Peppers, the vegetable with the unique taste and the most colors than any other vegetable! Peppers are a key ingredient of Mediterranean cuisine, combining a unique taste, crunchy texture and characteristic aroma. The pepper crop reaches a height of about 1 meter and, depending on the variety, forms fruits in various shapes, from oblong to rounder with bright colors such as green, yellow, orange and red. The fruit of the pepper has a very important nutritional value as it contains many vitamins and antioxidants, very beneficial for our health. At the same time, it has a low fat content and is therefore suitable for weight loss diets. The pepper plant belongs to the same family as the tomato and eggplant, the Solanaceae family, and they are native to Central and South America. Pepper cultivation usually begins in the spring. It is a relatively easy crop that with proper care gives us many fruits to enjoy in the summer. And if we don’t have space available in the garden, we can grow peppers in pots on the balcony or in our yard.

Cacti need full sun exposure, with very few exceptions, and a long warm season exceeding 6 months to grow. The intense activity of the cacti takes place during the spring and summer period, during which, in addition to growth, they also give their unique flowering. As for winter, a period of dormancy, cacti seek temperatures of 5-15°C, although some of them can withstand sub-zero temperatures for a while. Cacti need coarse, sandy, draining soil to grow. An ordinary general-purpose potting soil is not suitable for cacti, as it retains a lot of moisture. That is why we use specialized potting soil for cacti enriched with nutrients. Cacti definitely need fertilization, especially during the spring and summer when they do most of their growth. Specialized fertilizers for cacti, water-soluble with enough trace elements, are needed to improve growth and give their wonderful flowering. We add water-soluble fertilizer to the cacti twice a month for the spring and summer periods.

Passiflora, the flower of passion that impresses with its distinctive shape. Passiflora is a climbing plant that grows very quickly and is a beautiful way to cover fences and pergolas. The impressive flower of the passionflower resembles the shape of a clock, which is why in several regions of our country it is known as a clock. Passiflora is native to South America. It can reach a growth of up to ten meters and gives us its wonderful flowering in the summer. There are hundreds of species of Passiflora, most climbing, although there are also some shrubs and trees among them. A well-known species of Passiflora (Passiflora edulis) is our well-known Passion fruit, whose fruits are eaten.

Gaillardia is an impressive flower with characteristic green-grey foliage and beautiful flowers that resemble daisies in shades of red, yellow and orange. Gaillardia is characterized by abundant and prolonged flowering that lasts from early summer to mid-autumn. It comes from America and belongs to the same family as the sunflower with several varieties, some annual and others perennial and a height varying between 30-90 cm. Gaillardia is an ideal choice for planting in a flower bed, in a rock garden, as well as in a pot on the balcony. The Gaillardia plant gives a wild flower feel to our garden and is also one of the plants that attract butterflies and birds. Gaillardia needs sunny positions to give us its impressive flowering. It wants light and sandy soil that has good drainage, as young Gaillardia plants are sensitive to excess moisture. To plant it in a pot on the balcony, we prefer places with southern exposure and relatively sheltered, as it is sensitive to low temperatures and strong north winds. In any case, we put a layer of gravel at the base of the pot to drain away the water and not to close the holes of the pot due to soil compression.

Balsamina is a decorative, small and herbaceous plant of medium growth, with intense foliage and flowers in red and pink shades.

Balsamine (Impatiens balsamine) is also known as balsamine, impatience or love. This plant is preferred for gardens and terraces as it is easy to grow and does not need much care, it has a characteristic multi-month flowering and makes the most of shady places. The planting of the balsamina should be done in shady places and not have direct contact with the sun’s rays. In combination with plenty of water, the balsamina blooms both on the branches and throughout its central trunk.

Phlox (with more common species Phlox drummondii and Phlox paniculata, Polemoniaceae) is a popular herbaceous ornamental that grows mainly as an annual, but in areas with mild winters it can be planted as a perennial. It is a genus of at least forty species and many hybrids have been created. Phlox belongs to the Polemoniaceae family, is native to North America and has historically been a fixture in gardens and parks around the world. The phlox Phlox drummondii is a genus of many species, annual and perennial, and belongs to the Polemoniaceae family. It comes from North America and is a plant with great participation in landscape architecture.