Rooftop herb/veg garden - feasible?
Discussion
Hi folks. Looking for a bit of advice on urban veg/herb growing, as I'm about to move into a flat with a lovely big roof terrace.
I'm a complete luddite when it comes to this sort of thing, and have no experience other than a successfully-managed basil plant in my current kitchen.
I had the idea to get a small upright perspex-type mini-conservatory and grow basil, rosemary etc. and some cherry tomatoes and small (Russian style) cucumbers.
Does any of this sound feasible? Do any green-fingered members have any recommendations for techniques or other things which may work in this environment.
As an aside, would I be pi##ing into the wind to try and grow/maintain a small lime tree (for g&t, of course) outside in central London? Would I be able to grow anything worth using?
Cheers in advance for any help or suggestions.
I'm a complete luddite when it comes to this sort of thing, and have no experience other than a successfully-managed basil plant in my current kitchen.
I had the idea to get a small upright perspex-type mini-conservatory and grow basil, rosemary etc. and some cherry tomatoes and small (Russian style) cucumbers.
Does any of this sound feasible? Do any green-fingered members have any recommendations for techniques or other things which may work in this environment.
As an aside, would I be pi##ing into the wind to try and grow/maintain a small lime tree (for g&t, of course) outside in central London? Would I be able to grow anything worth using?
Cheers in advance for any help or suggestions.
Dave200 said:
Hi folks. Looking for a bit of advice on urban veg/herb growing, as I'm about to move into a flat with a lovely big roof terrace.
I'm a complete luddite when it comes to this sort of thing, and have no experience other than a successfully-managed basil plant in my current kitchen.
I had the idea to get a small upright perspex-type mini-conservatory and grow basil, rosemary etc. and some cherry tomatoes and small (Russian style) cucumbers.
Does any of this sound feasible? Do any green-fingered members have any recommendations for techniques or other things which may work in this environment.
As an aside, would I be pi##ing into the wind to try and grow/maintain a small lime tree (for g&t, of course) outside in central London? Would I be able to grow anything worth using?
Cheers in advance for any help or suggestions.
Yes its possible but any structure may require planning consent. Keep it simple grow from containers should mean there are no probs. What do you want to grow?I'm a complete luddite when it comes to this sort of thing, and have no experience other than a successfully-managed basil plant in my current kitchen.
I had the idea to get a small upright perspex-type mini-conservatory and grow basil, rosemary etc. and some cherry tomatoes and small (Russian style) cucumbers.
Does any of this sound feasible? Do any green-fingered members have any recommendations for techniques or other things which may work in this environment.
As an aside, would I be pi##ing into the wind to try and grow/maintain a small lime tree (for g&t, of course) outside in central London? Would I be able to grow anything worth using?
Cheers in advance for any help or suggestions.
Dave200 said:
Cheers for the reply. As above, I had illusions of growing cherry tomatoes, small cucumbers and chillies.
The greenhouse is likely to be a small (c.1m high) freestanding affair to be honest, so planning won't be an issue.
Certainly possible we had a very good roof terrace for several years. Well situated and got good sun but was not exposed to winds and afternoon shade. Big containers are the answer which can hold reserves for more mature plants. Shallow trough dry out too easily. Automatic watering system is worthwhile. We found architectural evergreens (cedars etc) and Acers very effective given shade leaf colour and being very visible plants varying in colour. The greenhouse is likely to be a small (c.1m high) freestanding affair to be honest, so planning won't be an issue.
If you plan it out well and get a variety of depths of compost you can grow most annuals on a terrace but regular watering is essential hence automatic systems. I suggest John Innes No 3 because it retains moisture far better than the peat/peat free stuff. You need moisture on a terrace! Big trees require very stable water retention in the compost but a small lime or similar should be OK in say a 3 foot half barrel. Weight has to be considered but most roofs will cope. Good luck to you the privacy and secretive nature of a roof terrace does provide a very pleasant recreation area.
Cucumbers are a bit of a PITA, since you'll be inundated with the things at a point where they're cheap to buy in the shops. They really need ground to spread along, but can be grown vertically:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te4AyTd-B3E
Tomatoes and strawberries can be grown from hanging baskets, believe it or not, so that's another area to consider.
Everything else should be fine in pots. No greenhouse required for these. I grow curly parsley, flat leaved parsley, basil, dill, thyme, mint and chives outside in pots on a windy hilltop, so a London terrace should be fine. Screen any north east facing areas, if you have these.
Get the seeds germinating indoors (an electric propagator is perfect for this), and transplant the little plants in May. 'Woody' herbs like rosemary and bay are best bought as plants and potted in gravelly/sandy soil with good drainage.
A lime tree might be better-off indoors. Chillies certainly will.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te4AyTd-B3E
Tomatoes and strawberries can be grown from hanging baskets, believe it or not, so that's another area to consider.
Everything else should be fine in pots. No greenhouse required for these. I grow curly parsley, flat leaved parsley, basil, dill, thyme, mint and chives outside in pots on a windy hilltop, so a London terrace should be fine. Screen any north east facing areas, if you have these.
Get the seeds germinating indoors (an electric propagator is perfect for this), and transplant the little plants in May. 'Woody' herbs like rosemary and bay are best bought as plants and potted in gravelly/sandy soil with good drainage.
A lime tree might be better-off indoors. Chillies certainly will.
Guys, thank you for all of your advice. Really appreciated!
To confirm, I'm a complete novice when it comes to the garden (having always lived in flats), so I would probably aim to start small. I'm not hugely keen to have much in the flat, if I'm honest - this was the idea with making use of the roof. Given that our winters do have potential to be inclement, and the sun isn't always what it might be, do you not think it's worth getting a small fridge/freezer-sized 'greenhouse' to help something like the chillies/tomatoes/cucumbers along?
On the subject of the cucumbers, the desire to grow them wasn't necessarily born out of self-sufficiency. MrsD200 always complained at how watery and tasteless British cucumbers were, compared to those that she grew up eating in Russia (smaller, knobbly, like an oversize gherkin). After tasting them there, I couldn't agree more - as they aren't available in the shops over here, it would be nice to have our own 'stock' of them. If it's not feasible, that fine - if it can be done, it would be great.
To confirm, I'm a complete novice when it comes to the garden (having always lived in flats), so I would probably aim to start small. I'm not hugely keen to have much in the flat, if I'm honest - this was the idea with making use of the roof. Given that our winters do have potential to be inclement, and the sun isn't always what it might be, do you not think it's worth getting a small fridge/freezer-sized 'greenhouse' to help something like the chillies/tomatoes/cucumbers along?
On the subject of the cucumbers, the desire to grow them wasn't necessarily born out of self-sufficiency. MrsD200 always complained at how watery and tasteless British cucumbers were, compared to those that she grew up eating in Russia (smaller, knobbly, like an oversize gherkin). After tasting them there, I couldn't agree more - as they aren't available in the shops over here, it would be nice to have our own 'stock' of them. If it's not feasible, that fine - if it can be done, it would be great.
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