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Original poster

Vegetable box - advice needed please!

15 replies

LastOrders · 13/04/2009 10:27

I live in a flat with a balcony but in a very main high street.

I want to get a veg box planted up, with salad stuff in it, but I'm not overly keen on the idea of car fumes/street grime wafting all over the produce!

I live on second floor up, so reasonably high.

I'd obviously wash all food/lettuce first before I eat it, but wondered if living this close to a main road will be a bit to much pollution!?

Advice please....

TIA

OP posts:
Original poster
LastOrders · 13/04/2009 20:22

come on green fingered peeps!

Would you put a vag box on balcony on a main road?

OP posts:
ellingwoman · 13/04/2009 20:24

Lol at vag box!

Sorry. Can't help though - am not a gardener

Original poster
LastOrders · 13/04/2009 20:24

note to self - preview before posting...

...veg not vag!!

Though could result in an interesting salad dish!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
LastOrders · 13/04/2009 20:25

Cheers anyway ellingwoman!

OP posts:
spikemomma · 13/04/2009 20:59

I'd go for it. Seen programmes encouraging it and they've never said anything about them being overly absorbent of pollution. Give it a whirl - go on! Imagine the delights of a vag box...

VinoEsmeralda · 13/04/2009 21:01

Yes I would, just seed quick growing stuff so they are not exposed to much pollution if that worries you

Onlyaphase · 13/04/2009 21:05

I've no wish to try and dampen your enthusiasm, but I would be worried about pollution from exhaust fumes and whether plants would absorb lead and other heavy metals from the fumes. This is based purely on old wives tales about not eating brambles or stuff from the side of roads because of the exhaust fumes, so it may be entirely ficticious!

poopscoop · 13/04/2009 21:09

Go for it. Loads of people in cities and towns have balconies where they grow their own veg. I have read about it in one of my gardening mags. also you can grow lettuce and toms etc indoors on your windowsills if you are afraid of the pollution.

Wash the veg throroughly before you eat and you should be fine. Think of all the shit that is sprayed over our crops we buy from the shops, unless it is organic it probably carries the same amount of stuff as your balcony veg.

Original poster
LastOrders · 13/04/2009 21:11

Thats what I'm worried about Onlyaphase.

I can see the headlines now - "woman dies from polluted vag box...."

I'll give it a go with the quick growing stuff - and feed DP with it first!

OP posts:
fishie · 13/04/2009 21:12

can you put some plastic round so you have a physical barrier against smut stuff? or glass even, make a little greenhouse.

Original poster
LastOrders · 13/04/2009 21:16

2nd question - I'm a novice!

Ideas what to put in it, please!

Lettuce will be a def, how about cucumber? Radish? (but I don't like them so scrap that), Spring onions? Any thing else?

OP posts:
VinoEsmeralda · 13/04/2009 22:07

rocket, litte gem lettuces, radishes and garlic should do well, cucumber plants are rather large

fishie · 13/04/2009 22:10

grow things that you eat a lot of and/or things which you cannot easily buy fresh.

so tomatoes becuase they are usually disgusting from shops. otherwise well you might be a potato fiend. we eat a lot of courgettes and i have never managed to grow enough, although others report gluts.

fishie · 13/04/2009 22:10

bugger, beans. you must grow some sort of bean or pea.

Original poster
LastOrders · 13/04/2009 22:16

Cheers, I'm off to buy the box tomorrow.

Thanks for replying

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