Foil greenhouse for the balcony: these models are available

Foil alternative
Greenhouse for the balcony: How to grow your own vegetables – even without a garden

With a greenhouse on the balcony, tomatoes can be grown even better

© L Feddes / Getty Images

Cultivating heat-loving plants is much easier in a greenhouse than outdoors. But what if you don’t have a garden? Alternatively, you can also switch to the balcony – as long as it meets the most important requirements.

A greenhouse has several advantages: It offers space for several plants and protects them from wind and rain, but also from cold temperatures. In addition, you can start sowing much earlier than is usually the case in our climes (and harvest longer) – provided your balcony meets all the important criteria. This article explains what they are and what you need to know before you buy them. In addition, we will tell you which plants are particularly suitable for a greenhouse and which tips will promote a high-yield harvest.

The most important requirements for your balcony

In order for a greenhouse to be able to store the necessary heat and pass it on to your plants, it needs one thing above all: sun. In other words, a balcony that is mainly in the shade is less suitable. Conversely, however, one has to say that too much sun is no guarantee for a high-yield harvest. However, this always depends on which plants are to be sown. You should therefore inquire in advance how much light (or shade) is required for the desired cultivation.

Next to the alignment Your balcony plays that too Weight of the greenhouse plays an important role in the purchase. Depending on whether you choose a model plastic or Wood decide, the greenhouse weight varies. Added to this is the weight of the plants and the soil. Depending on how heavily your balcony is already loaded, you should inquire about the maximum load. And also the Height should not be underestimated, as there are often fixed regulations here – for legal reasons.

These greenhouses are suitable for the balcony

1. Greenhouse with floors

A foil greenhouse is particularly suitable for the balcony. As the name suggests, it consists of just a few stainless steel tubes around which a weather-resistant plastic film has been stretched – making the model a real lightweight. There are different sizes, so you should consider in advance whether you prefer one tall greenhouse with several floors or prefer a ground-level, flat greenhouse including UV-resistant, waterproof PE tarpaulin (each weighs approx. 3 kg).

2. Greenhouse made of wood

Significantly more expensive to buy, however, is a flat or tall greenhouse made of wood, such as fir (FSC certified). This makes the model more sustainable and durable, but also significantly heavier at 13 kilograms. On the other hand, each level is also extremely resilient: each shelf, which is also height-adjustable, can easily withstand up to 15 kilograms. The windows, on the other hand, are made of transparent polycarbonate, which, according to the manufacturer, ensure optimal light exposure.

3. Greenhouse for tall plants

This model is also a high one Foil greenhouse for the balcony, with the only difference that it has no shelves and therefore offers more space for large plants – such as tomatoes, cucumbers or peppers. The warm and humid environment inside allows the seedlings to thrive as they are protected from pests. In addition, the greenhouse has a high level of light transmission. The waterproof film can be rolled up so that the flowers can be pollinated by bees. This allows you to decide for yourself when and how long your plants should be left in the fresh air.

4. Walk-In Greenhouse

If you own a large balcony or even a spacious terrace, you can also opt for one walk-in greenhouse (made of foil, weighs 11 kg). It is by far the largest model in this series and has the advantage that not only your plants fit in it – but also you. This allows you to get a better impression of how your green protégés are doing on a daily basis. In addition, there is a lot of space for different seeds in the greenhouse.

Which plants are suitable for greenhouses?

Not every plant likes it warm and humid, so before purchasing a greenhouse for the balcony, you should think about what you want to grow. are particularly suitable radish, as they are very easy to care for and can be harvested after just a few weeks. They like it sunny, but also tolerate half-shade well. Other crops that you can successfully grow in a greenhouse include (besides tomatoes) cucumbers and potatoes, zucchini and sugar snap peas.

These tips will encourage a bountiful harvest

Sunbeams alone are not enough for your plants to grow. The following tips should help you with the cultivation:

  1. If your balcony faces south, it meets ideal conditions for a greenhouse. Even so, you should keep in mind that your plants shouldn’t be too much Sun be allowed to fill up – pay attention to a balanced light-shadow ratio so that all types of vegetables ripen optimally.
  2. Since the air accumulates inside the greenhouse, it is important to ventilate it regularly. Take care of a good one ventilation, your plants are less susceptible to disease. Ideally, provide your seedlings with fresh oxygen at regular intervals.
  3. If you want to grow vegetables, you should not use ordinary potting soil. Take a special one instead tomato or vegetable soil: It provides your green protégés with the most important nutrients and supports better aeration of the roots.
  4. Last but not least, the size of the flowerpots an important role in the harvest. Make sure that the containers hold at least ten liters of soil so that your plants have enough space for their roots. Alternatively, you can also use a small raised bed invest.

You might also be interested in:

This article contains so-called affiliate links. Further information are available here.

source site