Create a snack garden in the garden and on the balcony

A north-facing balcony is less suitable than a south-facing balcony, and a shady bed in the garden is also rather unfavourable. Potted plants are suitable for the balcony, but are also a good alternative for the terrace and garden.

Suitable plants

Of course, the own taste of all family members is decisive for which plants are grown in the snack garden. The choice on balconies is usually very limited, but in the garden there are a wide variety of options, thanks to fruit trellises, standard trees and columnar fruit. Of course, site conditions must always be taken into account.

soft fruit

There is a large selection of berry bushes. Starting with raspberries and blackberries, through gooseberries and jostaberries to the various red, white and black currants, there is plenty of delicious soft fruit. Again, it depends on how much space you have. Column fruit requires the least of these. These special shrubs grow steeply upwards in a confined space, but do not have quite as many berries as the normal shrubs. Standard trees require a little more space, but they have the advantage that you hardly have to bend down to pick them. Normal shrubs take up the most space, but also bear the most fruit. With raspberries you should use different varieties so that there is a long harvest time. One speaks of summer and autumn raspberries. They are best grown on a special trellis. When choosing a variety, make sure that they do not overgrow. The shoots must be cut regularly to keep the plants under control. With blackberries, the thornless varieties are ideal for a snack garden. You pull them on the trellis, so you can get to the fruits and the shoots are easy to cut. This avoids overgrowth and the conditions are ideal for a lot of berries. In the case of blueberries or bilberries, special plant substrate is required so that these plants feel comfortable. They like acidic soil. It is best to use planters with them or create a special bed. The plants grow quite large over the years, so plan enough space. Although most varieties are self-fertile, there is a higher yield when several plants are grown together.

wine and figs

Grape vines take up little space. You can let them climb along any house wall or scaffolding. After just two to three years, there are plenty of grapes to harvest. On the balcony or terrace, they can also be used as privacy screens. They don't need a lot of care. However, they should be pruned regularly, otherwise meter-long shoots will form and the grapes will lack the strength to ripen. Figs are usually only known from vacations in more southern regions. In the meantime, however, there are also fig varieties that ripen in our latitudes. The plants need some winter protection and are not suitable for areas with long, extremely frosty winters. Otherwise they thrive well and there are more fruits from year to year. If you have space, let a fig bush grow, otherwise the shoots can be pulled on the trellis or you can cut a trunk and let a tree grow. A place protected from the wind is recommended.

Mini Vegetables

Not only fruit, but also vegetables belong in a snack garden. For reasons of space, mini varieties are ideal here. Of course, if you have enough space, you can use the normal size. Tomatoes are easy to grow, especially if you can place them sheltered under a roof. There are varieties for hanging containers and smaller tubs, but also for beds and a really large tub or box. The choice of variety is extremely important here. There are also cucumbers, both for hanging baskets and for tubs. Planting out is of course also possible. Anyone who owns a greenhouse is best off. Zucchini can also be cultivated in a container. Of course, smaller fruits are ideal, for example round ones. Alternatively, you can harvest in good time, then the zucchini will be particularly tender. For beans and peas you need some space. Alternatively, they can be attached to a trellis, where they also serve as a privacy screen. Various types of lettuce are very easy to care for and ripen quickly. Some are also suitable for window boxes and tubs, even for traffic lights. Radishes also ripen quickly and require very little space.

strawberries

Strawberries belong in every snack garden. There are so many different types and varieties that you will definitely find a place. Strawberries do not have to be grown in a bed in the classic way, they also thrive in a hanging basket, a bucket, in a raised bed and even in a balcony box, you just have to make the right choice. If there isn't much space, monthly strawberries are cheap because they produce fruit over and over again over weeks and months. Strawberry towers are also a good alternative. If you want to plant different varieties, you should choose so that the harvest time is as long as possible.

mini kiwis

If you have space, you can get kiwis in the garden, if you don't, you prefer the mini version, the dwarf fruits, also known as mini kiwis. For the sake of simplicity, one should resort to self-fertile varieties. This saves you the pollinator. The plants are usually sufficiently hardy, but are quite vulnerable to late frost. They'll appreciate some winter protection. Otherwise they are totally easy to cultivate. Since they form shoots of enormous length, scaffolding is recommended for guiding. So the plant (preferably two) can be used as a privacy screen for the summer. A regular cut ensures that the plants do not bare from below and that new fruiting shoots are formed again and again.

Herbs

Herbs should also not be missing in any snack garden. They are seldom eaten straight from the bush, but still do a good job. Whether mint, parsley, chives, rosemary or sage, some herbs are indispensable. However, they should be cultivated together in one container depending on their requirements for sun, water and plant substrate, as that is when they thrive best.

apples and pears

Even if you don't have much space, you can buy an apple or pear tree. Thanks to columnar fruit, such a tree fits on every balcony. Of course, the yield is not as high as that of a normal large apple tree. Trellises also require little space. Both apples and pears are suitable for this. They can divide a snack garden into specific "sections" or be used as a planted fence. Different growth forms offer another possibility. Apple tree is not just apple tree. Whether bush, standard, half-stem, spindle or other, the selection is large and every size is available. If you have space for several trees, you should use different varieties that ripen differently, so that the harvest is longer.

cherries

Similar to apples and pears, cherry trees can have different shapes. A distinction is not only made between sweet and sour churches and their many varieties, but also again column trunks, cherry trees grown on a trellis and trees of different sizes. There is a copy for every seat.

Create a snack garden

First you should measure the available space carefully. It is advisable not to just plant straight away, but to make a plan beforehand. Therefore, the area is drawn to scale on paper. Then you should consider which plants should definitely be used. It is important to know how much space they require and how big they can get. The space has to be planned. In addition, the site conditions and the wishes for the plant substrate should be known. If you have everything together, the garden can be laid out on paper. It has proven useful to cut out small squares or circles and arrange them like the later plants, of course also to scale, according to their expected size. The whole snack garden can be planned on paper and you know exactly how many plants there is room for. Only when this draft is in place does it start to be implemented. Plants are placed in containers on the balcony. These are set up or hung. It is essential that there is enough space so that you can get anywhere easily, even if the plants grow significantly larger over time. It is important to use sufficiently large containers. You should also invest in good soil. Containers with an irrigation system are ideal, where the plants can help themselves to the water if necessary. They must also be stable so that they do not fall over in the wind. In the garden, too, care must be taken to ensure that the substrate is appropriate. You have to sort the individual shrubs or plants according to their substrates and the watering or watering methods. Combine fertilizer requirements, only in this way can all develop well. Trellises or scaffolding are to be made available right at the beginning. Appropriate planting distances must be observed.

Conclusion

A snack garden is a great thing. Even if you only have minimal space available, you don't have to do without freshly harvested fruit or vegetables. It is important to find out beforehand about the species and varieties you want, because they all have specific needs and grow better when they are met. There are countless types of fruit and vegetables that are suitable for growing. It is important to find out which ones fit the existing location and the space available. You can make the earth suitable, but you usually have to take the location as it is. There will only be a corresponding harvest if the wishes of the plants are fulfilled. You have to know them. It is therefore worthwhile to obtain detailed information and to plan the snack garden correctly. Have fun!

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