The vegetable garden on the balcony in September can really surprise and give unexpected joys: the milder climate and the days that are shortened by creating the ideal environment for new sowing and collected that arrive just when you least expect.
With September, nature changes tone, the colors become hottest and more intense, and the fresh air almost spontaneously invites you to put your hands on the vases and earth. It is that moment when the balcony seems to ask for attention and, in return, offers the promise of genuine and fragrant vegetables. In this period the balcony should not be considered an angle off, on the contrary: it can be transformed into a surprisingly productive green refuge. Just now you can sow and transplant varieties that ensure fresh and tasty harvests without too much effort. The cooler air supports the growth of resistant plants, while the remaining light is more than enough to start new crops.
It is worth getting vases, soil and a pinch of imagination. Even a small outdoor space can give crunchy salads, aromatic herbs and seasonal vegetables ready to take immediately to the table.
What to plant on the balcony in September
September offers many possibilities to those who grow in pots. Autumn vegetables are the real protagonists: they love fresh temperatures and do not fear reduced light hours. Salads and autumn lettuces grow quickly and collect in a few weeks. Spinach and chard are perfect for enriching soups and nutrients. The Ravanelli, very rapid, give almost immediate satisfactions. Brussels cabbage and cabbage require more time but resist without problems in the first cold. Finally, the balcony can continue to perfume thanks to parsley, coriander and chives, which give aromatic leaves to winter.
It is interesting to note that the more short days favor some varieties, preventing early flowering that often ruins summer salads.
Vegetables to be collected again in autumn
September does not only mean new sowing: many vegetables planted in the hot months continue to be benefited even now. It is a period in which the balcony surprises with colors and perfumes that know in summer but already look at autumn. With some more attention, the plants give generous harvests without asking for great care. It is nice to observe how the most delicate sun makes some flavors even more intense. And it turns out that even in late October the balcony can remain productive and full of life.
Precisely for this reason it is worth remembering which vegetables continue to give satisfactions this season:
- Tardial tomatoeswhich give juicy bunches if the plants have been treated constantly.
- Zuchiniswhich resist well until the temperatures fall too much.
- Peppers and chillieswhich become even tastier thanks to the less intense sun.
- Eggplantwhich continue to mature until the arrival of the first colds.
- Basil and mintwhich if well sheltered can resist the longer than expected, keeping the balcony alive. Colored and productive and late October.
Late tomatoes can still be collected, which give juicy bunches if the plants have been cured constantly. Zucchini resist until the temperatures go too far, while peppers and chillies become even tastier thanks to the less intense sun. Even eggplants continue to mature, offering excellent collections until the arrival of the first colds. And it is surprising to find that, if well sheltered, aromatic plants such as basil and mint can resist longer than expected, keeping the balcony alive.
Practical tips for a vegetable garden on the productive balcony
Knowing what to plant is important, but small tricks really make the difference. It is better to choose capacious vases and with a good drainage to allow the roots to grow healthy. The soil must be enriched with compost or organic fertilizer, so the plants have constant nourishment. The most delicate varieties benefit from breathable sheets in the first cold nights, while the best exposure remains the one in the morning in the morning, more delicate and beneficial. The water should never be overlooked: even if the days are fresh, the roots need regular hydration.
September is therefore not a month to pause, but of new energy for those who cultivate on the balcony. Between fast salads and vegetables that will accompany until winter, the urban garden continues to surprise.
And the satisfaction of collecting fresh vegetables from a corner of the house remains priceless.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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