Comments on: In which we find a use for our balcony http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-use-for-our-balcony.html Adventures in travel and serial expattery at zurika.com. These are the tales of two Americans currently based in Munich, Germany. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:30:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: ( jason ) http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-use-for-our-balcony.html/comment-page-1#comment-1999 ( jason ) Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:55:00 +0000 http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-a-use-for-our-balcony/#comment-1999 You should look into the square foot gardening method. It allows you to maximize the amount of food you produce, using only 6 inches of soil.<br /><br />A 4x4 section is supposed to produce 'enough' veggies for an average person for longer than a normal growing season. You can go smaller or thinner as your space allows.<br /><br />You can find the website at squarefootgardening dot com. He also has a metric version, if that helps. You should look into the square foot gardening method. It allows you to maximize the amount of food you produce, using only 6 inches of soil.

A 4×4 section is supposed to produce ‘enough’ veggies for an average person for longer than a normal growing season. You can go smaller or thinner as your space allows.

You can find the website at squarefootgardening dot com. He also has a metric version, if that helps.

]]> By: caratime2 http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-use-for-our-balcony.html/comment-page-1#comment-2000 caratime2 Sun, 25 May 2008 19:11:00 +0000 http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-a-use-for-our-balcony/#comment-2000 This is our third summer in this house, and we are slowly but surely getting the garden and balcony in shape. <br /><br />The first summer our new puppies were pretty much given the run of the garden, and - being dachshunds - quickly began digging their way to China through the weeds. It was a mess!<br /><br />The second summer we had sod laid and two cartwheel-shaped stone enclosures for herbs. We also cleared out a lot of the ivy that we considered neither attractive or convenient, and began replacing it with something a bit more colorful.<br /><br />This year the first peony bushes are blossoming and some of the herbs are coming back up. The mint and lemon balm are a challenge, though, because they threaten to again take over if we're not careful.<br /><br />We spent yesterday at Praktiker getting another peony, as well as fuchsia and another oleander for the balcony, plus more basil, thyme a few other herbal goodies.<br /><br />I just posted some preliminary pix on my blog last week and hope to continue capturing our progress as the weeks pass: <br />http://caratime2.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/pre-season-flora/#more-84 This is our third summer in this house, and we are slowly but surely getting the garden and balcony in shape.

The first summer our new puppies were pretty much given the run of the garden, and – being dachshunds – quickly began digging their way to China through the weeds. It was a mess!

The second summer we had sod laid and two cartwheel-shaped stone enclosures for herbs. We also cleared out a lot of the ivy that we considered neither attractive or convenient, and began replacing it with something a bit more colorful.

This year the first peony bushes are blossoming and some of the herbs are coming back up. The mint and lemon balm are a challenge, though, because they threaten to again take over if we’re not careful.

We spent yesterday at Praktiker getting another peony, as well as fuchsia and another oleander for the balcony, plus more basil, thyme a few other herbal goodies.

I just posted some preliminary pix on my blog last week and hope to continue capturing our progress as the weeks pass:
http://caratime2.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/pre-season-flora/#more-84

]]> By: Jul http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-use-for-our-balcony.html/comment-page-1#comment-2001 Jul Thu, 22 May 2008 22:54:45 +0000 http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-a-use-for-our-balcony/#comment-2001 Anita - plants don't require diapers. I think I'll stick with them. <br /><br />Jessica - an allotment sounds very cool. I don't think we have those here, leider... Anita – plants don’t require diapers. I think I’ll stick with them.

Jessica – an allotment sounds very cool. I don’t think we have those here, leider…

]]> By: Jessica http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-use-for-our-balcony.html/comment-page-1#comment-2002 Jessica Thu, 22 May 2008 22:04:50 +0000 http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-a-use-for-our-balcony/#comment-2002 Sounds like someone needs and allotment! ;) I am on a waiting list to get a Familiengarten in Zurich... Can't wait to see photos of the big harvest. Sounds like someone needs and allotment! ;) I am on a waiting list to get a Familiengarten in Zurich… Can’t wait to see photos of the big harvest.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-use-for-our-balcony.html/comment-page-1#comment-2003 Anonymous Thu, 22 May 2008 19:59:00 +0000 http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-a-use-for-our-balcony/#comment-2003 Oh giver or life, first plants...and then babies! - Anita Oh giver or life, first plants…and then babies! – Anita

]]> By: Jul http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-use-for-our-balcony.html/comment-page-1#comment-2004 Jul Sun, 18 May 2008 21:58:15 +0000 http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-a-use-for-our-balcony/#comment-2004 Right now, the rain is taking care of the watering duties. :) Right now, the rain is taking care of the watering duties. :)

]]> By: zandria http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-use-for-our-balcony.html/comment-page-1#comment-2005 zandria Sun, 18 May 2008 21:49:00 +0000 http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-a-use-for-our-balcony/#comment-2005 I'm with you -- I've never considered myself a plant person, either. But yours looks great. (My current roommate have plants all over the place, which I like. And the best part it? Since they're hers, SHE has to water them!) :) I’m with you — I’ve never considered myself a plant person, either. But yours looks great. (My current roommate have plants all over the place, which I like. And the best part it? Since they’re hers, SHE has to water them!) :)

]]> By: Jul http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-use-for-our-balcony.html/comment-page-1#comment-2006 Jul Sun, 18 May 2008 10:03:09 +0000 http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-a-use-for-our-balcony/#comment-2006 Basil can be continuously harvested. Go for the biggest leaves and pinch them off with your fingernails. Try to thin out the bushiest parts (leaves that don't get enough sun eventually turn yellow, and you don't want that!), but definitely leave some leaves on each stem (although I have had basil come back to life after being picked clean, too). Also, cut off the tops when it starts making flower buds. You want leaves, not flowers. Get more than one plant, so you have enough for pesto! :) Basil can be continuously harvested. Go for the biggest leaves and pinch them off with your fingernails. Try to thin out the bushiest parts (leaves that don’t get enough sun eventually turn yellow, and you don’t want that!), but definitely leave some leaves on each stem (although I have had basil come back to life after being picked clean, too). Also, cut off the tops when it starts making flower buds. You want leaves, not flowers. Get more than one plant, so you have enough for pesto! :)

]]> By: naechstehaltestelle http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-use-for-our-balcony.html/comment-page-1#comment-2007 naechstehaltestelle Sun, 18 May 2008 07:38:00 +0000 http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-a-use-for-our-balcony/#comment-2007 I just caught the gardening bug now that we have a garden. I'm starting out small with a little basil plant. You happen to know how soon I can start harvesting the leaves? I assume 2 days after I bought it is a little soon. I just caught the gardening bug now that we have a garden. I’m starting out small with a little basil plant. You happen to know how soon I can start harvesting the leaves? I assume 2 days after I bought it is a little soon.

]]> By: Jules http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-use-for-our-balcony.html/comment-page-1#comment-2008 Jules Sun, 18 May 2008 01:11:00 +0000 http://www.zurika.com/2008/05/in-which-we-find-a-use-for-our-balcony/#comment-2008 Very awesome! We are house hunting right now and one of the things I simply cannot wait to do is give basil and tomatoes some life! :) Very awesome! We are house hunting right now and one of the things I simply cannot wait to do is give basil and tomatoes some life! :)

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