Does anyone have experience growing vegetables in containers on balconies? Do they turn out okay. I have no experience with gardening but I'd like to try it this year. Unfortunately all of have is my balcony.
i did 2 tomato plants on my balcony last year. i have since moved but am doing the same thing.. 3 tomato plants this time.. you just have to make sure your pots are big enough for the plant you put in it so it has room to grow and doesn't get root bound. :sunny:
What did you use Boog? I used 5 gallon buckets, made into self-watering containers, and my tomatoes didn't do good at all.
Interesting, I googled it. What are the advantages? Where do you get yours? (I was looking at the potato grow back for like $12, they don't seem like that much to make).
If planning on raising tomatos make sure when container gardening to use "determinant" varieties. "Determinant" tomatos plants grow to a certain size and require fewer nutrients and less soil. Celebrity is a good choice for a slicing tomato. Sun exposure is also a major consideration. Make sure your patio gets from 6 to 8 hours of sun a day. And if wind is a factor on your patio, make sure to keep on top of the water situation when container gardening. But it certainly can be done and done well with a little effort.
I do all my gardening in pots, I have a realy small backyard that's paved, I just use 5 gal pots for Toms and water them daily, just don't let them dry out too much, I also grow chilli's and sweetcorn and all seem to do well
I've been balcony pot-gardening for a few years now, and I've been trying out new stuff each year. so far, the herbs, chillies, mangetout peas and salads have been the most successful/reliable. I am tempted to include the tomatoes, but it depends so much on how much sun and rain comes along. Least successful: most root vegetables as they seem too restricted by the pots and the lack of all-day sunshine. Is your balcony south-facing? open at the top? I would think that is the perfect situation for frowing vegetables if a balcony is all that's available.
I once moved because my apartment window faced north and I was always cold. So I moved across the hall and it made all the difference for me and my plants. For really good tomatoes, a half whiskey barrel (or something that size) is what it takes to get a good plant. Cherry tomatoes will do okay in smaller containers. Squash, cucumbers and herbs will not mind being in a small narrow container as long as the soil does not get too hot. (You can use wood chips on the top of the soil to help keep it cool. You can plant peas or pole beans in a long planter box and train them up a mesh. Plastic netting works great for that and is nicer looking than chicken wire. I used to get netting for free at the dumpster at work. Can't find it anymore, so I go to stores that sell netting for fruit trees. Since you can't grow much on a terrace, you should focus on high yield veggies that are rich in antioxidants. Climbing plants use vertical space to give you more fruit per square foot.
