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With grocery prices still stubbornly high, more households are turning their balconies into mini‑gardens—often, one pot is all it takes to grow something fresh.
According to the Korea Agro‑Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT)’s Agricultural Products Marketing Information System (KAMIS), as of the 9th the retail price for 1 kg of green onions was 2,669 KRW (≈ $2.00), down 1.26% from a month earlier. The nationwide wholesale market’s average auction price for 1 kg was 736.3 KRW (≈ $0.55), less than half last year’s 1,455.8 KRW (≈ $1.09).
Higher production in growing regions has pushed prices down, but since these staples show up in soups, stews and side dishes, shoppers still deal with the hassle of frequent trips to the store. Here are four vegetables you can grow at home with just soil and a pot.
The easiest and most popular choice is green onions. The trend of saving on groceries by growing green onions at home—nicknamed “pa‑tech” in Korea—has spread across social media and online communities, where people trade tips and shortcuts.
It’s simple: when you buy green onions, leave about a hand’s breadth of the root end and plant it in soil—no seeds needed. In about a week you’ll see new growth roughly two finger joints long. Keep the roots in the soil and snip the green tops as you need them. They can grow roughly 1 cm (≈ 0.4 in) per day, so changes are noticeable quickly.
Use a pot at least 20 cm (≈ 7.9 in) deep and water thoroughly once a day when the topsoil dries. Don’t overwater—too much moisture can cause mold on the soil surface. Note, too, that growing in soil can offer nutritional advantages over hydroponics, including higher beta‑carotene and polyphenol content.
Lettuce is a balcony‑garden favorite. It’s forgiving, needs only regular watering, and can supply leaves for around two months when tended properly—making it perfect for beginners.
Sow seeds in a pot 15–20 cm (≈ 5.9–7.9 in) deep and you can start harvesting in about a month. Pick outer leaves first; new leaves will sprout from the center, so you can enjoy fresh salad greens for over two months. Planting seedlings speeds things up.
If you plant seedlings, you can harvest in about two weeks. In summer pick every 2–3 days; in spring and fall, about once a week. Don’t overdo the fertilizer or the leaves can get tough, and avoid overwatering to prevent a bitter taste.
Garlic chives are one of the most economical choices. Sow in March–April and they’ll sprout in roughly 15 days. Once established, they’re perennial and can keep producing for 3–5 years. They’re a classic “cut‑and‑come‑again” crop—you can grow them from seed or divide an existing clump to start more plants.
You can harvest from spring through fall; in winter the plants go dormant but don’t die, so don’t throw them away. They tolerate low light well and can grow on north‑facing balconies, making them a good option if your space doesn’t get much sun. Because their roots spread horizontally, choose a wider pot rather than a very deep one.
Among herbs, basil gives great value. A single plant can produce the equivalent of roughly 30,000–40,000 KRW a year (≈ $22.50–$30.00), which adds up compared with buying supermarket packs that usually cost around 2,000–3,000 KRW (≈ $1.50–$2.25) each.
Basil needs at least four hours of sunlight a day, and growth slows noticeably when temperatures drop below 15°C (59°F). It’s sensitive to cold, so it’s best grown from spring through early fall rather than on a winter balcony.
The real beauty of pot gardening is freshness. You can snip exactly what you need and use it immediately, cutting down on produce that wilts in the fridge. Start with easy plants like green onions or lettuce to lower the chance of failure.
Avoid bringing garden or yard soil straight into pots—you can also introduce weed seeds and pests that way. Buy potting mix that contains organic matter instead. You can get basic pots and potting soil at discount stores or local garden centers for about 5,000–10,000 KRW (≈ $3.75–$7.50) to get started.
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