries? Share your achievements and tips with our readers.

September 13, 2016

If you want to express gratitude, add clarification or objection, ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!

With the onset of winter, most of the balcony plants die, because annual flowering crops are not adapted to cold weather. Not a single houseplant can overwinter on an open balcony, but some flowers adapted to low temperatures can be grown in closed loggias.

Winter balcony

Cultures for insulated balconies should be selected based on the climatic conditions of the area of residence and the conditions of the plant itself. The opinion that indoor plants cannot tolerate temperatures from 0 to + 5C is fundamentally wrong. There are a number of rooms for which such a temperature is simply necessary in the winter according to the requirements of agricultural technology.

Desert cacti - brave thorny "hedgehogs" are not afraid of low temperatures, on the contrary - for lush flowering, cacti simply need a period of winter dormancy at a relatively low temperature. The glazed and insulated balcony is an ideal place for wintering cacti.

On an insulated balcony, citrus fruits feel much better than indoors.

It is very important to reduce watering as much as possible during the cold period, and place the collection in a sunny place. After a properly organized wintering, cacti will show all their splendor during the flowering period.

Citrus plants winter well at a temperature of + 7 °, enduring temporary temperature fluctuations up to 0. The natural habitat of citrus fruits is the Mediterranean, where oranges and lemons grow on city streets. On the balcony, lemon trees adapt perfectly to low temperatures, it is important to ensure that watering is not abundant at this time.

For citrus crops, wintering on the balcony is the best way out, because the plants feel oppressed in a dark room when the central heating is turned on. Dry air is contraindicated for orange and lemon bushes, because with increased dry air, pests attack plants: scale insects, spider mites and others.

A laurel tree will easily endure wintering on the balcony

Ornamental deciduous plants such as laurel, boxwood, holly, palms can tolerate wintering at temperatures from + 5C. If the loggia is reliably insulated, this temperature is precisely maintained in the room, but when the frost intensifies, you should carefully monitor the change in temperature in order to bring the plants into heat in time.

Blooming indoor are not at all as sissy as people think of them. On the winter balcony, such plants as fuchsia, pelargonium, hydrangea (hydrangea) thrive and bloom; chrysanthemums and indoor roses.

The temperature range from +5 to +6 C is just right for growing these plants on a winter balcony. Camellia will withstand such temperatures, its amazing lush flowers challenge the crackling frost outside the balcony windows.

For the flowering of camellia, the position of the pot relative to the light source is very important, therefore, when buds appear, it is strictly not recommended to move the pot with the plant.

Conifers for the balcony

Juniper is a stylish decoration for the balcony

A large group of conifers, which are often used to decorate winter balconies, deserve a separate discussion.

Most conifers tolerate wintering well at temperatures from +6 to +10 degrees, so thuja, junipers, spruces, pines, cedars, cypress trees, araucaria and other conifers feel great on the insulated loggia.

How to grow thuja

Thuja on the balcony is grown most often in winter. This culture grows very easily from seeds, so it is not difficult to grow thuja on your own. The following varieties of western thuja with different crown shapes are suitable for growing in pots:

"Danica" - this variety of thuja is characterized by slow growth, an adult plant reaches a height of 1m.For balconies and loggias, it is very important that the tree does not grow to a significant size, otherwise it will have to be planted in open ground.
Variety "Teddy" - refers to dwarf varieties, the height of which does not exceed half a meter. The crown is formed by a haircut, usually giving the tree a spherical shape.
"Recurva Nana" - reaches a height of 1.5 m, but the plant develops very slowly. At a young age, the crown of the thuja has a spherical shape, a little later it stretches out, forming a conical shape.

Watch a video on how to properly care for a thuja with your own hands.

In addition to green forms, there are varieties of thuja with multi-colored needles. It is worth noting that the tree develops best on a sunny balcony, the lack of light negatively affects the appearance of the tree - the thuja stretches, the color of the needles fades. Thuja varieties with colored needles are especially demanding on lighting.

If the balcony is oriented to the north side, besides, it is glazed, it is best to refuse to grow thuja. On the north side, box trees grow beautifully, which do not require bright lighting.

For conifers planted in pots and containers, there are two troubles: overflow and overdrying. In the summer, it is required to regularly water the conifers, spraying the needles several times a day. In winter, it is important to observe the measure when watering the plants. In cold weather, a wet earthy clod dries out for a long time, so a special irrigation regime is established for the winter time.

Conifers do not stop growing in winter, so they do not stop dosed fertilization of growing trees. In order to prevent an overdose of fertilizers in winter, you should use a granular fertilizer for conifers with a prolonged period of action.

We recommend watching a video on how to properly care for a thuja.

To prevent freezing of the thuja root system, the pots with plants should be carefully insulated, for which containers with plants are covered from all sides with straw or reed mats, foam and other insulating materials.

What are the balconies

First of all, it should be noted that balconies are different. If the balcony is open and located in a climatic zone where it is minus 30 in winter, then only snow drifts will decorate it. And, perhaps, also a composition of spruce or pine branches for the New Year.

The glazed balcony is better. At least there won't be snow here. But the temperature on such a balcony can be different. In mild climates, when the outside temperature does not drop below minus 10 even at night, there will always be a positive temperature on the balcony. Where winters are more severe, temperature fluctuations will be significant: when it gets colder behind the glass to minus 30, then inside it will be minus 10-15. On an insulated balcony with high-quality double-glazed windows, even in severe frost, the thermometer will not drop below minus 5 even in strong winds.

And if there is no snow on the balcony and the temperature is above zero, then you can keep plants here in winter. Of course, they are not thermophilic tropical ones, they will not withstand low temperatures. But there are plants that are capable of not losing their decorative effect even at low temperatures, and some prefer temperatures no higher than 10 degrees. In addition, one should not forget about evergreens of a temperate climatic zone.

Happy owners of glazed balconies need to consider one more feature before starting to select green pets for the balcony. How is your home ventilated? If the windows on the balcony open wide, then this is dangerous for many plants, most of them do not tolerate sudden changes in temperature.

Cold-resistant plants for winter gardening of the balcony

Temperature on the balcony +5 and above (although a short-term decrease to 0 is possible). Many plants can be used for winter gardening of the balcony. Chlorophytum and zonal pelargonium will grow from ordinary indoor ones. Of the many beautiful hybrids of pelargonium, you should choose the simplest one, which grandmothers call geraniums. Yucca filamentous and Washingtonia palm can withstand such low temperatures on the balcony - these plants tolerate slight frosts.

Camellia can become the queen of the winter garden on the balcony, most camellias can withstand up to minus 5 degrees of frost. At temperatures from 0 to 15, the balcony is the best place for her. Many gardeners with some caution keep an azalea on the balcony (the temperature minimum for it is 5-6 ° C). Cyclamens also love the cold during flowering, for them the ideal temperature is 10-15 ° C during the day and 6-8 ° C at night, which usually happens on glazed balconies with insulation.

In the fall, many flower shops offer heather or erica.

These are low cold-resistant shrubs covered with small flowers with bells. They bloom in autumn and winter and look very decorative for a long time, even when they are already dry. A feature of this plant is the ability to keep flowers painted in the original color on the branches.

Hebe, or Hebe, is a plant that is still little known in Russia, but it is a large genus of evergreen low shrubs, there are many varieties of hebe that can withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -5-6 degrees below zero. Hebe thick-leaved is successfully grown even in summer cottages in central Russia, in a cold winter garden on the balcony this plant will grow without problems.

Ivy is used for vertical gardening, many of its varieties are frost-resistant, they successfully winter in the soil in the Crimea, in the Odessa region, where the temperature drops to minus 10 degrees.

In February, the winter garden on the balcony can be revitalized with blooming hyacinths and primroses. Hyacinths are taken out into the cool, when they have already driven out the peduncle and begin to bloom, flowering in the cool lasts much longer than in a warm apartment.

During the day, on a sunny balcony, the temperature rises to 10-15 degrees and the plants will be quite comfortable here. It will also be good for the owners of the winter backside among the green plants on the balcony, when there is still snow behind the glass.

The temperature on the balcony is from +5 to -5 (briefly to -10). Evergreen garden plants can be used on such a cold balcony in winter. In the fall, it is not at all difficult to buy such a plant in a tub or in a pot. They are sold for planting in gardens. These are dwarf spruces and pines, and juniper, and fir, and thuja, and boxwood (buxus). After wintering on the balcony, these plants are best planted in the spring in the garden; it will most likely not be possible to keep them in the house in the summer.

A very beautiful plant for winter gardening of a balcony or euonymus loggia. Forchun's euonymus "Coloratus" or Forchun's euonymus "Emerald & Gould" with variegated leaves can withstand temperatures down to minus 35 degrees. Frost stains their leaves pink-purple.

Gaultheria procumbens is an unfamiliar yet evergreen dwarf shrub up to 15 cm high, whose bright red inedible berries sometimes remain on the bush all winter long, and these bright spots in a white New Year's landscape look very tempting.

It is very rare to find Pyracantha on sale. This is a perennial evergreen frost-hardy shrub, the bright red fruits of which persist throughout the winter and look especially impressive against the background of dark green foliage. Perfect for a winter garden on a cold balcony.

Some tricks for keeping plants in winter on a cold balcony

Frost-resistant conifers or evergreens that can withstand winter in the garden without problems sometimes die on the balcony, although it is warmer here, and care and watering are provided.Most often this happens for two reasons: excessive watering and hypothermia of the roots.

Watering plants on a cold winter balcony is rarely necessary, just moisten the soil a little on warm days. Most plants are dormant in winter, they do not have shoot growth and flowering, so they need the most minimal watering.

Freezing of the roots is an unexpected reason. But you need to know that the roots of many evergreen conifers and shrubs are very deep. The soil in the garden does not freeze to such a depth, especially if the roots are covered with a layer of mulch. The ground part is dormant in winter.

On a cold balcony, the soil in a small pot or tub can freeze completely. At the same time, the temperature sometimes rises significantly during the day, especially on the sunny side. And the heat awakens the plants to grow and develop.

In such conditions, the roots of plants need to be insulated. For this, the floor on the balcony is insulated with wood, cork, foam. Pots and tubs are tied with foam rubber, batting, burlap or any other insulation. To make them look decorative, they are tied with a bright fabric on top. The soil is mulched with peat or sawdust.

Date of publication:Growing