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Bolstered by my success in growing pickling cucumbers on my streetside balcony (protected by building) I am thinking of expanding my container garden onto the flat rooftop terrace of our condo building. There's a hose up there, and nothing else going on. The terrace is protected by a 4' solid wall and is oceanfront.
I googled it for a couple hours but got minimal advice (mostly landscaping/on the ground). I am interested mainly in veg's we cannot get here, or that are so superior when home-grown. Like strawberries, green beans, tomatoes. Maybe winter squash. We can get the brassica family here, so no point in messing with those, though they are suggested. Store tomatoes and strawberries are as tasteless as store-bought in the U.S.
A second question is about sweet corn. There isn't any here. Though I read it did not do well by the sea, the plot of land (not container for this) I have in mind is totally protected from wind and spray---walls all around. I would love to grow some; really miss it.
It's 75 to 85 all year around---this is the equator. Rather humid but not unbearably so. Often partly-cloudy.
If you made a raised bed, with plenty of organic material, you should be able to grow just about any vegetable or fruit you want. Mainly, you want to avoid using the natural soil, which will probably have a high salt content. Most vegetables aren't very tolerant of a high salt content.
If you DO decide to use your natural soil, amend it with a LOT of organic material. Compost, aged manure, etc.
" Like strawberries, green beans, tomatoes. Maybe winter squash. "
I think strawberries need cold time, but the others should be fine. Corn is VERY susceptible to wind and can grow 7 or 8 feet tall. It might need some guide wires to lean on in winds. I'm not sure what pests you might get. Bird netting might be needed, especially on the tomatoes.
Thanks. Strawberries are big in SoCal and I grew them there, so not sure about the cold requirement.
Corn would be protected with walls. Not using native soil....it will be an experiment!
No cold time, I’m aware off. I saw them growing in the field near my house. I got 75 free strawberry plants coming next year, I’m not sure I have space for them, I might call my brother to give him some plants.
Container gardens will be heavy, even if you use a light soil mix. Be sure the flat roof and underlying structure is strong enough to bear the load of a garden.
I have grown green beans (haricot vert type not the shelly beans) in large containers successfully (I cut 50 gallon food grade plastic containers in half). I prefer the pole type because they bear over a longer period whereas the bush type beans come on all at one time, too many beans at once that I do not want to can or freeze. I want them fresh.
One of my favorite beans for taste is an Italian called Trionfo Violetto. It is purple podded but turns green when cooked. Such a nice flavor, not tough and very productive.
Tomatoes of course grow very well in containers although I have given them up due to pests and diseases and not wanting to apply pesticides. But I lie, I always try to grow a cherry type that matures quicker than pests can kill. Black Cherry is one of my faves. Larger tomatoes take so long to mature, so much can go wrong, at least for me.
With your climate you should look at what Florida gardeners grow, not in summer (too hot) but in winter/spring. Sweet potatoes, collards, mustard greens are southern veggies.
Florida grows a lot of berries in the winter, but I think it is probably going to be a little too warm for berries in your climate. For example, the county festival for Tampa’s county is the strawberry festival, but it tends to be in the 50s at night and 70s in the day from Dec-Feb. My grandmother had container gardens and liked to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, etc. She really should look at what can be grown from central Florida on down where they get more into the tropical plants.
Sweet potatoes, collards, and mustard greens are farther north, and I think the OP’s climate may be too warm for that.
Florida grows a lot of berries in the winter, but I think it is probably going to be a little too warm for berries in your climate. For example, the county festival for Tampa’s county is the strawberry festival, but it tends to be in the 50s at night and 70s in the day from Dec-Feb. My grandmother had container gardens and liked to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, etc. She really should look at what can be grown from central Florida on down where they get more into the tropical plants.
Sweet potatoes, collards, and mustard greens are farther north, and I think the OP’s climate may be too warm for that.
It's true that Florida has different climates but collards, mustard greens and sweet potatoes are grown all the state including very southern Florida. I grew the veggies suggested when we lived in Naples FL where there is hardly any winter. Never had luck with cucumbers, spinach or yellow (summer) squash but skip trying to grow in south Florida summers. Crazy hot and humid.
It's true that Florida has different climates but collards, mustard greens and sweet potatoes are grown all the state including very southern Florida. I grew the veggies suggested when we lived in Naples FL where there is hardly any winter. Never had luck with cucumbers, spinach or yellow (summer) squash but skip trying to grow in south Florida summers. Crazy hot and humid.
Malabar spinach works, the other varieties are cold weather. Squash is subject to blossom end rot and nematodes.
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