Save Some Pennies: The Best Fruit and Vegetables to Grow in Containers
We’ve all felt the pinch on our purse strings recently and with the cost of what seems like everything going up, we can all use some tips and tricks to save our pennies
Large gardens are not essential for growing fruit and veggies, meaning everyone, including those with limited space, can still benefit from the financial and mental health benefits of growing their own edible garden. Many people often believe a big garden with top-quality raised beds is necessary for growing a selection of fruit and veg, but actually that’s not the case.
Here are GardenBuildingsDirect’s top picks for green-fingered balcony owners.
Root vegetables
Contrary to popular belief, raised garden beds are not essential for growing veggies such as carrots, turnips, potatoes and parsnips. Balconies are a great place to harvest root vegetables – just ensure the pots used for your crops are at least 40cm deep to give the vegetables enough room to grow.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes, especially the cherry variety, are ideal for balcony owners as they love the sun – but they must be covered from the rain. Tomatoes also grow well when potted, so they are perfect for those with a small space to plant. Once harvested, keep tomatoes outside of the fridge or they will lose flavour quickly.
Peppers and chillies
Add some delicious flavours to the kitchen by planting homegrown peppers and chillies. These plants require hours of sunlight, so they can be placed in pots on sunny window sills inside. Use different varieties of peppers and chillies to add fabulous colours to the balcony.
Strawberries
Strawberries are one of the most straightforward fruits to grow on balconies, producing tasty results, and there are several easy ways to plant them. Use only 20cm of special strawberry compost, or use a pot which has been specifically designed for strawberry plants. Those with a smaller balcony should try hanging baskets and make sure to give the strawberries at least 30cm of depth and width to grow.
Climbing fruits
Consider sowing climbing fruit plants to utilise the balcony wall for extra space saving. Make your own colourful and mouth-watering fruit garden outside and plant raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries and grapes.
Herbs
Herbs grow fantastically in containers, making them ideal for planting in small spaces. Herbs are straightforward plants and don’t require much attention. They add a lovely smell to your outside space too, and you can make dinners extra tasty by using homegrown flavours.
Fruit trees
Dwarf fruit trees are ideal as they never grow above 1.5 metres, yet still produce a lot of fresh, flavoursome produce. Dwarf trees such as apricots, cherries, peaches and pears are ideal and varieties of columnar trees are also perfect for balconies as they grow in a narrow shape.
