Growing vegetables in high rise apartment is very challenging
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
Singapore
February 12, 2016 9:58pm CST
Many people with front yard and back yard do not realize how fortunate they are.
They can plant anything they like, and they can be assured of harvest.
For us who live in a high rise apartment, it is extremely challenging to grow anything at all.
For one thing, the direction of the sun is a crucial factor.
When you live in a high rise apartment, and you are surrounded by other high rise apartments, it is impossible for any area to get more than 3 solid hours of sunlight.
The surrounding blocks of high rise apartments will block out the sunlight.
Another thing is that all vegetables are grown in small pots.
The roots of the vegetables do not have room to grow.
Many people like tomato plants, but that is the toughest plant to grow in a container in high floor.
6 people like this
5 responses
@youless (112586)
• Guangzhou, China
16 Feb 16
I totally agree with you. But lately it seems there is a trend for the people who live in the high buildings to plant something in their balconies. And I am glad to say that it can work. Although you can't expect you will have a lot of plants since you don't have more rooms to plant them. But at least it is OK for fun and for a meal. In fact I am also planning to plant something in my balcony, too. I like to plant the tomatoes at first since I like tomatoes. I hope it can grow well.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
13 Mar 16
It depends on the amount of sunlight shining on the balcony.
Many new flats here are built to avoid the direct sunlight, so even if you have a balcony, there is not much use.
The new flats are built on north-south facing.
The concept is good because we can save on air-conditioning, but bad for us who like to plant something at home.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
13 Feb 16
You can try to learn hydroponics and see if it is feasible in your condition, artificial sunlight bulbs are also now readily available similar to what they use in aquariums. Yes those of us with lawns and gardens are lucky but only to the point of if we are hard working.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
13 Feb 16
@scheng1 Plant or hydroponics bulb is not that expensive, the cheapest I saw on ebay is less than 2 dollars free ship, most only consume 2W so it's less than your normal led bulb that's around 7W to 9W so this solves the problem of sunlight.
Now if you already have artificial sunlight, you can now bring up pots with soil (if hydroponics seem too complicated) I think our main problem would be water, if it's imported and expensive even those with lands will have a problem, The only solution I guess is to think of a way to collect from rain or any water source available .
Vegetables are inexpensive but it's nice to eat something you worked for and grew yourself even if sometimes it would just be a decoration on your flat.
Vegetables are inexpensive but it's nice to eat something you worked for and grew yourself even if sometimes it would just be a decoration on your flat.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32748)
• Calgary, Alberta
13 Feb 16
Try growing oyster mushrooms. You can grow them in Wood pulp, hay and even old news papers. It is something you can grow indoors.
1 person likes this
@oneoveralpha (434)
• Brookville, Pennsylvania
13 Feb 16
In my last apartment, I had a balcony that got a little bit of sun. I tried growing all sorts of things, but most often they didn't work that well. I got some leaf lettuce and onions, but I think that was about it.
1 person likes this
