Feast From Your Window Box | Food

6. Big sheltered balcony

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6. Big sheltered balcony (Image 6 of 8)

What you've got: A fairly hefty balcony on a quiet road that gets lots of sunlight in the mornings but is sheltered for the rest of the day.

Gareth says: The area is large enough for a decent sized pot, trough or grow bag. A grow bag will be the cheapest option. If the area is very dry do not be tempted to cut large drainage holes in your grow bag as you will find they can lose a lot of moisture, especially during the summer. If you decide on pots, invest in a tray to place under the pots, to retain water in the summer.
A grow bag can be utilised as a 'mini field'. Cut an elongated section out of the top and sow with rows of lettuce, salads or radish. Growing root vegetables such as carrots and potatoes is also possible, however a traditional grow bag will not be of any use. Potatoes can be sewn direct into large bag of compost (part filled, standing upright). As the potatoes grow upwards fill the bag with extra soil. Reusable potato bags can be purchased for this purpose.