Pitta grows everything from grapevines to dahlias in her 20-square-meter balcony garden—“I get emotional every time I taste my first homegrown tomatoes”
Pitta Inna’s little paradise is located on the sunny and sheltered balcony of an eighth-floor apartment. Tomatoes are the stars of the place.
At ten in the morning, the sun begins to shine on Pitta Innas’ balcony in the very center of Tampere. It often continues to blaze down all day, ripening the tomatoes, sharpening the colors on the coleus leaves, and prompting the dahlias to open massive new buds.
“Even more heat is radiated by the surrounding stone walls. Thanks to the warmth and light, our balcony is very conducive to cultivation. The wind rarely causes trouble, as it can only enter from one direction, so the plants aren’t swirled around by any gusts.”
Pitta has been growing plants on her eighth-floor, 20-square-meter balcony for six years. Previously, she lived in the same housing complex as her partner Jarkko, but on a lower floor. However, so little light fell on the balcony of that apartment that no plant seemed to thrive despite her efforts. Back then, Pitta focused solely on houseplants, a hobby she has pursued her entire adult life.
“With houseplants, I’ve learned that choosing the right plant for the right spot goes a long way. The same rule of thumb applies to balcony gardening.”
The balcony season begins as early as mid-March. First, Pitta sows seeds of arugula, radishes, and other cold-tolerant vegetables directly into the planter boxes waiting on the balcony. The seedlings are covered with domes, yet they may freeze a few times before the first harvest of spring finally starts growing. Pitta has learned through experience that radishes and other cruciferous vegetables easily attract flea beetles on the balcony, so she only grows them early in the season, and replaces them with something else later in the summer.
Flea beetles are really the only nuisance on Pitta’s balcony. Sometimes there are snails or caterpillars, but she finds them easy to pick off if they seem to be causing harm. There are also aphids, but Pitta doesn’t mind them—she’s noticed that soon after the aphids appear, ladybugs show up to help.
“Each year I enjoy more and more the fact that, even here, the biological cycle is present. The first cries of seagulls signal that spring is coming. In summer, small birds and butterflies visit our balcony, and bumblebees and bees buzz around the flowers. Animals haven’t been a problem, not even the terns nesting on the nearby roof.”
The life on the balcony also fascinates Pitta and Jarkko’s trio of cats. Siberian cats Lilja, Lyydi, and Lyydi’s kitten Tenho paw at the blinds of the large windows with a view of the balcony, until the humans understand to open them. The cats often get to stretch their legs on the balcony, but only under supervision and always in harnesses and on leashes, as falling from such a height is a sadly common cause of death for cats.
From the beginning, tomatoes have been the pride of Pitta’s balcony. She believes the flavor difference between store-bought tomatoes and homegrown ones is so significant that it needs no further explanation. Anyone who has gotten to enjoy their own tomatoes knows exactly what she means. Several varieties grow on Pitta’s balcony, supported against the balcony wall, mostly cherry tomatoes, as they yield a harvest even in a poor summer. Last summer, the earliest cherry tomatoes ripened by Midsummer, and the larger varieties by July.
“I get emotional every time I taste my first homegrown tomatoes. It always feels like a miracle. My absolute favorite is ‘Indigo Cherry Drops’, its flavor is the perfect combination of sweetness, acidity, and aroma.”
Basil grows in the containers with the tomatoes. It is a good companion plant for tomatoes, and the basil foliage also covers the bare soil around the tomato roots, preventing excess moisture from evaporating. Pitta grows several plants together in other large pots as well. This makes watering easier and maximizes the use of space.
In addition to tomatoes, Pitta has managed to fit a lot of flowers and other ornamental plants, as well as several woody species, onto the balcony. Black and red currants, purple ninebark, and an espaliered ornamental apple tree are planted in spacious thermal pots, where they have thrived for several years already. In early August, Pitta gives them autumn fertilization to aid overwintering.
“In container gardening, fertilization and soil quality are at least as important as in a regular garden. I use compost soil because peat is almost impossible to rehydrate once it dries out. I make bokashi myself, and you can clearly see the growth boost it gives the plants.”
Pitta’s tips for the balcony garden
1. Choose the right plants
Observe the light and wind conditions on your balcony, and choose your plants accordingly.
2. Use spacious containers
Get the largest possible growing containers and boxes, as it makes watering easier. On a sunny balcony, small pots can dry out too much despite daily watering.
3. Make watering easier
Switch watering crystals to the more eco-friendly biochar. Biochar also reduces the need for watering, and it can be loaded with fertilizers before mixing into the soil, where it will release nutrients gradually to the plants.
4. Make use of charcoal
Use lightweight charcoal for drainage in large containers to prevent the pots from becoming too heavy.
5. Don’t forget about flowers
Add flowers among your edible plants. They attract more pollinators and add color to the scenery.
6. Plant perennials in thermal pots
Invest in thermal pots if you want to grow perennials. They ensure a much safer overwintering for the plants and protect their roots from heat in summer.
