Curious about growing food in containers but not sure where to start? Discover when to begin, how much time and space you need, and simple tips to avoid common beginner mistakes
Helpful motivating post. I love my balcony. Unfortunately so do the local snails, slugs and grey squirrels. The latter even break off branches of my greengage tree. I hate them so much I wrote a post about them (the best squirrel is deep fried). Sadly squirrels can't read.
You might have enjoyed a supermarket I once helped to create a container garden on the roof of... It was one of those stores where their owner was allowed to stock a small percentage of locally sourced products - and one of them, in the freezers, was squirrels!
Yes, the owner was quite a free spirit and into sustainability. I helped out a bit creating Food from the Sky - a garden on the rooftop, but I don't think it lasted long term, sadly. Look forward to following you here on Substack.
It might be a case of experimenting and see what grows well - edible plants that grow well in the heat include chillies, aubergines, and tomatoes. Leafy crops that can tolerate more warmth include amaranth, malabar spinach, basil and (surprisingly) kale. If the sun is very intense you might need to get some shade cloth to protect them in the hottest hours of the day. Containers with water reservoirs will help reduce the risk of plants drying out. Keeping the windows open to aid air flow will also help - and if the heat is dry, saucers of water. Every space (and climate) is very different so these are just ideas as I don't have direct experience of your situation. If you can find someone who lives near you who grows in a similar space you should be able to pick up a lot of useful tips and find out what grows well for them. Otherwise, it's worth giving it a try with a few plants and learn as you go - you might find plants grow very well in it.
Good quality compost is so important - I complained at my local garden centre last week because they had kept the bags outside all winter and they were absolutely sodden and no use at all. It was a shame as they had a great selection of peat free options
Ah, yes, that is a shame, were they still selling it? If so, I feel sorry for all their customers, many of whom probably won't be aware of the damage done to it.
I notice that Silvagrow have started putting packing dates on the side of their compost bags which is a very helpful step - I'm not sure if other companies have started doing the same yet, but they all should.
Thank you! That was terrific motivation. And a balm to my impatient heart that wants to get going now now now.
One thing- I’m going to be gardening on a balcony and a patio in the hot southwest high desert, and I’m going to try (new house this season) some containers in the front and some containers in the back. The back balcony is west facing. I have a feeling some of the plants are not going to like that baking sun in the afternoon. Might need some sort of shade sail. Out here there is such a thing as too much sun!
Hi Sarah, wow that sounds an exciting project! I'm not familiar with your growing conditions but some plants do need shade if the sun gets too hot - and growers in hot places will often put up shade cloth during the hottest hours of the day. You also want to choose crops that will grow well in your climate - see if you can speak to others in your area or join a local online gardening group to find out what others are growing. Warm loving plants include things like chillies, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, amaranth and Malabar spinach. Containers with water reservoirs (like Earthboxes which I think are widely available in the US) are extremely helpful in hot spaces to help reduce the risk of containers drying out. If the balcony floor gets very hot in the sun, raising the pots off the ground (eg on bits of wood) will reduce the heat transfer. Also choose pots that will reflect the light (not black). Finally, take some time this year to observe the different spaces, including where the sunniest and shadiest areas are, any areas with hot air flow or lots of reflected heat from eg concrete. Growing in a new space is always a bit experimental and trial and error - so give it a try with an open mind - to learn what works. Very good luck!
Thanks Sarah. Yes, I guess the 3 hours sun is a bit of a generalisation as spaces vary so much in the light they get - and some balconies that get 3 hours sun will still be nice and bright for the rest of the day, while others might be more gloomy and harder to grow in. So I guess it normally comes down to trying things with an open mind and seeing what grows well. Where I live is a cool area but we do benefit from long hours of daylight from May to July - on the longest day of the year, sun rises here at 4.25 am and sets at 9.55pm! But my general experience is that most leafy veg will grow OK in 3 hours sun - of course most will also grow stronger if they get a bit more.
Great post - reassuring and practical as always! Just the kind of nudge I needed to get going again - at least with the reliable micro greens you’ve suggested previously. Good suggestion about getting watering into your routine and also about using good size containers. Onwards! Thank you! 🌱
Yes, microgreens are generally reliable and also benefit from growing so quickly and needing less sun than most things - so they sound a great thing to start with this year. Also, of course, they taste so good!
Helpful motivating post. I love my balcony. Unfortunately so do the local snails, slugs and grey squirrels. The latter even break off branches of my greengage tree. I hate them so much I wrote a post about them (the best squirrel is deep fried). Sadly squirrels can't read.
You might have enjoyed a supermarket I once helped to create a container garden on the roof of... It was one of those stores where their owner was allowed to stock a small percentage of locally sourced products - and one of them, in the freezers, was squirrels!
Sounds like Budgens. Was it?
Indeed it was! You live near there?
Yes, in the side of Haringey without fancy shops, but I remember when they did it having met the owners a couple of times.
Yes, the owner was quite a free spirit and into sustainability. I helped out a bit creating Food from the Sky - a garden on the rooftop, but I don't think it lasted long term, sadly. Look forward to following you here on Substack.
Ditto! Yes, shame it didn't last.
Thank you, now I am motivated. So I have a balcony but it is covered. It has big glass windows.
Even though I open the windows in summer, it is not outside. Do you have any advice on how to drown in a hot environment like that?
Thank you! I will give it a try. I have shades, and I can control the sun coming in. Growing tomatoes at home sounds fantastic :)
It might be a case of experimenting and see what grows well - edible plants that grow well in the heat include chillies, aubergines, and tomatoes. Leafy crops that can tolerate more warmth include amaranth, malabar spinach, basil and (surprisingly) kale. If the sun is very intense you might need to get some shade cloth to protect them in the hottest hours of the day. Containers with water reservoirs will help reduce the risk of plants drying out. Keeping the windows open to aid air flow will also help - and if the heat is dry, saucers of water. Every space (and climate) is very different so these are just ideas as I don't have direct experience of your situation. If you can find someone who lives near you who grows in a similar space you should be able to pick up a lot of useful tips and find out what grows well for them. Otherwise, it's worth giving it a try with a few plants and learn as you go - you might find plants grow very well in it.
I'm inspired! Thank you.
You're more than welcome Juliet, good luck!
Good quality compost is so important - I complained at my local garden centre last week because they had kept the bags outside all winter and they were absolutely sodden and no use at all. It was a shame as they had a great selection of peat free options
Ah, yes, that is a shame, were they still selling it? If so, I feel sorry for all their customers, many of whom probably won't be aware of the damage done to it.
I notice that Silvagrow have started putting packing dates on the side of their compost bags which is a very helpful step - I'm not sure if other companies have started doing the same yet, but they all should.
Still selling it! despite the state of it - I am minded to alert the manufacturers
Thank you! That was terrific motivation. And a balm to my impatient heart that wants to get going now now now.
One thing- I’m going to be gardening on a balcony and a patio in the hot southwest high desert, and I’m going to try (new house this season) some containers in the front and some containers in the back. The back balcony is west facing. I have a feeling some of the plants are not going to like that baking sun in the afternoon. Might need some sort of shade sail. Out here there is such a thing as too much sun!
Hi Sarah, wow that sounds an exciting project! I'm not familiar with your growing conditions but some plants do need shade if the sun gets too hot - and growers in hot places will often put up shade cloth during the hottest hours of the day. You also want to choose crops that will grow well in your climate - see if you can speak to others in your area or join a local online gardening group to find out what others are growing. Warm loving plants include things like chillies, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, amaranth and Malabar spinach. Containers with water reservoirs (like Earthboxes which I think are widely available in the US) are extremely helpful in hot spaces to help reduce the risk of containers drying out. If the balcony floor gets very hot in the sun, raising the pots off the ground (eg on bits of wood) will reduce the heat transfer. Also choose pots that will reflect the light (not black). Finally, take some time this year to observe the different spaces, including where the sunniest and shadiest areas are, any areas with hot air flow or lots of reflected heat from eg concrete. Growing in a new space is always a bit experimental and trial and error - so give it a try with an open mind - to learn what works. Very good luck!
Thank you so much- I will take all of that advice!
I should’ve specified US Southwest. 🤭
This is a great post! I’m amazed at what you can grow with only 3 hours of full sun. Really great motivation.
Thanks Sarah. Yes, I guess the 3 hours sun is a bit of a generalisation as spaces vary so much in the light they get - and some balconies that get 3 hours sun will still be nice and bright for the rest of the day, while others might be more gloomy and harder to grow in. So I guess it normally comes down to trying things with an open mind and seeing what grows well. Where I live is a cool area but we do benefit from long hours of daylight from May to July - on the longest day of the year, sun rises here at 4.25 am and sets at 9.55pm! But my general experience is that most leafy veg will grow OK in 3 hours sun - of course most will also grow stronger if they get a bit more.
Very helpful and motivating post - there is nothing more satisfying than eating food grown in your own garden :-)
I couldn't agree with you more Angie - it's such a rewarding and fulfilling thing to pick and eat your own food.
Great post - reassuring and practical as always! Just the kind of nudge I needed to get going again - at least with the reliable micro greens you’ve suggested previously. Good suggestion about getting watering into your routine and also about using good size containers. Onwards! Thank you! 🌱
Yes, microgreens are generally reliable and also benefit from growing so quickly and needing less sun than most things - so they sound a great thing to start with this year. Also, of course, they taste so good!