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April 18, 2020 Not only plants and flowers on the balconies to breathe the spring air, but, among lemons and bougainvillea, hibiscus and geraniums, there is also a boom for the cultivation of the vegetable garden on the terrace to be outdoors in compliance with the rules and ensure a home-made production of tomatoes, courgettes and lettuces together with basil, rosemary, sage, thyme and mint for use on long days in the kitchen, this 

is what emerges from a monitoring by Coldiretti which shows a surge in purchases of seeds, seedlings, fertilizers and domestic tools for cultivation. Products available in supermarkets, markets, points of sale and nurseries which in many cases have also organized themselves for home delivery, in compliance, of course, with the clarifications of the Government and specific regional ordinances. 

After a month of forced closure within the walls of the house it is in fact a great opportunity - Coldiretti points out - for those who are lucky enough to have enough space in balconies, terraces, gardens or private gardens adjacent to their home that they can satisfy the dream of 6 out of 10 Italians (62%) who in Italy according to Coldiretti / Ixè have the hobby of agriculture and gardening.

You don't have to have soil, even a simple window sill can be enough to take away the satisfaction of a homemade pesto or roasted potatoes with your own rosemary.   

The novelties offered on the market to prepare the garden on the terrace - continues Coldiretti - are many and there is nothing to choose from peppers, cucumbers, aubergines, spicy chillies with a thousand shapes, round, cone-shaped, bell-shaped, tomatoes with small and sweet fruits, green beans and any type of vegetable capable of growing in pots. It is - Coldiretti points out - in some cases of dwarf varieties obtained naturally through crosses, while other times they are normal garden products that adapt to growing even in small spaces such as pots, or in special supports that develop in vertical, making the most of the limited space, to obtain very sweet strawberries or tasty cherry tomatoes. 

The most requested plants - Coldiretti points out - are those of salad because they are simple to grow and guarantee the harvest after just 40 days at a cost of only a few cents. But the tomato seedlings are also very popular.

The choice of seedlings to be decanted with respect to the seeds - suggests Coldiretti - is to be preferred especially for those who are at the first experience and, however, want to save time anxious to see the fruits of their work. To create the mini terrace garden - underlines Coldiretti - it is not enough to choose the type of product, but it is necessary to keep in mind the exposure of the balcony, because the plants need a good dose of light and heat to grow well, but also the type of soil that for an ideal choice must be sufficiently rich in nutrients, retain water without creating water stagnation.

To obtain healthy and tasty vegetables from your balcony it is recommended not to use pesticides, but to defend your crops with anti-insect nets or non-woven fabric, even by manually removing the insects.