Comments on: Tuesday questions: Shady balcony

By: Siel

Siel — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:31:34 +0000

Really appreciate everyone's input and advice! I created a map plan based on your advice -- Check it out :)

By: Gernot

Gernot — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:55:39 +0000

Hey girl – you have never heard of shadegrown coffee? ;-)
Good luck!

By: Joe Linton

Joe Linton — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:39:20 +0000

The earlier posters are correct. You should be able to grow things where you eat the leaves – lettuce, mizuna, chard, kale, arugula… when it’s warm/hot out, basil. Possible other stuff might be onions, garlic, chard, sweet peas.

I suspect that you could get cherry tomatoes to grow there – in the sunniest spot, with branches that hang outside the balcony. Cherry tomatoes grow almost like weeds – fairly easy. I think you might have started them too late in the year. Best to plant them in March-April… once it starts to warm up, but before it gets hot. Suggest getting cherry tomato starters this week – get them into the ground this month. Plant in a fairly large pot – at least 5 gallons! Good luck!

Joe Linton’s last blog post..Whisky’s for drinkin’…desal’s for fightin’

By: Adriana

Adriana — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:55:23 +0000

Here’s a great list of shade loving veggies from In the Garden Online:

http://www.inthegardenonline.com/picks_10vegforshadeC21.htm

I had great success with cailiflower, chard, lettuce, broccoli raab but the aphids won that battle.

Adriana’s last blog post..What’s For Lunch?!

By: Plangarden

Plangarden — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:33:37 +0000

Great idea, Meredith & Cassandra! I haven’t tried the upside down approach but found these configurations. DIY approach is great but I hear they’re now selling the systems for $10 at some places: http://bit.ly/t38bl

Plangarden’s last blog post..Starting “Hard Seeds”

By: Cassandra

Cassandra — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:44:24 +0000

Try hanging an upside-down container in that sunny corner (right where your table is…hm.) for the tomatoes – I bet you could still get some nice ones. Cherry tomatoes also seem to be the hardiest and most tolerant of variations in sunlight – the same goes for yellow tomatoes, I think.

Swiss Chard is wonderful, and comes in many many colors. Broccoli will work, as will lots of different herbs (which love the Santa Monica weather). Also take a look at peas and other beans, vine berries, and miner’s lettuce.

Check this out:
http://www.pfaf.org/leaflets/ProbPlac.php

Cassandra’s last blog post..The Big Moveoutski

By: Meredith

Meredith — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:38:50 +0000

I’m in the market for one of those upside-down tomato growers. Like you, I have no sun. Just a covered front porch next to a shady patch o’ dirt, and a flower bed in back which also has too much shade to grow. I’m hoping to hang the upside-down tomato thing of the side of my house or something.

Anyway, I also appreciate the comments with ideas in this post.

By: Rosengeranium (Indoor Gardener)

Rosengeranium (Indoor Gardener) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:37:30 +0000

Yeah! What they said! ;) Leafy vegetables stands shade better, and you can find some really interesting ones. Chard 'Bright lights' has stems in pink, yellow and purple, which makes them decorative too. Do you have a sunny window? Try to grow the tomatoes there. Use the variety 'Tom Thumb' - it doesn't need pollination, you just shake the flowers a bit every day. I'm into my second round and they do work out well. Count on two tomato plants per person you are growing for. Rosengeranium (Indoor Gardener)’s last blog post..They've started to drink

By: christina

christina — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:19:05 +0000

hi!

i’ve been following this blog:
http://victoryhomegarden.blogspot.com/

for a bit now…she’s been posting about some of the leafy greens she’s been growing in the shade (she lives in LB, so similar climate to SM)…maybe you might find some tips there…

i’m a first timer, myself, so i’ve planted some lettuce in my more shady areas…we’ll see how it goes…

i’m with you on the tomato love, i’ve planted 3 kinds!!…i get a lot of am sun, but no pm sun…

good luck!! can’t wait to see the progress of your balcony!

By: Plangarden

Plangarden — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:25:09 +0000

BTW, if you REALLY want to grow tomatoes (and who doesn’t!), you might inquire about signing up for a community garden. The best place to start would be your permaculture instructor or your county extension office: http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/

All the best to your gardening joys in 2009!

Plangarden’s last blog post..Starting “Hard Seeds”