veggies in containers

21 years ago

Hi all,

As much I would love my veggie patch to be right outside the kitchen door, unfortunately I get no sun there. In fact, the best place for veggies grown in the ground is way on the other side of the house! I put a temporary garden there as our property is quite steeply sloped and this was easily accessible now (and have been thus far learning a lot about the downshide of sheet mulching, ugh, like how much earwigs love to live in straw! And how much they love to munch seedlings! But I planted some sacrificial marigolds and that has been an enormous help)

Anyway I do have a nice large balcony that gets full sun and next summer I'd like to utilize it for growing frequently harvested stuff. But I've never tried to grow veggies in containers, and the balcony is quite exposed, quite a lot of wind. The balcony is supported by massive wood beams that run all through the house, so I'm pretty sure weight won't be a problem. It's quite a large balcony (5' by 20' or so, maybe larger).

I'm all for learning through numerous mistakes, but I thought some urban permaculturist out there might be able to save me some trouble and also inspire me as to some veggies I hadn't thought of. I'm definitley much better at growing right in the ground. I've only ever grown flowers in containers and they've never done well. I think one of my problems was the size of the containers I was using. THis year I have a container herb garden and a pot of flowers that are in big pots and they are doign quite well.

I definitely want to grow some stuff on a trellis as our house gets quite hot and we have two large patio doors that lead to the balcony so the trellis could do double duty as a shade creator. So beans and cukes on trellises, herbs, lettuce, maybe cherry tomatoes, zucchini (just trying to think of veggies that need frequent harvesting and/or salad veggies). Radishes. Do carrots do well in containers? Nasturtiums. Other greens.

THanks.

Comments (7)

adamhenne
21 years ago
Seems like most of those things ought to do well. You might want to think about windbreaks, especially since container veggies dry out very quickly. I'm not sure about carrots in containers, but if you have deep enough pots I guess they'd be okay. I've done really well with greens and herbs, tomatoes do very nicely as well.
seraphima
21 years ago
If you have railings on the balcony, try a reinforced greenhouse-type clear plastic (with the fibers in a grid in it.) That should stand up to wind and last longer. You might want to experiment with self-watering planter boxes, either homemade or of the EarthBox types; they are good for conserving water, too. You can make a strawberry planter easier to water by drilling holes in a pvc pipe and inserting it in the center of the planter before you plant it. Just pour your water down the center.

If you want a shade windbreak, trellis can be used, and you can grow all sorts of climbers. Nasturtiums, beans, and scarlet runner beans came to mind in addition to your ideas.
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marty_h
21 years ago
I've been using the self watering containers from Gardeners Supply Co and they work great. I'm growing tomatoes, raspberries, and a mini-dwarf apple tree in them! I fill them halfway with container mix because that wicks the water up to the roots. The rest I fill with compost.

I use the container they sell for tomatoes. They sell it separately for $35, or that was the price last year ... I think. Hope all this plastic isn't counter to permaculture principles.

Here is a link that might be useful: Self watering containers
mtn_gardener
Original Author
21 years ago
Seraphima, do you have a link to any info on constructing homemade self watering containers?

I may be doing some of this earlier than originally planned. I've accepted defeat on the garden I planted this year. Almost everything is half dead. Been QUITE the learning experience, which is fine, but I REALLY wanted tomatoes this year, that is the biggest disapointment. I'm going to attempt to transplant a few to regular amended soil and see how they do. Nothign to lose!
Kathy_KY
21 years ago
I haven't grown veggies in containers for several years, but when I did, I always made sure to mulch. It really helps to retain moisture.

Also, I grew a ton of stuff in containers (lived in an apartment and had a large balcony), tomatoes, hot peppers, green peppers, etc., but I never did try carrots.

Love seraphima's idea about turning your balcony into a green house as a means to deal with the wind problem!

Let us know what you decide to do and how it turns out.

Kat
permafrog
21 years ago
I have grown the little round carrots, (thumbellina, i think) in containers on my balcony along with radishes. this year I have beans,peas, cucumbers, and various greens as well as a climbing nasturium.
paul_m
21 years ago
our seed companies here in england sell specialist container vegetables.my friend and myself have both grown carrots well in containers.try using what we call a stump rooted variety like Amsterdam Forcing.i am currently growing oak leaf lettuce,and have just harvested a huge crop of shallots from 12 inch pots.good compost ,water and liquid feed once a week are essential in containers.stand them by the kitchen door and you can use grey water from the sink .this method is a great way to extend your growing area.given the right elements any veggie is possible,just think about the space you give to plants in the garden and take it from there.