Preparing the soil of the balcony for autumn sowing is the secret to having strong and productive plants even in the colder months. With a few careful care, the balcony can become an urban vegetable garden capable of surprising every time.
When it comes to autumn sowing on the balcony, it is not just about filling the vases with a few seeds, but of giving new energy to a space that often remains in the shade. Plants ask for a living ground, capable of breathing and feeding. And autumn, with its more stable climate, becomes a silent ally: less sudden changes, more balance for the seeds that begin to sprout.
It is worth starting immediately with a practical gesture: empty the old vases, throw away the now tired soil and prepare the new one. You don’t need professionals equipment, just a little attention. It is precisely in these small movements that satisfaction was born: the balcony, little by little, begins to tell another story.
Cleaning and renewal of the ground on the balcony for autumn sowing
The first step, simple but fundamental, is cleaning. The vases that have hosted summer plants often hide dry roots, remains of leaves and sometimes even parasites. All everything, without hesitation. A quick wash with water and vinegar and containers are ready to welcome new life. Then there is the ground, which over time loses vigor. Mix a little fresh soil to the old one is already enough to give him oxygen to him. Some also prefer to add mature compost, which not only nourishes but makes the earth softer and easy to work. Sometimes just put a hand in the pot to notice if the soil is soft at the right point.
A often forgotten detail concerns drainage: a layer of expanded clay or gravel on the bottom. Without, the water stagnates and the roots risk rotting. And there is no more frustrating thing than losing a plant for such a trivial error.
The right nutrients for autumn sowing
With the ground ready, you need to enrich it. Autumn sowing does not ask for exaggerations, but balance. Before reaching the actual ingredients, it is useful to dwell on a couple of considerations. Each vase has different needs, because not everyone retains humidity in the same way. Even exposure to the sun very much influences the need for nutrients. Then there are plants that love rich soils and others that are satisfied slightly. And, not a small detail, the quality of the soil changes from packaging to packaging, so it is never the same for everyone. Here is what can help:
- Compost or humus of earthwormswhich strengthen the soil structure.
- Granular organic fertilizeruseful because it releases nutrients slowly.
- Chopped dry leavesexcellent for maintaining humidity.
- Ash of woodto be used in moderation, which gives potassium and makes the earth lighter.
It is curious to note how some plants, such as spinach and rocket, prefer soils not too rich in nitrogen: less large, but much tastier leaves. Details that really make the difference when the time comes to collect.
Ideal plants for autumn sowing on the balcony
At this point the most pleasant part arrives: choose what to cultivate. Autumn brings with it a range of possibilities that few imagine. Spinach and cutting lettuces sprout in a few weeks, while the rocket immediately gives its decisive taste. For those who have patience, garlic and spring onions grow slowly but resist well in cold. In larger vases, cabbage and cabbage find space to grow strong.
And then there are the aromatic. Parsley and coriander this season have an even more intense perfume, and keeping them on the balcony means always having a fresh touch for the dishes at hand.
Preparing the ground in autumn is not only technique: it is a way to slow down, observe and wait. Each vase becomes a small world that changes day after day.
And, when the first green leaves sprout in December, one realizes that the cure given in the months before has not been lost, but has found his way of being seen.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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