Greenhouse for the balcony – 3 variants presented



If you don’t have your own garden, you don’t have to do without a greenhouse. Nowadays there are even smaller models for the balcony. I would like to introduce three of them to you here.

Greenhouse for the balcony - 3 variants presented
© Brebca – Fotolia.com

Greenhouses are becoming more and more popular. No wonder, because a greenhouse offers several advantages at the same time. On the one hand, you can start sowing early and therefore enjoy a longer harvest time. On the other hand, warmth-loving plants thrive much better in a greenhouse. A greenhouse also has an important benefit for tomatoes, cucumbers etc. – it protects the plants from wind and rain.

A greenhouse is often associated with a garden, and there are also special space-saving models for the balcony. Because even if you don’t have a house or an apartment with a garden, you don’t have to do without fruit and vegetables from your own cultivation.

Conditions for a rich harvest

If you place a greenhouse on your balcony and expect a rich harvest, some requirements must be met. That includes:

“Plenty of sun:

Most fruits and vegetables need enough sun to thrive. Balconies with southeast or southwest orientation are the best choice.

“Good ventilation:

If the air is on the balcony and accordingly in the greenhouse, the plants are more susceptible to diseases and pests. They must therefore ensure a good climate, i.e. sufficient ventilation.

“Optimum planters:

Simply spread soil on the balcony and use plants does not work of course. You must place the plants in planters or alternatively e.g. in a mortar tub (with drainage!). The pots should contain at least 10 litres so that the plants have enough space there later.

“Notice: There are also models that have a kind of raised bed at the bottom where the earth comes in. Then, of course, this point is dropped.

“Real Earth:

Do not use potting soil for growing vegetables, but special potting soil. Very recommendable is here e.g. coconut substrate (more about the advantages here), as you can get it cheap at Amazon.de. This has a much better water retention capacity than standard peat soil. In addition, the roots of the plant are better ventilated by the loose structure. This ensures better plant growth.

Greenhouse models for the balcony

Mini greenhouse

Normal standard balconies do not necessarily have perfect dimensions for large greenhouses. Finally, there should also be space for a table and chairs to relax. But you don’t have to do without it, because there are really small greenhouses. Of course it is clear that you cannot plant 10 tomato plants, 5 cucumbers and lettuce there. For small potted plants or various herbs such a mini greenhouse is enough. Of course, you can also use the mini greenhouse to grow plants in the field.

By the way, during my research for mini-greenhouses I came across an automatic mini-greenhouse. This is a round pot for lettuce and herbs, equipped with LED and a built-in automatic irrigation pump. The device takes care of the maintenance itself, so to speak.

Smart Mini LED Greenhouse
© by Plantui.com

Not quite cheap, but definitely space-saving and labour-saving. You can also find this and other ingenious and partly curious helpers for the garden at idealo.de.

foil greenhouse

A widespread and also the most favourable method is the foil greenhouse. In most cases, this is a bar frame that is covered with a film.

Foil greenhouses are available in different sizes, so that small as well as larger balconies can be equipped with an appropriate greenhouse. It is important that you pay attention to the type of film when buying. Thermo foil is highly recommended, so that the heat of the sun’s rays is conducted inside the house.

Probably the biggest advantage of a foil greenhouse is its simple construction and dismantling. At the beginning of the season you can set it up quickly to start cultivation, and when the winter season starts or a storm threatens, the foil greenhouse can be packed together and stowed away in a windy and space-saving way.

If the film is damaged, you can simply replace it without having to buy a new greenhouse. First and foremost a foil greenhouse is intended for tomato plants, but you can also grow peppers, herbs and other vegetables there.

leaning against greenhouse

The last variant to be mentioned here is the lean-to greenhouse, which is considerably more massive and more durable than the foil greenhouse.

The lean-to greenhouse is a greenhouse with a flat rear side that is placed against a house or shed wall to save space. The biggest advantage here is that the house wall stores the heat during the day and can thus release it to the greenhouse. Thus the plants get enough warmth even in the late evening hours, so that a better and healthier growth is given.

There are also lean-to greenhouses in different sizes, so that everyone can find a suitable model for their balcony or terrace. I have seen a large selection with different widths and depths at beckmann-kg.de.

Don Burke

I am Don Burke, one of the authors at My Garden Guide.  I am a horticulturist that cultivates, grows, and cares for plants, ranging from shrubs and fruits to flowers. I do it in my own garden and in my nursery. I show you how to take care of your garden and how to perform garden landscaping in an easy way, step by step.I am originally from Sydney and I wrote in local magazines. Later on, I have decided, more than two decades ago, to create my own blog. My area of specialization is related to orchid care, succulent care, and the study of the substrate and the soil. Therefore, you will see many articles dedicated to these disciplines. I also provide advice about how to improve the landscape design of your garden.

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