31 replies to this topic

[ATL]

Ive started picking the lettuce leaves just when i need them which keeps them fresh. Ive also started pulling up a few of the larger carrots so we can using them. Some pictures below of the result of one of them. Definately a good size.

[ATL]

Freshly dug up carrots from on of the tubs on the balcony. Eating some of them tonight. Should be good.
 BalconyGrownCarrots.JPG (252.14K)
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[maryfields]

Very nice.Good Job!You have done superb in growing those herbs in your balcony.I think they are 100% healthy.Keep up the good work!

[ATL]

My Compost Bin Setup on a balcony
The compost bin with holes drilled in the side

[ATL]

ok so time for an update.

I havested the rest of the carrots at the weekend. They werent as good as the first lot. As mentioned previously the soil had been much firmer and not light and fluffy compared to the first lot. I am pretty certain this was a result of the cheaper no brand potting mix used in these pots over two of the others. So lesson learnt, don't buy the cheapest potting mix.
I transplanted the ginger plant aswell as it was starting to expand the pot I had it in. Took a knob off it while i was at it and looks really good.
I have also bought amd planted some broccoli for some autumn winter crops.

[ATL]

The broccoli sprouted within a week and are now shooting up through the dead carrot tops that i laid down over the top. The cellery is powering along ...and some will be ready to eat soon. Might be sick of it by the time im finished .

At the moment im watering every few days but only the plants not out in the open. Im also using a seaweed fertiliser every week or two, to keep the plants with the required nutrients, before the warmth finally disappears. As a result the starwberries are spreading quickly and the parsley plant has been reinvigorated.

[ATL]

ok so I harvested some of the celery today and soem of the ginger. The ginger is awesome and seemed easy to grow aswell. Just used some in a stir fry.
Pics below.

Attached File(s)

•  Celery1.jpg (42.63K)
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•  Celery2.jpg (42.78K)
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•  Ginger.jpg (27.97K)
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[mad]

wow ginger looks great. Not a huge fan of celery but it also looks good. What fertlisers do u use? Do you have a proplem with bugs and pests?

[ATL]

I use fish fertiliser and home made compost. I have little green catepillars but they arent a huge problem. They occasionally get the straw berries, and mint. I have a family of brown miners they frequent the balcony and kinda keep the catepillars under control.

[ATL]

Heading into winter the broccoli is a little slow but a few plants are now close to flowering. My parsley (flat leaf variety) i've noticed it tends to thrive in Autumn, Winter and Spring and dies off in summer. I think this is caused by being in a pot and just not getting the water it requires in the summer months. As its the middle of winter its currently thriving and out growing the pot fast. The leaves on the ginger started dying back over the last few weeks so I have harvested it. The root of the ginger was quite a good size especially considering i don't live in a tropical environment. I Will be planting again.

I found a good write up about growing ginger which is used fill.
http://www.tropicalp...ing-ginger.html


The out of control parsley


The harvested Ginger


The Indian Myna...leaving after spending 10-15minutes searching through all the plants for bugs I normally wouldn't be happy about posting an image about a introduced pest but they do certainly help in removing the other pests I have.

[ATL]

So I have now moved homes and have a new balcony. I will soon start a new thread for this new balcony as its different to the last and can't wait to get some ideas and start planting