Growing food on a balcony

[Nightingale 0]

Has anyone else tried this?

So far, I've got a blood orange tree that will be yielding fruit this year (although not many; the tree is still young), a habanero pepper plant (currently flowering, so I expect peppers soon, and should get them year round after this), mint and oregano. I also have two potted confederate jasmine plants, just because they smell so pretty.

I am thinking of adding a key lime tree because they yield fruit year round, a bell pepper plant (and maybe zucchini?), and some strawberries and tomatoes in hanging baskets, and maybe a pot of English lavender to add to the smell-nice factor.

I don't have a lot of floor space, but I do have lots of eave space for hanging baskets, and railing space for planter boxes. I could probably fit 2-3 more pots on the balcony and still have enough space free to keep the balcony usable.

The plants I have are doing fabulously, but they're pretty low maintenance and just ask for full sun, fertilizer, and water. Growing this stuff is certainly cheaper than buying it in the long run, and I'm really enjoying gardening so far.

[cocheese 0]

We need to get back to the garden.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDa4YrODCMM&feature=related

[Nightingale 0]

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We need to get back to the garden.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDa4YrODCMM&feature=related

Work has blocked you-tube. =(


I'm thinking of asking my homeowner's association to plant stuff like thornless blackberry and fruit trees instead of the random green stuff we've got all over the condo complex. We're already paying the gardeners to grow stuff, so we might as well grow something useful.

[cocheese 0]

..Woodstock video. CSN Stardust/back to the garden.

Mmmm California oranges, strawberries and grapes are the best.

[Shell666 0]

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Has anyone else tried this?

Growing veggies and herbs, yes. Growing cows and the like, no.

I pot my tomato plants as early as I can to get them a head start before I put them in the garden. My deck is covered so there's little chance of frost on them in the late spring/early summer. I have kept them in pots throughout the summer as well and they have really done well.

Tried potting a cucumber plant last year. It did okay but not great.

Have fun with your garden! I love mine!

I always grow herbs in pots on my deck as well (cilantro, dill, fennel, coriander, chives) and they'd probably do really well in hanging baskets or in a planter on your railing.

'Shell

[Nightingale 0]

Well, being in southern California, frost is pretty much a non-issue.

I'd like to find some plants, like the key lime and the pepper, that yield fruit year round. I'd rather have something that I like produce fruit all year than something I love that only fruits for six weeks.

[simplyputsi 0]

My parents did this and it has worked very well for them. They have a rather large deck so the pots they used are a good size.
It got me thinking that I could probably do that. My mom though gave everything a head start in her nursery she has in the basement.
The have zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, bell peppers, jalepenos, and maybe one or two others but that is all I can remember.

I agree much better than buying it.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[DougH 270]

Plant some pot. It is a weed so it will grow like crazy.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[Shell666 0]

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Well, being in southern California, frost is pretty much a non-issue.

I'd like to find some plants, like the key lime and the pepper, that yield fruit year round. I'd rather have something that I like produce fruit all year than something I love that only fruits for six weeks.

Lucky you on the frost. And being able to grow them year round.

Enjoy the gardening and the fruits of your labours!

'Shell

[happythoughts 0]

Earth Box

The EarthBox was developed by a commercial tomato grower that I know, so you can get tons of information.
At 80ish, Blake looks at growing as a hobby, not just a job and does his own education videos. Good sections on what-to-grow, instructions.

You can buy them online or at almost every garden shop.

[moodyskydiver 0]

Although we live on 80 acres and have 25+horses we do have a small garden and its really helped us out in a pinch.We do have some stuff like strawberries,tomatoes and squash up on the back porch though b/c our youngest colt likes to eat the plants and the dirt out of the planter!

But the strawberries are very good this year and so are the tomatoes.So I'd go for those.Theyre simple to upkeep too.Have fun!

"...just an earthbound misfit, I."

[mnealtx 0]

Very cool idea!

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[Gene03 0]

Avocados.

“The only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him.

Stanislaw Jerzy Lec quotes (Polish writer, poet and satirist 1906-1966)

[Shotgun 1]

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I'm thinking of asking my homeowner's association to plant stuff like thornless blackberry and fruit trees instead of the random green stuff we've got all over the condo complex. We're already paying the gardeners to grow stuff, so we might as well grow something useful.

That sounds like a good idea. But I wonder if there would be squabbles over who was picking the most fruit?

And I wish our boysenberry bush was thornless! It's been nice going out there in the mornings to get fresh berries for my cereal, but I've gotten scratched up pretty good a few times.

[Nightingale 0]

I doubt there would be squabbles. Most people wouldn't bother, and the rest could just be first come first serve.

[DougH 270]

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Avocados.

I thought those came from large trees. I would love to be in a climate where I could have a HAAS avacado tree. I loooooooooove avacados.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[mjosparky 4]

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So far, I've got a blood orange tree that will be yielding fruit this year (although not many; the tree is still young),

How did you pollinate the tree? Did you ever wonder why they put bee hives in orange groves?

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[Nightingale 0]

I had a few bees, and then I took a soft brush and brushed the flowers with it. I think the bees were more successful, so next year I will import a few.

[mjosparky 4]

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I had a few bees, and then I took a soft brush and brushed the flowers with it. I think the bees were more successful, so next year I will import a few.

I should have know that you had it figured out.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[Nightingale 0]

Hehe. I spent about six weeks researching orange trees before buying that one. Wanted to make sure I did it right and didn't kill the thing.