Time for balcony hibernation
Gingerbread is already piling up in supermarkets, and temperatures outside are approaching freezing: It's high time to winterize your balcony. So that you can start the new urban gardening season with full vigor next spring, it's worth investing a little time now in rearranging and tidying up, as well as frost protection.
First step: The plant check
What can go? What needs to go? What can stay outside? For many plants, even the best efforts are useless – in the fall, the fun is over. Annuals are unfortunately a clear case for the compost heap . These include, for example:
- Sunflowers
- daisy
- cucumbers
- paprika
- Eggplants
- Wildflower or bee meadows
Then, on most balconies , you'll find plants that prefer to move indoors in winter . These are usually plants that originally come from the south, such as the Mediterranean. Candidates for relocation include:
These delicate little plants should be moved to their winter quarters by the end of October at the latest . A bright, cool spot is ideal. Please avoid placing them on the windowsill above the heater, as this will be too warm for the winter guests. Unfortunately, the garage and basement are often too dark. The stairwell is best: bright, cool, and frost-free – however, tubs and flowerpots are often a thorn in the side of landlords, caretakers, and not-so-nice neighbors...
Urban gardeners with foresight anticipate such problems and prefer to plant plants on balconies and terraces that can stay outside even in winter because they aren't bothered by ice or snow. With local classics, you're almost always on the safe side. These include, for example:
- strawberries
- hydrangea
- Clematis
- Wisteria
- delphinium
- phlox
- lamb's lettuce
- as well as lots of herbs from mint to sage to woodruff
In the wild, many of these plants manage to survive the cold season on their own. However, on the balcony—in tubs, boxes, or pots—they need your support to flourish again in the coming year.
Second step: Wrap plants for winter
Coat, scarf, hat: Whatever protects you from the frost in winter is also good for your potted and tub plants on your balcony. The roots are protected from frost by just a little soil and the thin pot. Wrapped up warm, the cold is only half as bad . If you want to tackle winter protection like the pros, get meters of jute or reed matting from the garden center and wrap the pots in it. Alternatives include special heat-insulating film and planters made of Styrofoam or coconut fiber.
Looking for a particularly quick, practical, and inexpensive solution? A pack of newspaper also works as a frost barrier – as does bubble wrap. Or you can pick up a pack of hay from your nearest drugstore (available in the pet section). Another pretty option, but not particularly sturdy, is a fir-branch cover. No matter which material you choose, make sure you tie everything securely so your coat doesn't fly off in the first autumn storm.
Leaves have proven to be a useful "hat." Simply place a generous layer of leaves on top of the plants or the soil. The layer shouldn't be too thick, however, to allow enough air to pass through. Therefore, never cover plants with plastic on top.
Tip : Do you have a lot of potted plants but don't feel like wrapping them all individually? Then get a large cardboard box, line it with a thick layer of newspaper, place as many pots as possible close together, stuff the spaces with plenty of newspaper, and add another layer of fir or spruce branches – done!
If you have a lot of herbs on your balcony, you can also create a frost-resistant mini herb garden using a cardboard box. To do this, collect enough dry leaves, lay out the soil, and plant herbs like marjoram, mint, salve, and rosemary. If it gets very cold, a cap made of leaves or twigs will help.
Third step: Don’t forget to water
Is everything neatly wrapped up? Then you can send your plants into hibernation with peace of mind. There's just one thing you mustn't forget: plants still need water in winter. The fact is that most plants dry out rather than freeze . That's why the watering can doesn't take a break in winter either. However, it's used much less often. Strawberries , for example, need water about every two weeks. You should only water on frost-free days and with lukewarm water - cold water is a real plant killer in winter. Water in homeopathic doses. Too much water can either freeze in the pot or cause waterlogging. This, in turn, leads to the roots rotting away from the bottom and the plant dying.
Tip : One thing balcony plants absolutely hate in winter is fertilizer. Therefore, it's best to avoid it from the end of August/beginning of September!
Fourth step: Wake up plants again
Hardy plants go into hibernation for about five months, also known as a vegetation pause. This period usually begins in November and lasts until the end of March. The plants need this break to gather new strength for the next season. If they don't get this break, they will grow wildly during the winter and then simply languish miserably in the spring .
When you can awaken your plants from dormancy depends largely on the weather. If March is still very cold and frosty, you should still protect them. If it's sunny and relatively warm by the end of February, you can shed their winter coat earlier. However, you shouldn't completely remove it from your reach: sudden late frosts often occur in spring. If these are forecast, it's best to temporarily cover your plants again to prevent the new shoots from freezing.
