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Growing my own vegetables and herbs, on a balcony.

• Message 1. 

  Posted by maxine (U15210431) on Saturday, 31st March 2012

  Hello, this is my first Gardening Message board posting, so please be gentle.
  I have no gardening skills at all. I live in a flat, but have an open balcony.
  I would like to grow my own vegetables and herbs, could anyone till me if this is possible as I don’t have a garden, I am looking at growing, carrot, onions, broccoli, courgettes, tomatoes, cucumber ect.

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• Message 2

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  Posted by Inajam (U14850695) on Saturday, 31st March 2012

  Hi Maxine, in my experience this is a very gentle Board
  
  Which way does your balcony face? If it's South or West you'll get better results than North or East. I've grown stump rooted carrots in containers (old recycling boxes with holes drilled in the bottom) and outdoor varieties of tomatoes will do well in large pots if you have a sunny spot. The bush varieties might be easier if you've not grown tomatoes before.
  
  I wouldn't recommend trying tomatoes straight into growbags as I find there's never enough compost for them, but you can use special bottomless pots combined with the growbags and I've seen them do well, but as I said I grow mine in large plastic pots - it's easier to stake them.
  
  As for herbs, there are lots of possibilities - thyme, oregano, chives, mint, parsley, etc will all do well in containers (keep the mint in a separate pot or it will take over). It'll probably be just as cheap to buy individual plants in pots and then pot them up rather than grow them from seed, if you only want a few - otherwise you've got to add the cost of seed compost etc into the cost of growing from seed and you'd end up with loads of plants - but of course you could sell/give them to friends and neighbours.
  
  Good luck - I hope you have lots of fun growing things and don't be put off by the occasional failure, we all have them - ask advice from this Board and you'll learn quickly.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Saturday, 31st March 2012

  I wouldn't recommend trying tomatoes straight into growbags as I find there's never enough compost for them 
  
  Fair comment but a way over this is;
  
  Hold the growbag in the middle and allow similar amounts of compost to trickle into either end of the bag.
  
  Once this is done cut the bag in half along the fold you have created.
  
  What you will find is; that effectively you have to pots of compost, roll down the surplus plastic and this will strengthen the rims of the bags. (These can be unfurled later in the season and topped up with new compost.)
  
  Finaly cut a few drainage holes in the bottom of each pot.
  
  
  
  This article might be of assistance to you Maxine;

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  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Saturday, 31st March 2012

  You can also use a double depth of grow-bags by putting one on top of the other after removing plastic from the bottom one and underneath of top one so the roots can grow through.
  
  Salad things will be fine, but I'm not sure about larger cabbage-type things like broccoli.
  
  Your biggest problem will be watering. On a balcony and in containers there will be high demand for water, maybe daily.
  
  And don't forget some cheerful flowers.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by linda (U1797657) on Saturday, 31st March 2012

  Hi Maxine
  
  as Inajam says, the aspect is important, you'll struggle if you don't get a decent amount of sun. Also when you're growing in tubs watering and feeding are very important.
  
  Garlic and shallots grow well in tubs, as do dwarf french beans. You might also want to try mini veg. As well as being quite expensive in the supermarket they sound ideal for container growing. I've just bought some broccoli seeds called Kabuki F1 hybrid so fingers crossed these will grow in a container.
  
  If you've got the room then the types of potato that are expensive or hard to get in supermarkets might be worth it. I've always grow mine in pots as I don't have room in the garden. Varieties such a Pin Fir Apple and Anya do well.
  
  I think you'll struggle with cucumbers unless it's a very sunny, sheltered balcony, but give it a shot.
  
  linda

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• Message 6

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  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Sunday, 1st April 2012

  Hi, Maxine,
  
  Welcome to the boards.
  
  Good luck with growing on your balcony but be considerate of your neighbours who live below. When watering plants be mindful that any overflow will pour onto their balcony, that's if you have neighbours below. To prevent this you can place your pots in trays and water the tray, water will then be absorbed by the compost into the pot.
  
  What every you decide to grow adding a mulch to the top of the pot or gravel will reduce evaporation of water and the pots will need less watering.
  
  Good luck and let us know what you decide to grow.

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  Posted by peachy reid (U15214688) on Sunday, 1st April 2012

  hi maxine
  ive just bought my first house but the garden is covered in hideous stones with only one sorry looking patch of ground with a few weedy perenials in it.
  ive had no choice but to do things in bags, troughts, pots and for now a small put me up green house.
  ive got a herb trough that has thyme, rosemary, oregano basil and parsley. they do well in sun with a daiiy drink. when i planted them i put a handful of stones in the bottom for drainage.
  i did the same when i planted a pepper and chilli plant in another trough.
  weve got a hanging green bag with strawberries in it which is brill as the water distributed evenly, the drips water the pansies under neath and the fruit hangs down so it doesnt sit on the wet mud and rot.
  ive started salad & lettuce in small cardboard plugs and plant tjem in to bigger pots when the roots show through the bottom.
  i grew carrots last year in buckets!! i found a few old cracked ones with no handels at the in laws, again filling the bottom with stones and planting them out in a circle.
  i also had spring onions in a unwanted toliet!!!! Ive herd spring onions were hard to grow but mine got off to a flying start.
  when i first started sowing seeds i put them in butter pots, yogurt pots, and small plastic container i could find for the time beeing till i planted them out. i only had a small patio with all this on, got a goot crop of peppers, chillis, spring onions, salad & lettuce (till my rabbits escaped and ate it all!)
  i also grew potatoes in a old metal ash bin. i filled it with soil and gave it a good watering every day then sprinkled it with more soil when the tops were sprouting through. because it was quite deep i tipped it all on the weedy bit at the back when i wanted to pick the potatoes.
  hope this helps and inspires you to grow lots in a small space.
  happy growing, and happy harvesting

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• Message 8

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  Posted by maxine (U15210431) on Wednesday, 4th April 2012

  Hello Inajam
  Thank you for your reply. I have the sun on my balcony from the time it comes up to the time it goes down, left to right if that helps.
  Due to a lack of money and not knowing much about growing vegetables and herbs I have started with a small plant for Sage, Rosemary, and parsley. I bought for a good price at box vegetables in Southend on sea.
  I have made note of your advice on the tomatoes and using pots and containers. I will let you know how I get on
  
  Kind regards Maxine xx
  

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• Message 9

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  Posted by maxine (U15210431) on Wednesday, 4th April 2012

  Hello Tee Gee
  Thank you for your reply. I have the sun on my balcony from the time it comes up to the time it goes down, left to right if that helps.
  So I should be able to grow most things
  Thank you for the advice, when is the best time to start to grow tomatoes.
  Kind regards
  Maxine xx
  

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• Message 10

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  Posted by maxine (U15210431) on Wednesday, 4th April 2012

  You can also use a double depth of grow-bags by putting one on top of the other after removing plastic from the bottom one and underneath of top one so the roots can grow through.
  
  Salad things will be fine, but I'm not sure about larger cabbage-type things like broccoli.
  
  Your biggest problem will be watering. On a balcony and in containers there will be high demand for water, maybe daily.
  
  And don't forget some cheerful flowers.  Hello BaraGwenith
  
  Thank you for your reply. I have the sun on my balcony from the time it comes up to the time it goes down, left to right if that helps.
  So I should be able to grow most things.
  
  You can also use a double depth of grow-bags by putting one on top of the other after removing plastic from the bottom one and underneath of top one so the roots can grow through.
  Can I do this, as I have a concrete floor on my balcony, will this cause damage? I like this idea tho
  
  Kind regards
  Maxine xx
  

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• Message 11

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  Posted by maxine (U15210431) on Wednesday, 4th April 2012

  Hello Linder
  
  Thank you for your reply. I have the sun on my balcony from the time it comes up to the time it goes down, left to right if that helps.
  So I should be able to grow most things. I do get some rain on my balcony, depending how heavy it is and which way the wind is blowing.
  
  As a guess I would say it is 2 and half meters wide and 3-4 meters long, it is open with a metal railing along the front. So far I have a 4 tier wooden frame, with three herbs Sage, Rosemary, and parsley.
  
  I hope to build it up soon
  
  Kind regards
  Maxine xx
  

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• Message 12

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by maxine (U15210431) on Wednesday, 4th April 2012

  Hello Zoomer 44
  
  Thank you for your reply. Thank you for pointing that out. I'm on the third floor, above some shops, which are used regally, I'm sure they would not appreciate water all over them as they go about their daily routine.
  
  So far I have Sage, Rosemary, and parsley, only small at the moment
  Kind regards
  Maxine xx
  

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• Message 13

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by maxine (U15210431) on Wednesday, 4th April 2012

  Hello Peachy Reid.
  
  Thank you for your reply.
  I have the sun on my balcony from the time it comes up to the time it goes down, left to right if that helps. I do get some rain on my balcony, depending how heavy it Is and which way the wind is blowing. As a guess I would say it is 2 and half meters wide and 3-4 meters long, it is open with a metal railing along the front. So it is fairly big.
  
  It is mainly my two dogs and me out there in the summer. It was walking the dogs that have got me into trying to grow my own, where I walk them is an allotment. I see people over there most days anytime of the year. I did think about getting an allotment, they are £30 for the year. But then you need time to go over there to maintain it, so I thought I would try at home and see how it goes.
  
  So far I have a 4 tier wooden frame, with three herbs Sage, Rosemary, and parsley. I brought for a good price at the veg box in southend. They are small at the moment so I can't start to use them yet, the lady in the shop said they do not need much water as they are dessert plants, but on the pot it says the opposite so a bit confused on that. She also said when I re pot them they will need a good drainage soil. I am hoping to start some veg from seeds soon, BBQ has some really small starter trays, and a pack of different seeds, I will check before starting them that it is the right time of year first and then go from there.
  
  Kind regards
  Maxine xx
  

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• Message 14

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  Posted by Vixxihibiscus (U13865184) on Wednesday, 4th April 2012

  Hi Maxine,
  
  I have an allotment now but started off on my decking with a wee greenhouse. You'll be amazed how much you can grow!
  
  I bought large pots and planters. Our local Morrisons has some at the moment that are huge, sturdy, plastic and about £2/3 each which is pretty good. They also sell off their flower buckets at 8 for 99p which are brilliant and a perfect size for tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, peppers and chillis....1 per pot.
  
  I live in NE Scotland and have successfully grown tomatoes and chillis outdoors (my g/h is a small 4 tier one, good for starting off seeds but not so good for tomatoes) I grew Tigerella, Ildi and Gardeners Delight tomatoes and Cayene and Apache Chillis outdoors. Although they do need as long a growing season as possible so buy plants this year as mine were started off a month ago and you'll never catch that up. Remember to keep them on a sunny windowsill till all risk of frost has passed (end May-ish)
  
  Other things that do well in pots are potatoes (I grow mine in large blue Ikea bags) carrots, spring onions, shallots, courgettes and I grow various trays of salads (chards, spinaches, lettuces, rocket, mizuna, mustard and all my spare brassicas go in a mix to be eaten as baby salad leaves) in large (2ft x 1.5ft) green seed trays (the 4 inch deep ones.... put the salad on the right side of your balcony so it is spared the afternoon sun) bagged salad is expensive. I also have Strawberries in large pots (although they need lots of watering) Raspberry canes and I love microgreens (Google those) I also have a sweetcorn plant here and there. Peas and beans are great on pots too and don't forget to sow things little and often as they'll all be ready for using at the same time. My general rule is when the plants you have already started have their first set of "true" leaves (the first ones after the seed leaves) then I sow the next batch.
  
  Beetroot tends to bolt on pots (go to seed as opposed to bulbing out) Cabbages/cauliflowers/broccoli etc are just too big for small spaces and are too cheap to buy to give up to valuable space. Strawberries do need a LOT of watering...kinda like the beetroot!)
  
  Also grow what you want to eat most and what is most expensive to buy and don't be disheartened when something doesn't work out. Just try again.
  
  Best of luck!

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• Message 15

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  Posted by Vixxihibiscus (U13865184) on Wednesday, 4th April 2012

  Also if your balcony is covered from above, can I recommend a peach tree? I have a dwarfing peach tree on mine....a total indulgence but there's nothing like a sun warmed, perfectly ripe peach! They don't like getting wet leaves though as they get a fungal infection called Peach Leaf Curl but a covered balcony would be great for them.

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• Message 16

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  Posted by marinelilium (U8293024) on Thursday, 5th April 2012

  Hello and a warm welcome Maxine,
  
  Adding water retaining gel to your compost will mean less watering especially for a south facing balcony. You could cluster pots together to create a moisture trap.
  
  A well known Swedish outlet sells balcony rail plant holders, half a metre long, for £12 and individual balcony rail pots, with hooks attached , for £6 in a range of colours. Bicycle baskets and shopping baskets can also be lashed on to the rails with a plastic tray in the base. These planters  will be doggie proof if your two are diggers, sprinklers or nibblers!
  
  The same shop sells balcony wind breaks/shade with eight tape ties top and bottom. I use their pot movers (a duckboard on castors) to move my bigger pots about when the weather bakes them or wet southerly storms batter them.
  Even their 50p carry bags make great potato and tomato containers with carry handles!
  
  I know you will get as hooked as the balcony pots in your new gardening adventure of growing your own food Maxine and you'll be off to get that allotment in no time.
  
  MLx
  

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