Hello everyone,
I don' t know anything about gardening (flowers, fruit or vegetables) but I would really like to start but I have no idea where to begin so I'm hoping you folks can help me or at least send me off in the right direction.
I live in an apartment building with a big balcony that faces the east, so I only get direct sunlight in the morning (I live near Toronto, Canada)
I would like to start planning a vegetable garden on my balcony for the spring/summer.
My questions for are:
- is this even possible given my scenario?
- what vegetables (or fruit) would I be able to grow successfully?
- when would I start to plant?
- what would I need to get started (please be specific)?
Hi Oceania,
https://www.explore.cornell.edu/scene.cfm?scene=home%20gardening&stop=HG%20%2D%20Find%20a%20Vegetable
Here are some that come to mind that can grow in part sun. Some of these prefer full sun in spring and fall but need part sun in the heat of summer.
arugula, beets, Chinese cabbage, celery and celeriac but need lots of water and not for the beginner, eggplant, Egyptian onion (only onion I know to tolerate less then 10 to 12 hours of sun), kale, leeks, lettuce, mizuna, mustard greens, orach, pak choy aka bok choy, radicchio, radish, rutabaga, shallots, spinach, tomatoes need at least 8 hours of direct sun, turnip.
Broccoli and cauliflower can tolerate some shade but will be slow to mature.
Herbs that can tolerate part shade -
https://www.savvygardener.com/Features/herbs.html
chives, tarragon, sweet woodruff (great for May wine).
If you will be purchasing starts (small plants) they can be planted outdoors after the date of your last expected frost.
Here's a frost chart for Canada.
https://www.almanac.com/garden/frostcanada.php
Here's some helpful info on growing veggies in containers.
https://www.ourgardengang.com/containerveggies.htm
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VH032
You might also find these sites about starting seeds helpful.
https://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?page=./OnlineSeminars/seeding/demo.html&&cart_id=5440704.22962
https://www.muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g06570.htm
https://extension.missouri.edu/jasper/hort/mg/globe/014.htm
When to harvest veggies:
https://www.savvygardener.com/Features/harvesting_vegetables.html
https://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/L291-w.htm
That should get you started.
Newt
Yes, if you select the proper veggies.is this even possible given my scenario?
Most fruit and veggies need full sun of 6 hours or more. You would need to have some idea of how long the sun is on your balcony. There are some veggies, and a few herbs, that will grow in part sun of 4 to 6 hours. Here's the link that explains it all.what vegetables (or fruit) would I be able to grow successfully?
https://www.explore.cornell.edu/scene.cfm?scene=home%20gardening&stop=HG%20%2D%20Find%20a%20Vegetable
Here are some that come to mind that can grow in part sun. Some of these prefer full sun in spring and fall but need part sun in the heat of summer.
arugula, beets, Chinese cabbage, celery and celeriac but need lots of water and not for the beginner, eggplant, Egyptian onion (only onion I know to tolerate less then 10 to 12 hours of sun), kale, leeks, lettuce, mizuna, mustard greens, orach, pak choy aka bok choy, radicchio, radish, rutabaga, shallots, spinach, tomatoes need at least 8 hours of direct sun, turnip.
Broccoli and cauliflower can tolerate some shade but will be slow to mature.
Herbs that can tolerate part shade -
https://www.savvygardener.com/Features/herbs.html
chives, tarragon, sweet woodruff (great for May wine).
If you are going to grow from seed, they are started indoors about 6 weeks before the last expected frost date for your area. Then the small plants can be planted outdoors. The seed packets will tell you when to plant the seeds indoors.when would I start to plant?
If you will be purchasing starts (small plants) they can be planted outdoors after the date of your last expected frost.
Here's a frost chart for Canada.
https://www.almanac.com/garden/frostcanada.php
You will need some type of scoop or trowel. If you will be planting seeds you will probably need some type of tweezers or small scissors like the type used to cut baby's nails. Pots of different sizes, depending on what you want to grow. Seed starting kit of you want to grow from seed. Potting soil, preferably organic, for the plants and seed starting mix if you plan on growing from seed. A watering can or hose, preferably with a sprinkler nozzle and organic fertilizer. Fish emulsion mixed with seaweed is great.what would I need to get started (please be specific)?
Here's some helpful info on growing veggies in containers.
https://www.ourgardengang.com/containerveggies.htm
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VH032
You might also find these sites about starting seeds helpful.
https://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?page=./OnlineSeminars/seeding/demo.html&&cart_id=5440704.22962
https://www.muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g06570.htm
https://extension.missouri.edu/jasper/hort/mg/globe/014.htm
When to harvest veggies:
https://www.savvygardener.com/Features/harvesting_vegetables.html
https://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/L291-w.htm
That should get you started.
Newt