The primrose is the first flower to bloom in winter! Although a low-growing herbaceous perennial flower, the primrose is mainly planted as an annual ornamental and gives us its wonderful flowers from early January to late spring. The primula has characteristic lanceolate foliage that grows in the form of a rosette and is an ideal plant to plant in a pot on the balcony, as well as in the garden to create impressive color compositions. The name primrose comes from Latin and means first, confirming its early flowering in the heart of winter. There are, of course, some varieties of primrose that bloom in the autumn months. The leaves of the primrose resemble lettuce leaves, which is why many call it “lettuce”. There are many types of primroses with a wide variety of colors to choose from, from white, red, purple, yellow, pink, orange, blue, as well as striking bi-color varieties that have been created in recent years.

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.

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.

Salvia is a perennial herbaceous plant, cultivated as an annual. It is also called “fire” because of the arrangement and crimson color of its flowers. It belongs to the Labiatae family. The genus Salvia includes about 500 species of plants. Among them is the Mediterranean aromatic sage S. officinalis. Many varieties and hybrids have been created including Salvia x superba with its impressive purple-blue flowers. Salvia is native to Brazil and remains in bloom throughout summer and fall. Its decorative value is due to the rich flowering but also to the contrast created by the red flowers with the lively green foliage. It is planted in groups in rock gardens, lawns, flower beds and plant containers, alone or in combination with other annual plants. The combination of salvia and yellow amber is excellent!

Carnations, one of the classic and much-loved flowers that are traditionally found in the gardens, yards and balconies of Greek homes. The carnation (carnation or dianthus) stands out for its lush vegetation with its characteristic elongated lance-shaped leaves and its rich flowering in impressive colors. There are single color carnation varieties in shades of pink, red, yellow and white, as well as bicolor carnations with wonderful color combinations. This is an extremely popular ornamental plant that, especially in previous decades, was not missing from any home. After all, the carnation has been cultivated since ancient times and was known by the name Dianthos, which means the flower of Zeus. The carnation is planted in the spring and gives us the rich flowering from April to November.

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.