What fertilizer is best for growing vegetables on your own balcony?

Many young people don't know what fertilizer is good for growing vegetables on a balcony. According to the experience of housewife Aunt Li, nutrient solution, traditional fertilizers and homemade organic compost are all common types of fertilizer for growing vegetables on a balcony. Choosing the right fertilizer can make your balcony vegetable garden even more lush!

1. Nutrient solution

Nutrient solution is also a common fertilizer for growing vegetables on a balcony. If you choose soilless cultivation, you only need to apply nutrient solution. The formulation of nutrient solution for soilless cultivation must contain major elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur, as well as trace elements such as iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper and molybdenum. Some nutrient solution formulas are specific to particular plants, while others are general-purpose for many plants; all can be bought in agricultural markets, and after mixing them properly according to the instructions on the label, you can apply them.

Applying nutrient solution is the key to soilless cultivation. The principle for applying standard nutrient solution is to apply it on sunny days and not on cloudy or rainy days; apply less in the early growth stage and more during the fruiting stage. Nutrient solution can be recovered and reused in a cycle; generally, completely replace the nutrient solution once about every 20 days.

2. Traditional fertilizers

For soil cultivation, you can choose traditional fertilizers, or you can use nutrient solution. If you use traditional fertilizers, it is best to choose organic fertilizers, including plant-based fertilizers and animal manure, and avoid chemical fertilizers as much as possible, because chemical fertilizers leave acid or salt residues, and the potting soil will become acidic or alkaline, hindering plant growth. Various special organic fertilizers are available in agricultural markets, and you can choose a suitable organic fertilizer according to the type of vegetable.

3. Homemade organic compost

If you like DIY, you can also use kitchen scraps to make homemade organic compost, which not only reduces the amount of garbage and makes full use of waste, but is also economical and environmentally friendly. The method for making homemade organic compost is very simple: first cover the bottom of the planting container with broken tiles or window screen as drainage, then cover with about 2 cm of soil, then place the drained kitchen scraps in the container (about 3 cm), then cover with a layer of thick soil (about 6-9 cm). The compost is then ready, and you can sow and plant in this container.

4. Tips for fertilizing

(1) If the vegetables need transplanting, wait until after transplanting before applying nutrient solution.

(2) If the vegetables are grown by direct sowing and do not need transplanting, then first water with tap water to keep the soil moist; only after the seeds germinate and the seedlings grow can you use nutrient solution.

(3) Although different plants have different water requirements, basically applying nutrient solution once a day is more appropriate. If they are leafy vegetables, you can apply nutrient solution twice a day.

(4) Apply less nutrient solution in the early growth stage and more during the fruiting stage.

(5) It is recommended to thoroughly rinse the planting container with tap water only at least once a week to remove unused fertilizer that has accumulated in the container. The specific method is to pour enough water into the container so that free drainage forms at the bottom. This measure can prevent harmful substances from accumulating in the growing medium.

(6) Sometimes, you can water the vegetables with nutrient solution supplemented with trace elements. You can choose water-soluble fertilizers containing iron, zinc, boron and manganese, and operate according to the instructions on the label.

Note: Abusing nutrient solution may carry the risk of causing excessive nitrate levels in vegetables.