Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Can zucchini be grown in a balcony garden?

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Home & Family » Gardening Group Donate to DU
 
yvr girl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-06-07 06:17 PM
Original message
Can zucchini be grown in a balcony garden?
Is there enough room in a planter to grow them?

I'm definitely going to grow herbs this year, but I don't know what else can be grown in a small space.
Refresh | 0 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
roguevalley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-06-07 09:02 PM
Response to Original message
1. I tried last year and they didn't get very big. But then, it rained all
damned summer. I think if the container is big enough they should grow. Zuccini grows just about everywhere.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
BOSSHOG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 09:57 AM
Response to Original message
2. I think it can be done
Use at least a 50 quart container. Does your deck get plenty of sunshine?

You could also try tomatoes in large pots. They need lots of sun and you will have to stake them or use a wire cage. They are well worth the effort when you are eating homegrown tomatoes in the summer. And Okra is great to plant even if you don't like the product because the plant has a very pretty bloom, similar to hibiscus.

Hope you have a bumper crop.

You can get frames with wheels to put under the pots to make it easy to move them about, either out of your way or to track the sunshine.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
yvr girl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 04:40 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. what are the aprox. dimensions of a 50 quart container
We're metric here. I get a bit of sun but not tonnes. I plan on getting a balcony greenhouse so I can start my herbs soon.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Gormy Cuss Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 09:16 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. How are containers sized in Canada?
Are they sold with liter capacity? Our pots are sold in quart and gallon sizes. A zucchini plant should do alright in a 3 gallon container (11-12 liters, approximately.)A bigger container, around 20 liters, will give you a better yield. Choose a container variety for best results and look for a variety that is parthenocarpic (pollinates without bees.) Most are not. If you buy a standard variety and the fruit wither or blacken rather than mature, it's a sign that you don't have bees around to do the pollination. A bush variety is better than a vining variety for container growth. If you're buying seed, the package should indicate whether the variety is rated for containers. If you plan to buy a start from a nursery, check the tag for this information.

If you're using fresh potting soil, the plants should be fine for the season. If you are reusing dirt, plan to fertilize lightly about once a month. In your climate you need to be careful that the plant has enough warmth and the soil is on the dry side because cool, wet soil can kill it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
BOSSHOG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-09-07 12:19 PM
Response to Reply #3
7. 50 quarts equals about 47 litres
Its a pretty good size pot giving the roots room to roam. It would be heavy so if you can get a roller plate it would make it much easier to move around. That size pot would also be recommended for tomatoes.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
KatyaR Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 07:26 PM
Response to Original message
4. Yes, ma'am!
There are several small varieties that can be grown in containers. I'm trying Eight-Ball Zucchini from Nichols Garden Nursey (nicholsgardennursery.com). Check out several seed sites--there are a lot of different hybrids that are smaller and perfect for this kind of gardening.

The lady who owns the Nichols Garden Nursery has cowritten a book, "The Bountiful Container." It's the bible of container veggie gardening, and it's awesome. Buy it, and you won't be sorry.

Good luck!
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
BOSSHOG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-09-07 12:16 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. Thanks for the info
I've ordered a pack of 8-ball seeds. I think they'll do great. I couldn't find them anywhere around here so I ordered them. Supposed to be ready in 35 days from sowing. Might get a couple of crops. I'm just about ready to seed. I got heirloom tomato seeds (brandywine) I can't wait to plant but I'm gonna hold off another couple of weeks. We get a bizarre occasional frost in late March.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Gormy Cuss Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-13-07 03:06 PM
Response to Reply #6
8. Warning, BOSSHOG. Eight balls are extremely prolific.
They do mature quickly but ones much larger than softball size are not good for much other than stuffing. Pick early and often. I grew them and an heirloom black zucchini one year. The eight ball produced like crazy but succumbed to powdery mildew long before the black zucchini had any mildew at all. The eight ball had a milder flavor as I recall.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
BOSSHOG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-13-07 03:19 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. I was reading
that they should be picked at three inch diameter. I couldn't find any 8-ball seed around here so I ordered them. I also can't find Pepperoncini seeds. Might have to order them as well. I'm still waiting to garden. I just know we are gonna have one more frost this season.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sun Dec 22nd 2024, 01:50 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Home & Family » Gardening Group Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC