Seed question

[flibbertigibbert]

I have a very small balcony but would like to grow something on it - preferably something edible. My local supermarket has a wide range of seeds and I was thinking of planting some in pots. I wanted to get some seeds as they're so much cheaper than pot plants.

Is it too late in the year to do this? If not then what would be the easiest thing to grow?

definitely salad leaves, don't need full sun, can grow them in anything up to the beginning of autumn (or later?), quick results too.

Herbs work well too in containers.

What about morning glory ? I have grown it in a well-lit stairwell before!

Make sure you will have someone to water it all when you go away on holiday otherwise you'll some back to wilted dead plants!

I grew spinach in pots outside this year and ate it as babyleaf spinach.

Thanks for the suggestions - salad sounds great. I went to a Mexican restaurant last night and was given some chilli seeds. Should I put them out on the balcony or indoors to start with?

I grew two chilli plants in pots last year - one indoors and one outdoors. The indoor one, on a south-facing window sill, definitely did a lot better, and survived the winter.

I've just planted rubharb. You could also plant spuds.

I have another question. Can I plant the seeds in potting on compost? I have a big bag of that and I'm reluctant to get a bag of sowing compost as I don't have a car and it's too heavy for me to carry a huge bag of compost on the bus

I would give it a go - sowing compost is fine without lumps so the seeds can push through easier. You could make sure you cover the seeds with fine soil from the potting on compost - either sieve it or pick out the lumps.

Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a go with the potting compost. The seeds were free so it's not the end of the world if it doesn't work

Chilli's need a long growing season so I'd put them somewhere safe until early next spring then start them off. For this year have a go with things like salad, herbs, radish and carrots.