January 2016 Balcony Garden Update

It’s time for another balcony garden update! January is probably one of my favourite months for gardening, there are so many things to grow at this time of year that seem to flourish in small spaces. That doesn’t mean it’s been all a roaring success, but that’s part of the fun!

All the herbs I have growing at the moment are incredibly happy, keeping me in constant supply of basil (two types!), mint, chives and rosemary. I’ve been making lots of pesto for quick, simple dinners and popping them in salads galore. It really is hard to beat freshly picked herbs in my mind, and they take such little work that I really don’t know why you wouldn’t grow them!

January Balcony Garden Update | I Spy Plum Pie

My two chilli plants are also flourishing nicely, with the chillies just starting to ripen on both. One of them is getting a little wild so I think it will need a good prune come winter, so fingers crossed I can figure out the best way to do that! If you’ve got any tips please do let me know!

January Balcony Garden Update | I Spy Plum Pie

For the first time I’m trying a dwarf eggplant and whilst it has flowered quite a bit it has also suffered from an attack of the spider mites so I’m in the process of trying to resuscitate things and restore some healthy colour to its poor, yellowing leaves. I haven’t given up hope yet though, so there is still a chance I’ll have some delicious homegrown eggplants to report on next time around!

January Balcony Garden Update | I Spy Plum Pie

The capsicum I had planted last time hasn’t had much success, with just the one little capsicum forming and ripening. I think they might need larger pots than what I have on my balcony so I might have to try something different next summer if I attempt to grow capsicums again. Ah well, learning is part of the fun!

My strawberry plant is also struggling a little, it copped a roasting early in the month which damaged some of the leaves pretty badly but it has a few teeny strawberries just forming now, so I am giving it as much TLC as I possibly can. Maybe it will be okay!

In happier news my two tomato plants are going great guns! The cherry tomato plant started fruiting first and has been giving me a couple of ripe tomatoes every day for the last two weeks which is pretty awesome. The Tiny Tim that I am trying for the first time took a little longer to fruit but is now completely covered in tomatoes which are rapidly ripening, giving me lots of delicious tomatoes to play with. They’ve been going in salads, on bruschetta, roasted for simple pastas – you name it! I’ll be very sad when they are all done and the season is over!

January Balcony Garden Update | I Spy Plum Pie

I’ve still got some flowers bringing some colour to my balcony too which I’m really enjoying, and I think I’ll bring in some more over autumn and winter too. Herbs and flowers are enough to keep me going over the cooler months!

If you’re thinking of getting into gardening I’ve come across two great ideas for beginner gardeners, both of which include seeds and instructions for growing all kinds of veggies and herbs. The first is the Kitchen Garden Box from A Fresh Legacy and the other is the Seeds for Seasons kit from Sow Grow Eat. I’m yet to try either out myself, so if you do please let me know what you think!

There we have it, my January balcony garden update! If you have any tips for me please let me know!

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6 Comments on January 2016 Balcony Garden Update

  1. merilyn
    January 24, 2016 at 5:03 pm (8 years ago)

    looking good liz! … great that you are having such success with your balcony garden!
    love the thought of those miniature eggplants!
    I love to grow herbs and i’m striking cuttings from sprouting veg bits and pieces!
    celery sweet potato and fennel! even if they don’t grow into full blown size there is abundance with new fresh shoots! love experimenting with the leftovers!
    enjoy your produce hun! love m:)X

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      January 26, 2016 at 10:44 am (8 years ago)

      Ooh I can’t wait to hear how your cuttings go!

      Reply
  2. Dhanya Samuel
    January 25, 2016 at 2:50 pm (8 years ago)

    Great to see your balcony garden Liz; mine is doing great too but its still mostly herbs – got chives, parsely, coriander, mint, curry leaf and planted thyme too. Could you give some tips on what plants to grow during the autumn which will soon be upon us.
    Dhanya Samuel recently posted…Kube Sukkhe (Mangalorean style Spicy Clams Sukka)

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      January 26, 2016 at 10:48 am (8 years ago)

      Sounds like you’ve got an excellent combo of herbs growing! I did an Autumn planting guide post last year which you can find here, so hopefully that’s what you’re after! Let me know if it’s not though!

      Reply
  3. Jake
    January 28, 2016 at 12:18 am (8 years ago)

    Everything looks great! I’m jealous, I only tried growing a couple of herbs and they all died on me 🙁

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      February 6, 2016 at 9:52 am (8 years ago)

      Don’t give up! Make sure you start with some super healthy soil and see if that helps. I also found much greater success when I was careful about where I bought my seeds/seedlings from (a nursery as opposed to the supermarket for example)

      Reply

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