Growing pepino, pea melon, lettuce, green beans, Courgette and herbs
This fruiting vegetable indigenous to Mexico is very sensitive to frost. It produces egg shaped, yellow fruit with violet strips. They thrive in sunny positions which are not too hot (between 15-20`C). They are propagated from cuttings which easily root. Harvest the fruit when it turns yellow and it can be consumed raw or steamed.
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Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
It originated from the Mediterranean areas and Egypt . It can be categorized into lettuce for cutting, lettuce heads, iceberg lettuce and lettuce for picking. Picking and cutting lettuces are ideal for propagation in balcony boxes and pots. These lettuces develop loose leaf rosettes and will not stop growing until they are completely harvested.
Lettuce heads form huge firm heads. Smaller varieties are best for boxes and pots. The iceberg lettuce also has firm heads which have crispy leaves and ribs. Radicchio lettuce is a colourful red lettuce which originates from Italy and requires a longer cultivation period.
When planting lettuce ensure that seedlings roots are entirely covered by compost. A pot of a single lettuce head should have a diameter of 13cm or more. An 80cm (in length) balcony box can fit up to 8 plants.
Care
Protect the plant from night frost by using polythene sheets or by covering with a warm fabric layer. Irrigate regularly, only in the mornings to allow the leaves to dry off. This will prevent fungal disease.
Cucumber
This is a fruiting vegetable that produces yellow male and female flowers. Some varieties only produce female flowers which mysteriously produce fruit without pollination. Cucumbers flourish in positions with abundant light and warmth. They prefer position that is protected from excessive wind.
Planting
Cucumbers can be sown from the beginning of the last month of spring in temperatures around 20`C. Seeds can be planted 3cm deep into the soil. A pot with a diameter of 10 cm can house 3 seeds. Cucumbers need support and should be trained. Irrigate regularly with warm water. Supply low fertilizer does (too much salt will harm them)
There are different varieties of cucumbers. Alcor, Bella, Jazzer and Highmark are the more common ones. It is good harvesting practice to cut off the fruit, instead of picking.
Courgette
Indigenous to central America, the courgette produce busy growth and is very sensitive to frost. Soon after germination, thin out to one plant per pot and stand outside from the middle of the last month of spring. When irrigating avoid water logging and do not water into flowers which are open because this will hinder fruit development.
Spray the plant to guard against powdery mildew. There are many cucumber varieties Diamant (green), Gold rush (yellow) and long white. Cucumbers can be consumed raw or steamed.
Honey Melon
Honey melon requires much warmth to grow and has got climbing shoots coloured yellow. They originated from Africa and Asia and can be sown from the middle of spring when it's fairly warm. Young plants should be planted flat in containers which have a carrying capacity of 10-15 liters.
Honey melon needs to be trained on a climbing frame or string. When the main shoot reaches a height of 1,5m, cut it off forcing the fruit to appear on the secondary lateral shoots. Its good practice to allow only 6 fruits to remain on a plant.
Irrigate profusely
Varieties include Goldstar, Sweetheart, Haon and resistant Joy. Harvest when the plant is soft and went e skin begins to tear.
Green Beans
Beans thrive in sunny, warm conditions and originated from parts of south and central America.
There are many types of beans
- Runner beans - (Gold hilde)
- Scarlet runner beans - ( Desiree)
- Dwarf beans - ( Marona)
Herbs and summer flowers
Herbs and summer flowers are perfect companions of vegetables in pots and boxes. Herbs are not heavy nutrient consumers and grow well with vegetables. Flowers will provide extra colour to the green that the vegetables produce.
Basil, Borage, Dill, Lobelia, creeping zinnia and ornamental sage all add life and vibrancy to vegetables in pots.