Many beginners growing vegetables on balconies wonder: why are the vegetables I grow not only small but also low in yield?

In fact, a very important reason is not using the right soil. If the soil is poor, the vegetables cannot get enough nutrients, so of course their growth is disappointing.

In this article, the editor shares the issue of how to choose soil for growing vegetables on a balcony.

Buy potting mix directly

When growing vegetables on a balcony, the simplest and most direct choice is to buy prepared potting mix from the market. This kind of soil has relatively good water retention, permeability and aeration, and its pH is moderate.

However, potting mix comes in many types depending on the formulation, so you need to choose carefully when buying.

Generally speaking, quality is proportional to price. For example, potting mix with a relatively high content of immature leaf mold and fine dust is of relatively poor quality, so its price tends to be cheaper.

Editor's tip: Note this, it is not advisable to buy soil that is too heavy, because heavy weight means the soil particles are very small, and this kind of soil has relatively poorer aeration and drainage.

Make your own potting mix

Although the potting mix you buy can be used directly, mixing your own potting mix is also a good choice.

It not only lets you enjoy the fun of doing it yourself, but doing it together with your children can also provide a great opportunity for kids to get close to nature.

The editor recommends a good method for you

"Cleverly making soil"

1. First dig back some garden soil from a garden near your home;

2. Then buy some humus soil from the market;

3. Mix the two according to actual needs in a certain ratio. Generally speaking, it can be mixed at a ratio of 2:1.

Editor's tip: Humus soil is rich in organic nutrients, generally does not contain pathogens or insect eggs, and has relatively good fertility. When mixed with ordinary soil, the resulting mix is suitable for the growth of most vegetables.

However, when making your own potting mix, there is one thing that needs special attention, and that is the issue of soil pH.

Most vegetables like slightly acidic and neutral soil, but some vegetables prefer alkaline soil or strongly acidic soil.

Therefore, when making potting mix, you should adjust the soil pH according to the preferences of the vegetables.

If the soil is too acidic, you can add some limestone powder to neutralize it. If the soil is too alkaline, you can add natural sulfur ore powder to adjust it.

To test soil pH, you can use pH test paper, or you can use a soil acidity meter.

pH is the measure of acidity and alkalinity. 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and the smaller the number, the stronger the acidity; above 7 is alkaline, and the larger the number, the stronger the alkalinity.

The editor generally mixes potting mix in a relatively large plastic basin, and the soil only needs to make up half of the container. The prepared soil has a moderate texture, is neither sticky nor hard, and is most suitable for growing vegetables.

The editor recommends a good method for you

"Cleverly using weathered soil"

When growing vegetables, before putting potting mix into a container, it is best to first spread a layer of weathered soil on the bottom of the container, as this is better for drainage.

Weathered soil can be bought on the market. According to particle size, it is divided into small, medium and large particles, and you can choose as needed. If you do not want to buy weathered soil, you can also replace it with some small stones or coarse sand.

In addition, when making potting mix, you can also make some reasonable adjustments according to the soil needs of the vegetables, thereby achieving the goal of improving the soil.

Generally speaking, the main materials that can be used to improve soil are perlite, vermiculite and so on.

Adding an appropriate amount of perlite to the soil can increase the soil's pores, thereby improving aeration and drainage.

Vermiculite has relatively good light transmission and moisture retention. It is relatively suitable for seeds that are very small and do not need to be covered with soil after sowing. After sowing such seeds, covering the soil surface with a layer of vermiculite can prevent the soil surface from drying out in the wind and the seeds from being damaged.

In short, although various plants have different needs for nutrients and soil pH, when making potting mix you should follow the following principles:

-Loose;

-Good aeration and drainage;

-No pathogens or insect eggs;

-Grass roots and other debris sifted out;

-Disinfected by sun exposure or heating and baking.

Finally, the editor has a bit more useful information:

[Table of soil properties and suitable vegetables for planting]

Fellow gardeners, keep this safe. If you judge that the light, temperature, environment, watering and fertilizing on the balcony are all fine, but your vegetables still do not grow well, you need to check whether the soil properties are unsuitable for your vegetables.

[Table of soil properties and suitable vegetables for planting]

Alright, this article ends here. If fellow gardeners still have any questions, check in at the comment section below.

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A gentle breeze lightly strokes, flowers remain ever there

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