this post was submitted on 26 Feb 2024
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Balcony Gardening

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Welcome to c/BalconyGardening @ slrpnk.net!

A young community dedicated to balcony gardening.

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Show off that vertical veggie garden 35 stories high. Or that bucket of potatoes you're proud of. Perhaps some fall mums that have been catching your eye through the sliding door into your living room. Any and all balcony gardens are welcome! Come and show your's off because we love to see it. :)

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42
My journey growing letteuce in my living room over the winter (see album in description) (pixelfed.de)
submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by SoySaucePrinterInk@sh.itjust.works to c/balconygardening
11 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I started in mid-November and have already had 5 harvests! The outrageous red and oak leaf letteuce have done the best. None of the black seeded Simpson survived. They're all leggy because of the distance to my grow lights but one of these days I'll get around to setting up a way to drop them down.

At this point, I'm getting about 1 cut and come again harvest per week from all 4 plants which is far more than I expected. Once the weather warms up, I'd like to chop them and start new seedlings for outside on the balcony. I have been averaging about 14-15kWh, or 2¢ per month in electricity costs.

https://pixelfed.de/p/SoySaucePrinterInk/667557572274690054

https://pixelfed.de/p/SoySaucePrinterInk/667557630245529612

https://pixelfed.de/p/SoySaucePrinterInk/667557686452770836

https://pixelfed.de/p/SoySaucePrinterInk/667557735601760281

https://pixelfed.de/p/SoySaucePrinterInk/667557797835868193

https://pixelfed.de/p/SoySaucePrinterInk/667557858406889514

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[–] CaptObvious@literature.cafe 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Nice! Congrats. Fresh lettuce is the best by far.

[–] ThrowawaySobriquet@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Awesome! My lettuce starts are all getting a bit leggy, too, but it's hard to do anything about that since I've got all my starts in the same tray (the pak choi and broccolis are going off like gangbusters right now). Crazy you got so many harvests, though. You're obviously doing something right. Keep on killin it!

[–] SoySaucePrinterInk@sh.itjust.works 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Thanks pal! Let's see those brocc! I've never tried to grow them before, that's pretty cool.

[–] ThrowawaySobriquet@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

From yesterday's staring session

[–] Doll_Tow_Jet-ski@kbin.social 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Awesome! I am inspired. Where you using a grow light? Can you describe your set-up?

[–] SoySaucePrinterInk@sh.itjust.works 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Totally! I'm running Barrina T5 grow lights 35cm from the top of the pot alongside an 810 lumen LED bulb in a spare desk lamp and another small houseplant ring light. They are on for 12h per day currently. All my problems would be solved if I wasn't too lazy to sort out a solution to getting the T5's lower and closer to the letteuce, but I had those lights kicking around so they'll suffice for now.

[–] Doll_Tow_Jet-ski@kbin.social 2 points 8 months ago

Many thanks 🙏

[–] CounselingTechie 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

That is amazing! I ended up this winter testing out growing lettuce but I started small, growing mini butterhead lettuce, and was pleased with the results. I am excited for the next winter, going to try to be brave and try some more traditional types. What may be a method you think for helping the black seeded Simpson to grow better?

[–] SoySaucePrinterInk@sh.itjust.works 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

That's awesome!! I think if I just did better with having the light closer then they might have done better? I'm not entirely sure since I'm quite new to this. Are you going to be growing any crops over the spring/summer?

[–] CounselingTechie 1 points 8 months ago

Maybe! I won't lie, I am not the most knowledgeable of lettuce but experimenting is always the best way to find a good method! For myself, I am going to be yes, though outdoors instead of indoors.

[–] evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

Looks great! Your electricity must be super cheap. I wonder if there is something about the red lettuce that works better with the spectrum provided by your lights