It always tastes better if we planted, watered, and tended. The taste of the caring and attention comes back, and repaid. At least it's worth to try once, then you can make your own decision whether or not you'll do it again next time.

First of all, let’s see what you have

A garden? Terrace or balcony? Or only a nice window?

Garden

That gives you plenty of variations, a wide selection of vegetables and herbs, but go for the easy ones for now. This is a selection of easily cared plants in the garden. But what makes the difference is the organic way of planting. If you got a little garden at home, you can easily eschew the chemically treated vegetables. Organic planting means, you plant in right associations, and for that you will need a smaller space as well. And the most important thing is the plants will feed, protect, and stimulate each other.

Appropriate association

The oldest method comes from the American Indians, called the “three sisters.” They planted the beans, corn, and pumpkin in the same seed bed. They help, feed, and give support to each other. But there is more very good tricks like this.

• Chive helps tomato grow, and gives better taste to them, and it also repels pests.
• Horseradish increases the potatoes' resistance
• Rosemary banishes the cabbage flies
• Parsnip roots are insecticidal
• Tarragon is a good nurse; helping other plants to grow.
• Peas give shadow to the spinach
• Other good neighbors: lettuce and peas, tomatoes and garlic, cucumber and turnip

Vegetable garden on the balcony – balcony with a salad view

Cocktail tomato or balcony tomato

• Can be planted from end of March or beginning of April. Benefits are, it doesn’t need a lot of space, and continuously producing the juicy, sweet tomato until autumn. There are many types of cocktail tomatoes, with different colors such as yellow, orange, and red. The tomato has a high concentrate of antioxidant compounds, carotene, polyphenol, and vitamin C.
• Need: lots of sunshine, lots of water, but if you water too much, the berries will split.
• When you plant a tomato, never forget about the supporter.

Strawberry

One of the most popular fruits all over Europe. The biggest advantage is that the strawberry can be planted in pots on a balcony or terrace because it easily grows independently. Especially in the case of hanging strawberry.

Keep the following points in mind:

• The pots need holes where the water can go out. During the flowering, water every day, because the soil will dry out quickly in hot weather.
• Use a good quality of potting soil. Strawberry likes the nutrient-rich soil, so you can mix the cattle manure or humus and spray directly on the plant, but is should not be taken too far, because an overdose is as harmful for the plants as shortage.
• Can be planted from mid-March to mid-August.
• Put the pots in a sunny place, avoiding wind and drought. Always remove the wilting lower leaves from the plant.

Lamb's Lettuce

Edible leaves after 2-3 weeks.

• Cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant, content with minimal water, but when in the city, it's very dry and need a little more water.
• Can live in half shadowy area but also flourish in direct sunlight.
• Can be planted in spring or autumn – September – as well.
• The plants can be taken from 4-5 leaf stages, but don’t let the leaves get old, because old leaves has a bitter taste.
• Consume fresh, because it gets bitter when it gets old.

Terrace, balcony, even window - The best choice for window planting:

Green Spices

• Parsley
• Onions
• Oregano
• Basil
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Sage

• The more light that can reach the green, the more the flavor will intensify. If there's more than one plant in a pot, make sure to pair them according to their need for water and the planting containers must be drained.
• Less water for: rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano.
• Keep the soil moist for: chives, parsley, lemon balm, lovage, and tarragon
• Sprinkle the leaves sometimes, and often cut them back, to increase the harvest time.
• The best time for the harvest is in the morning, before the sun shines on them, because oils will disappear.

One thing I know for sure about this, whenever I buy basil in a supermarket, it never lasts for more than a week…