How to make your own bustier

«Penia, Tekhnas is a trickster», says the popular saying. And indeed, in difficult times like the ones we are currently experiencing, with the explosion of inflation and the revaluation of a multitude of goods putting pressure on the family budget, it is an opportunity to look for a creative counterweight that will “oil our little man” to some extent. And leave us with a sense of “creative escape”.

Even if we live in a city apartment, it only takes 10 minutes, twice a week, to create and maintain our own vegetable garden.

What we grow at this time of year

The season is ideal for:

-Tomatoes or cherry tomatoes that grow faster and fit in small pots.
-Peppers and eggplants.
-Cucumbers, squash, corn and beans, but they need space - that is, a large pot or a flowerpot.
-Basil and other aromatic herbs.
-Strawberries, which are «made» very quickly and give joy to children.

How we plant

In principle, it is better to choose organic seeds, instead of already grown plants that are used to certain conditions, those of the nursery, and may wither on your balcony or garden.

Next, we choose soil, which should be very fertile and fluffy. Prefer a mixture with organic matter and not manure. Especially if you plan to plant on the land, organic matter is essential.

To protect your vegetables from insects and diseases, but also to avoid drugs, the solution is to use the plant combination: For example, you can plant eggplants with basil, which is insect repellent and will give the eggplant a sweeter taste. You can even plant marigolds with tomatoes (e.g. one marigold for every three tomatoes). Marigold is a beautiful flowering plant, which also repels insects. And the marigolds are protected from sunflowers and look gorgeous together.

Ask, at the nursery where you buy the seeds, what other combinations you can make.

All of the above seeds can be placed either in the ground, in pots or in a container. In particular, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and strawberries can be grown in 80 cm pots, while pumpkins, cucumbers and beans require larger containers.

When your vegetables start to grow, many of them will need supports, which are sticks that you will nail into the soil and tie your plants to.

Planting step by step:

When you've come up with your seeds and soil, it's time for planting.

1. Dig 20-30 cm furrows or pits in the soil or in the pot, place the seeds and cover them with soil.
2. Put labels with the name of each vegetable and the date you planted it to better monitor its growth.
3. For herbs and aromatic plants, you can do the following: Put a bunch of sprigs of the plant you picked up at the grocery store in a glass of water and let it take root. Then plant it normally in a pot with soil.

Where are they placed and what care do they need?;

When your pots and planters are ready, pull them to the sunniest spot on the terrace. Vegetables need a lot of sun to grow -this is something to keep in mind if you plan to plant a border in your garden.

As for care, vegetables need regular watering, definitely twice a week, maybe three times a week on very hot days, and when they start to grow, it is advisable to spray with organic fertilisers, which you will request from the nursery where you buy the plants.

According to agronomist Eirinella Kandyllidis, the time required for the homemade bush is no more than ten minutes, twice a week.

And when will we have fruit?;

If you plant them now, most vegetables will be ready in June. Strawberries and cherry tomatoes will be ready sooner. These two species, are recommended if you are planting for the first time and if you have children, because they are easy to grow on the one hand, but they grow quickly and children can't get tired of watching them.

Plus, they are delicious!