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Adding color and fragrance to a balcony garden
By Zhang Zhen and Wang Jie |
August 30, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SOW in spring and harvest in autumn is the conventional wisdom of cultivation. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the sights and aromas of flowers and plants throughout the autumn, even if you have only a small balcony to grow them. Here are some tips on what to plant to turn your balcony into a delightful autumn garden.
Peppermint: source of a fragrant life
There are a wonderful variety of mints that are easy to grow, including spearmint, purple flower peppermint, lemon peppermint and musk peppermint. Peppermint's distinctive flavor is often used in condiments, or the leaves can be used to make a tea that aids digestion, relieves fatigue and soothes the mind.
Spearmint is perhaps best-known as a flavoring in candies and toothpaste. Its leaves are also good for making tea. Spearmint is usually cultivated from seed, and a soil rich in peat is a good medium for growth. The seeds of the spearmint plant are very small. They should be spread thinly across the soil before covering them lightly. Keep them moist but not waterlogged. The seeds sprout best at temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsuis in about 7 to 10 days. Shanghai boasts a climate favorable for growing spearmint all year round, except in the dead of winter.
For families who have pet cats, purple flower peppermint is a pungent puss favorite. Oddly enough, it's a stimulant for cats but a tranquillizer for human beings. When used to make tea, it can improve sleeping quality and relax the nerves. Like spearmint, purple flower peppermint does not need any special care to grow. In summer, however, it should be watered every day.
Dwarf sunflowers: source of sunshine
Everyone is probably familiar with the tall stalks of sunflowers, but let's face it, they're a bit too tall for small balcony gardens. The best choice is to grow hybrid dwarf sunflowers. Like their taller cousins, this variety is easy to grow and needs no special care. It adapts well to soils and temperatures.
Growing seedlings and then transplanting them into flower pots is the most common way to grow them. A bit of compost in the soil aids growth. Sow seeds shallowly, about 10 centimeters apart. When the sprouts are about three or four weeks old, you can transplant them.
These flowers usually grow to a height of about 40 centimeters. Flowerpots with diameters of about 30 centimeters are recommended.
Pansies: multi-colored hardy plants
Also known as fringed iris, pansies love coolness, preferring temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsuis, They can tolerate nighttime temperatures as low as 3 degrees but they don't like frost. Pansies are usually grown from seed. About 7-14 days before sowing, keep the seeds in the refrigerator to spur their germination. A garden soil rich in humus is recommended, with a layer of vermiculite atop the seeds. Keep the soil moist and don't expose the plants to direct sun until after they are well established. Seeds germinate in about 7-14 days. The lower the temperature, the more slowly a pansy plant grows and the stronger it will be when mature.
Peppermint: source of a fragrant life
There are a wonderful variety of mints that are easy to grow, including spearmint, purple flower peppermint, lemon peppermint and musk peppermint. Peppermint's distinctive flavor is often used in condiments, or the leaves can be used to make a tea that aids digestion, relieves fatigue and soothes the mind.
Spearmint is perhaps best-known as a flavoring in candies and toothpaste. Its leaves are also good for making tea. Spearmint is usually cultivated from seed, and a soil rich in peat is a good medium for growth. The seeds of the spearmint plant are very small. They should be spread thinly across the soil before covering them lightly. Keep them moist but not waterlogged. The seeds sprout best at temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsuis in about 7 to 10 days. Shanghai boasts a climate favorable for growing spearmint all year round, except in the dead of winter.
For families who have pet cats, purple flower peppermint is a pungent puss favorite. Oddly enough, it's a stimulant for cats but a tranquillizer for human beings. When used to make tea, it can improve sleeping quality and relax the nerves. Like spearmint, purple flower peppermint does not need any special care to grow. In summer, however, it should be watered every day.
Dwarf sunflowers: source of sunshine
Everyone is probably familiar with the tall stalks of sunflowers, but let's face it, they're a bit too tall for small balcony gardens. The best choice is to grow hybrid dwarf sunflowers. Like their taller cousins, this variety is easy to grow and needs no special care. It adapts well to soils and temperatures.
Growing seedlings and then transplanting them into flower pots is the most common way to grow them. A bit of compost in the soil aids growth. Sow seeds shallowly, about 10 centimeters apart. When the sprouts are about three or four weeks old, you can transplant them.
These flowers usually grow to a height of about 40 centimeters. Flowerpots with diameters of about 30 centimeters are recommended.
Pansies: multi-colored hardy plants
Also known as fringed iris, pansies love coolness, preferring temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsuis, They can tolerate nighttime temperatures as low as 3 degrees but they don't like frost. Pansies are usually grown from seed. About 7-14 days before sowing, keep the seeds in the refrigerator to spur their germination. A garden soil rich in humus is recommended, with a layer of vermiculite atop the seeds. Keep the soil moist and don't expose the plants to direct sun until after they are well established. Seeds germinate in about 7-14 days. The lower the temperature, the more slowly a pansy plant grows and the stronger it will be when mature.
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