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    Home > Family

    First Week in the Balcony Garden Project

    Published: Jun 28, 2011 · Modified: Jun 18, 2020 · by Jess Smith · · 3 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Maybe it's the intense heat and the fact that I put all of the pots in our sun-filled hot-box of a living room all week.  Or maybe it's the fact that I've been whispering sweet nothings to the plants when Frank is in the other room (don't tell him).  But one week into my gardening project, things are certainly growing.

    In fact, the rate at which things are growing took me so by surprise that I had to strap on my hiking backpack, not once, but twice, last week so that I could bring 10 kilo bags of soil to our apartment pack-mule style on the train.  (Reality check: people in any city get grumpy when someone boards crowded public transportation with an overstuffed backpack.)

    Without getting too hopeful (yeah right), I've managed to get all of the seeds to sprout.  Some of them produced roots at such an unexpectedly speedy rate that I had to re-plant them after just a few days.  The squash, for example (below), outgrew their pots almost immediately, and seem to be thriving in much larger pots.

    I even think that the labeling on the lettuce might have been accurate and "heatwave blend" may survive the Bangkok heat.

    The sweet peas and garden beans seem to be a bit confused.  It's too hot for the sweet peas, I'm certain, and yet neither bean/pea variety seems to be getting enough sun to be happy, and are turning a bit "leggy".  (I've been researching such problems...I knew nothing of "legginess" in anything besides tall humans prior to this week.)

    This week I am busily re-potting tomato seedlings into their own pots, including an upside-down pot that I fashioned myself, and figuring out what on earth to do with the broccoli (pictured up top).  If each of those seedlings is destined to grow into an entire stalk of broccoli, I've planted enough to have myself a veritable broccoli forest on the balcony.

    Other posts on this so-called "garden":

    Week 1: Planting

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    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristine

      July 03, 2011 at 6:49 pm

      It makes me so happy to see your handwriting these pots :). Oh, and im making the ricotta Bruchetta today!

      Reply
      • inquiringchef

        July 03, 2011 at 9:35 pm

        I used extra careful handwriting since I knew it would be on the web. 😉 Let me know what you think of the bruschetta!

        Reply

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