Turn your terrace into a vegetable garden!
You’re not lucky enough to have a garden but dream of growing and enjoying your own vegetables? You can do it! Here’s our advice on how to turn your terrace or balcony into a little green patch.
- Assess the space and light
Measure the surface area of your terrace and identify the spots where you can set up your vegetable garden. Please note: vegetable plants need lots of light. Make sure they get enough sunlight every day, ideally six to eight hours. Choose the sunniest areas of your terrace.
- Choose the right containers
There are a wide variety of containers to choose from to create a vegetable garden on your terrace. Depending on the surface area available, you can use planters, pots, window boxes or even vegetable beds. Bear in mind that a single pot may be sufficient for vegetables with a poorly developed root system (lettuces, leeks, herbs, etc.). However, a minimum depth of 25 to 30 cm is recommended.
Now let’s talk about materials:
- Terracotta pots provide good drainage but can dry out quickly.
- Plastic planters are lightweight and retain moisture well.
- Wooden planters are easy on the eye and provide good root aeration.
- Prepare your planters
Make sure all your containers have drainage holes to prevent the build-up of water, which could rot the roots. Then place a light, draining layer at the bottom of your pots, ideally clay balls, over ¼ of their height. Finally, fill your planters with specific potting soil. An extra tip: install a composter on your terrace to turn your food waste into natural fertiliser!
- Select your plants
All you have to do now is choose what to plant. Here’s a quick guide to the fruit, vegetables and herbs that are best suited to growing in pots.
On a balcony in full sun, go for plants that love heat and intense light, such as:
- Aromatic herbs: basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, coriander.
- Vegetables: cherry tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, courgettes.
- Edible flowers: marigolds, nasturtiums, lavender.
- Soft fruit: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackcurrants.
For less sunny balconies, go for plants that can tolerate lower light levels:
- Aromatic herbs: mint, chives, parsley, tarragon.
- Vegetables: lettuce, spinach, radishes, chard.
- Edible flowers: pansies, primroses, sweet violet.
Ready to get started? Here are our favourite spots in Nice where you’ll find everything you need to get started!
For seeds, head to Jardinerie Fiol
A must for all your vegetable and flower seeds. Established over 50 years ago in Nice’s Old Town, you’ll also find flowering plants for those who love pretty colours, and aromatic plants for gourmets. It’s also a must for stocking up on organic fertilisers and plant treatments. What sets them apart from the rest? They’ll be able to advise you in English and Italian.
Jardinerie de Pessicart: plenty of advice and services
Just walking into Jardinerie de Pessicart feels like being in the countryside! Just a stone’s throw from the centre of Nice, Jardinerie de Pessicart offers everything you need to create your own vegetable garden: seed-starting pots, seeds and bulbs, vegetable seedlings, soft fruit, potting soils, plant treatments, watering equipment, tools… What sets them apart from the rest? Free delivery in Nice. Throw in expert advice, and you’ve got a one-stop shop for creating a flourishing, productive garden on your terrace!
Jardinerie Prosperi, for fruit trees
Here, they cultivate excellence! You’ll find fruit trees, citrus fruits and aromatic plants. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice: what to plant at what time of year, what techniques to use, what equipment to choose? Finally, this garden centre offers a wide range of soils and potting soils for all your plants, all of which can be used for organic growing.
Jardinerie Petruccioli: a wide range of products
To describe this shop, we could paraphrase an old advertisement for La Samaritaine in Paris: “You can find everything at Jardinerie Petruccioli!” Indeed, with 15,000 m2 of floor space, we were impressed by the range of products on offer and the atmosphere. Special mention must be made of the pottery and decoration section, which will make your balcony vegetable garden both beautiful and tasty.
Leroy Merlin, all brand new and beautiful
A well-known name among DIY enthusiasts, and more! The Nice-Lingostière shop is a must-visit destination for tools, watering equipment, vegetable beds, composting, etc. It has recently been extended and completely refurbished. It also features a food court supplied by local producers. All the more reason to (re)discover it!
Nature & Découvertes: ideas for adults… and children.
Based in Nicetoile, Nature & Découvertes is packed with products for creating your own vegetable garden, even if you don’t have a balcony. Indoor vegetable gardens, vegetable garden kits and connected vegetable gardens will delight tech-savvy city dwellers channelling their inner grower. We loved the Veritable Vegetable Garden, which is completely autonomous and provides lighting, watering and nutrients for your plants. Nature & Découverte also offers a wide selection of kits and boxes to stimulate children’s interest. Ideal for growing plants as a family!
Don’t have the patience to wait for your harvest to enjoy local dishes? Take a look at our selection of spots where you can try some of Nice’s best specialities!
