Managing expectations

**veggiechicken** · 25-02-2014, 09:55 AM

There's no such thing as a failure when it comes to gardening (or life for that matter) - its a learning experience. I'm learning all the time

Someone else can help you choose your seeds but I woudln't bother with swede or celeriac if you're growing in pots.

**sparrow100** · 25-02-2014, 09:57 AM

None of those look difficult, so you've picked well. I think one of the main challenges that you will have is the size that some of the plants grow to. And then the support that they might need. My broccoli is 3ft high and needs staking. Courgettes get huge too.

Can you attach supports to any of the balcony walls to stop some of the plants falling over in the wind? I grow things on my (small, north-facing) balcony and often the wind is much more significant than at ground level.

Have you thought of growing carrots/parsnips/scorzonera in deep tubs? You have a really good chance of avoiding carrot fly without netting them if you are high up.

Hope that helps, it sounds a great opportunity.

(Just seen VCs comment - totally agree)

**KirstieSparkle** · 25-02-2014, 10:02 AM

Awww I love swede and celeriac :-(
I do have massive pots?
Yeah i can attach what I like to the walls, it's a ten year lease with my new shop... The balcony is 8m long by 5m wide
Should I get some of those trellis things then?

It's gonna teach me patience I think, this gardening and not being perfect thing.

**AllInContainers** · 25-02-2014, 10:24 AM

Your balcony is bigger than my garden

Don't fret too much about the destination, just enjoy the journey

Everyone seems to have different views about the "best" way of doing things, and you'll find your own ways in time. I wouldn't bother with trellises just yet, unless you know you are going to want to grow climbers. some plants will need staking up to stop them toppling, whereas others just need earthing up (building up extra soil/compost round the base) for support.

Chuck some seeds in and get growing something

Grow small amounts of any crop at a time so you can watch what happens when different stuff is trying to grow at different times of the year. I feel a lot more confident about growing stuff this year, and "bending the rules" about how stuff should be grown because of my experience last year, and that includes stuff damping off, bolting, getting savaged by pests, and all the other stuff that frustrates us all. Don't get caught up in the rules and convention, just dive in and go for it. There's plenty of people here with lots of experience to catch if you stumble

**KirstieSparkle** · 25-02-2014, 10:41 AM

:-) thanks.
So should I keep different things in different pots or can I as diff things in same pots to make it look pretty?
I started a thread about what to buy at garden centre later, and providing a pub meeting doesn't take too long I hope to be planting seeds tonight :-)

**AllInContainers** · 25-02-2014, 11:06 AM

I'd keep stuff seperate this year so you get a better idea about size, root structure, watering needs etc. That way you can be sure you're putting compatible plants together next year

**KirstieSparkle** · 25-02-2014, 11:14 AM

If I'm going to be stubborn and try with the celeriac and swede... What type of tub do they need? Deep ones I guess?

**AllInContainers** · 25-02-2014, 11:28 AM

I grew sweetcorn over 2 metres high in multipurpose compost only 10" deep, and with spacings far less than what the rules say ... and guess what .... loads of delicious tasting corn! OK, I had to be very vigilant with watering and feeding to compensate, but I broke the rules and it worked. Though having said that, I'd probably do it differently if I grew them again as now I understand better why the "rules" are there.

Find out what the plants you want to grow need and why, and then try to replicate it. Maybe using top soil instead of compost if they like firm soil, does it prefer peaty stuff or quick draining stuff, high nutients or "poor" soil, do the roots go deep or spread wide etc etc. A pot is a mini garden all on it's very own, and growing in pots means you can have a whole different range of garden conditions growing near/next to each other. Ericaceous next to poor and sandy, next to rich and fertile. If something will grow in soil, it will grow in a pot - you just need to understand what the plant needs and how it grows to choose the right pot and the right stuff to put in it so it feels at home.

**Bill HH** · 25-02-2014, 11:31 AM

When deciding on pot sizes try to imagine the final product and allow it enough room to fullfill its potential. Carrots for instance are root crops and need depth to grow down into, 9 inches should do it.
The other thing is dont plant seeds to thickly, carrots are very small fine seeds and hard to plant thinly. I get a few handfulls of compost and sprinkle a little seed in it then mix it up well. Then you can sprinkle the compost onto your container. If they come up too close together gently pull some out leaving the best to swell. carrots are best sown where they are intended to grow, they dont like being moved.
Your lettuce on the other hand can be sown in a tray and then when they are a few inches high transplanted into their final spots.
When you decide to grow something then go onto you tube and search for it, they are thousands of very instructional video clips to watch.

**RedThorn** · 25-02-2014, 11:34 AM

Have you considered fennel? Pretty as it's fine fronds almost look like a fern.

As to the swede and celeriac. Bung 'em in if you want. Experiment and have fun!

Personally when growing space is tight I look at growing stuff I like and is easy and not cheap from supermarkets. The other thing to consider is time to harvest, can I grow a faster growing crop rather than something that takes ages or use loads of space, Eg garlic, caulies, cabbages or onions from seed

**KirstieSparkle** · 25-02-2014, 11:45 AM

Oh dear god.. Different types of soil... Sooo for what I've got I probably need to buy more than just the multi purpose compost?!

Omg I best get reading and learning fast seeing as I only just have one day off a week lol

I would grow fennel but as much as I like It I never get through one when I buy one so wouldn't hope to get through a crop.
Maybe I need to look at other ways of using, I pretty much chop it up and put it in salads

**Nicos** · 25-02-2014, 11:56 AM

No mention of spuds????
The first new potatoes of the year tipped out of the tub and eaten within 15 mins is very, very hard to beat!!!! Especially when rolled in butter with chopped chives! ( did you mention chives?...they are very easy to grow. I have bought a tub of them from the supermarket , split into 3 and planted them outside to spread. Dotted about the place may also help deter carrot fly....and yes....you may still get them even up there as they'd can be blown up there in the wind.

(You can then use the potato tub for lettuce, radish etc.)

I liked to stick a few nasturtium seeds in my potato tubs as they add loads of colour and can be repotted after you harvest the potatoes. They also attract
black fly away from other crops. And the flowers look and taste yummy in a salad.

English marigold are easy to grow and are colourful for a long time. The seeds can be kept for the following years...you'll eventually be giving seeds to your friends!

Do be aware...you cannot control Nature...but...you can try and tweak things though!

.... But do expect her to fight back sometimes!

**Tripmeup** · 25-02-2014, 12:02 PM

Originally posted by KirstieSparkle View Post

Right, so out of this list of seeds I have what are going to be easiest and most challenging on a massive south facing balcony?

I am starting to accept that a) I'm not very good at this yet... And b) even great gardeners loose plants and there is always going to be some failure.
I'm not used to failure so trying to manage expectations and prepare myself

I've got......
Courgette, little gem lettuce, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, swede, kohl rabi, Swiss chard, crystal apple, plum tomato, radish, broccoli, early sprouting purple broccoli, celeriac, rainbow beets, carrots, leek, purple garlic, white garlic, mint, oregano and basil.

What ones are easiest? Or, less easy to kill

If the balcony gets lots of sun, don't forget strawberries!!

**KirstieSparkle** · 25-02-2014, 12:03 PM

Lol I don't eat potatoes. I haven't found and sweet potato to grow yet but would love to.
Guessing if I find sweet pot then I can do the Same thing with radish and lettuce?
Oooh I haven't thought about edible flowers!!!! Yaaaayyyy

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