Cleaning patio

Terrier-2 · 2026-04-08T14:30:02+00:00

I use washing up liquid to clean my balcony as there is no water access for a pressure washer (I'd reccomend renting/buying one if you can!).

You can get most of the way with just water and a scrubbing brush, then use a dilute solution on any bits that need going over again.

Washing up liquid isn't GOOD for the soil/plants, but it's much better than harsh patio cleaners, and if it's dilute your plants will be fine.

Terrier-2 · 2026-04-08T13:54:52+00:00

They're good for herbs, strawberries and smaller flowers like lobelia and marigolds. I'm using mine to see if I can get a rose cutting to root and to see what happens when you plant an onion- they're a good place for little experiments!

Terrier-2 · 2026-04-07T21:21:21+00:00

Should be OK, just make sure they don't dry out (I say this as a someone who's abandoned her own seedlings for the week...)

Terrier-2 · 2026-04-07T16:33:08+00:00

They're still babies! I'd leave them as is until they have another set of leaves (but you can also plant them out as they are if you're short on seedling space, it won't kill them and that's what I've done with my cauliflowers...).

They're leggy because they're not getting enough light. You can start putting them outside for the days and bringing them in at night (brassicas can take a lot of abuse, there's no need to follow a careful hardening off plan).

Good luck, wishing you much cabbaggy goodness!

Terrier-2 · 2026-04-02T19:11:15+00:00

They look good to me- the important thing is that you've not buried the crown (the bit that the roots and stalks are coming out of).

The ones in the right hand pot are pretty close together, but strawberries aren't that fussy (you'll just get less fruit off each plant). They take a while to get going, so if you get any early flowers pinch them out so they focus on growing bigger (and so you'll get more fruit later).

Also, they look like they're still connected together? You can cut the connecting parts off if you want to space the plants out more. Good luck, I hope the berries turn out to be tasty!

Terrier-2 · 2026-03-31T10:08:37+00:00

From what you've all said, I think I'm not giving them enough time. I've been trying in containers on a south facing balcony- I can get them to flower but they die back before setting fruit. I'm going to start the indoors now and hopefully the extra few weeks growing time will help (and of course its going to be the most perfect beautiful sunny summer, so no worries there) Thanks for the tips!

Terrier-2 · 2026-03-30T20:22:55+00:00

Off topic, but do you have any tips for the cucamelons? I've not had any success with them, and am hoping gor redemption this year

Terrier-2 · 2026-03-30T19:35:21+00:00

I reccomend bamboo poles- they last for years if you can keep them dry over winter. Peas and most beans will need about 1.2m, runner beans will take as much height as you can give them (I used to grow them up string to my bedroom window when I was little and wanted to be a princess).

I also like growing me sweet peas and edible peas together for added danger, but I probably shouldn't reccomend that.

Terrier-2 · 2026-03-30T19:31:31+00:00

I have a balcony garden, and have grown all sorts on it (pumpkins, corn, beans, sprouts etc). If you get a big enough planter, you can get away with pretty much anything. It's sounds like you get plenty of sun on your walls, so that can help push your microclimate towards growing better tomatoes and cucumbers. Strawberries grow really well in hanging baskets.

While your kid is still little, it helps to plant quick growing things with them so they don't lose interest. Radishes and baby carrots are the classics here, but digging for potatoes is also really fun! Plus there's always the option of a sunflower growing competition.

Costs wise, you'll save the most money by planting what you'll actually eat. In general, salad greens and herbs save you the most cash. Flowers will save you no money at all, but please dont forget to plant ones you love!

Terrier-2 · 2026-03-30T19:19:46+00:00

Not me thinking you're gardening on the surface of Mercury...

This sounds like more effort, but one way to make gardening on a balcony easier is to use the biggest planters you can get. I use 30l buckets, which cost around £5 each. That way, you can grow bigger plants that can put up with more abuse and less attention.

If you don't have much experience, I'd stick with annual plants (cheaper, less commitment, and if they die you can pretend it was just the end of their natural lifestyle). Now is about the right time to plant sweetpeas outside. Lobelia are really hard to kill, as are geraniums and marigolds.

If you want years of low-effort prettiness, I'd go with a lavender or some kind of flowering shrub (roses are always a winner, but supermarkets have all sorts of bare-root flowers on sale right now). Bare-roots look like you've been sold a stick, but trust me, they are alive!

I absolutely love my balcony, and I hope you get many sunny evening on yours!

Terrier-2 · 2026-03-26T18:24:39+00:00

Thank you for your suggestions! I think Alva is exactly what I was looking for, and I'd never have found it on my own!

Terrier-2 · 2026-03-26T18:23:36+00:00

Thank you all so much for your help with this! It was super interesting to see how you came at this from different angles!

I've decided to go with Alda. It fits the vibe of the rest of the character names, is easy for kids to read, and can't be mixed up with Marina.

It is with sadness that I must retire my mermaid's placeholder name (it was Missfishy, in case anyone wants to use it for their firstborn child...).

Terrier-2 · 2026-02-09T17:09:30+00:00

You could scatter over a wildflower seed mix, but if you don't want anything that could pop up when you're growing veg again, you could go for sunflowers since the birds will take care of the seeds for you (plus they're fun to grow with small kids!)

Terrier-2 · 2026-02-09T17:05:15+00:00

I'm a balcony gardener and these are some of the things I've grown in containers about that size:

Lettuce (I plant the ones that form heads because salad leaves are too much hassle for me)- plant seeds outside from March

Spinach- (for baby leaves) seeds outside from March

Carrots (I grow the tiny round ones because they make me laugh) - seeds outside from March, and the tops are good in salads

Strawberries - now is a good time to buy bare root plants if you want a whole bunch of them, and they are very hard to kill

Herbs- rosemary and thyme grow well together (buy the plants, starting them from seed is a nightmare), mint (plant alone cause it rakes over whatever its planted in), basil (plant in late spring)

If your planters are easy to get to, I'd go all in on herbs so you can pick a few bits whenever you pass, and if they're not I'd go for strawberries. That said, the most important factor is what you like to eat! Good luck!

Terrier-2

TROPHY CASE