In this monthly post I talk about what I am sowing, growing, planting and harvesting on my balcony. Showing my successes and challenges. Inspiring others to grow food in whatever space they have.

Harvested

  • Parsley
  • Oregano
  • Pea shoots
  • Salad leaves
  • Chicory leaves
  • Sorrel
  • Kale
  • French beans (just 7 so far!)
  • Carrots
  • Runner beans (3 so far!)
Just harvested carrots with tops on and a bit of dirt. Sat in a blue plastic bowl.

Sowing and transplanting

  • Sunflower seeds for micro greens
  • Extra spring onion seeds gaps
  • Extra salad leaves in gaps
  • Radishes
  • Tomato plants
  • Leeks
  • Carrots seeds in gaps
  • Aubergines
  • Peas for pea shoots
Baby aubergines just planted out

Baby aubergines planted out at the beginning of the month.

Baby leeks and a tomato being planted out

Baby leeks and a tomato planted out early June.

My balcony Space

I have six large troughs, and three small ones on the balcony rail. 

A wooden balcony with metal railings. 5 wooden blue troughs can be seen with various vegetables growing.

My compost mostly comes from bokashi composting my food waste, and that of one of my neighbours. In non lockdown times I also get extra food waste from friends who live on a narrow boat (when they are moored nearby) and from advertising on ShareWaste. My wormary adds a bit of extra nutrients, as do coir blocks and seaweed powder. 

Main sources of inspiration and advice from; Vertical Veg, Charles Dowding and Huw’s Nursery on You Tube.

Most of my seeds come from Tamar Organics and the baby plants in this post came from Rocket Gardens.

Successes

  • The Black Kale has recovered from the aphid attack and is growing normally again.
  • Runner beans and French beans are both flowering. Beans are forming. The bees are loving it!
Runner beans growing up poles. Blue sky behind them.
  • Chicory survived being transplanted to a temporary trough and is growing well.
  • Tomatoes and leeks have settled in and are growing well.

What didn’t go so well

The aubergine baby plants have not settled in well at all! One of them developed a brown discolouration on one leaf and it seems to have spread to the other leaves. Neither of them has grown as much as the ones at my allotment.

A sick baby aubergine plant! The leaves are slightly discoloured.

Related posts

Over to you…

What have you already planted this year?

What have you got planned?

Are you going to try sowing anything new?